Don't Let Lyme Disease Get the Best of You
Lyme Disease is a tricky illness because symptoms can change almost daily. Some symptoms include a high fever, soreness in muscles and joints, headaches, rashes that spread across the body, sensitivity to light and sore throats. It can be difficult for a child, or even an adult, to get through the symptoms of Lyme Disease without getting impatient and frustrated. Even with antibiotic treatment, the symptoms can last anywhere from two weeks to a few months.
Instructions
1. Take medicine. If the patient has a headache or muscle/joint aches, alternate with Tylenol and ibuprofen. Tylenol will be better for headaches, but ibuprofen will be best for body aches. Use a cold compress on the head if necessary to cool down a fever.
2. Wear shades. Sensitivity to light can be a big issue among Lyme Disease sufferers. Make sure that the patient wears sunglasses when going outdoors and even inside in bright conditions. This will eliminate stress on the eyes. If pain and sensitivity still persists, use a cold compress over the eyes.
3. Treat rashes. Rashes may appear and spread on a Lyme Disease patient, especially at night. Often, the patient will have a bull's eye rash, but sometimes a different type of rash will be present, usually following a pattern of the joints or the bloodstream. These rashes can appear all day or only at night and can be incredibly itchy and uncomfortable. To curb these rashes, use hydro-cortisone cream to reduce itching and swelling and Calamine lotion to cool the rash.
4. Drink tea and water. It is possible for the patient to experience other cold like symptoms, such as a sore throat. The best thing is to drink soothing tea or ice water and to make sure to have lots of throat-coating cough drops on hand, particularly lemon-flavored, or whatever the patient would prefer.
5. Rest. Whatever care the patient craves is a good measure of what is best for him. The patient should make sure to get lots of rest and see a doctor immediately if symptoms begin. Lyme Disease cannot be treated without antibiotics and long-term infection can cause nerve problems, paralysis and even death. Please get Lyme Disease treated immediately if you think you might have it.
Tags: Lyme Disease, cold compress, make sure