Just In
- 43 min ago Daily Horoscope, 29 March 2024: Gemini Businessmen Should Be Careful, Leo May Not Feel Well Today
- 5 hrs ago Aditi Rao Hydari's 8 Tips for Glowing Skin: A Celebrity Skincare Routine Unveiled, Bonus Tips Included!
- 5 hrs ago April 2024 Health Horoscope: Know How This Month Will Affect Zodiac Signs In Terms Of Wellness
- 6 hrs ago Good Friday 2024: Wishes, Messages, Greetings, Texts, Images, Quotes, WhatsApp, And FB Status
Don't Miss
- Movies Panchayat 3 Release Date: When Will Jitendra Kumar's Web Series Release On OTT? Latest Update
- Finance 1:5 Stock Split Charm: From Rs 650-To-8,800, Midcap Stock To Explode Further, Target Highest At Rs 10,950
- Sports Rajasthan Royals Rising Star Riyan Parag's Redemption Story Takes Center Stage in IPL 2024
- News Jailed Gangster-Turned-Politician Mukhtar Ansari Dies Of Heart Attack
- Automobiles Xiaomi SU7 Electric Car Launched – May End Apple Inc.
- Technology HONOR Pad 9 With Bluetooth Keyboard Up For Grabs At Rs 22,499 in India
- Education RSMSSB Junior Instructor Recruitment 2024; Apply online for 2500 Posts, Check out for more details
- Travel Explore Tamil Nadu's Diverse Wedding Venues
Lyme Disease: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis And Treatment
Lyme disease is caused by Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria. The disease is transmitted to humans through the bite of black-legged deer ticks. Lyme is known as a "Great Imitator," as its pattern resembles different diseases. It can have a damaging effect on any organ of the body, including the brain and nervous system, muscles and joints, and the heart[1] .
The disease can affect anyone but is increasingly found in children and senior citizens. Lyme is known as a 'great Imitator', as its pattern resembles different diseases. Lyme disease can also affect memory, attention and cause word finding problems. It can also cause ADHD-like symptoms, learning disability, obsessive-compulsive disorder, weeping spells, rages, depression, bipolar disorder, panic, nervousness disorders and psychoses [2] .
If left untreated or treated incorrectly, it may cause cardiac complications, meningitis, encephalitis, cranial neuropathies, eyelid droop, facial weakness, numbness, pain, shoulder droop, sensory disturbances along with other neurological symptoms [3] . When this illness affects the mind it is referred to as Lyme neuroborreliosis or Lyme encephalopathy.
Symptoms Of Lyme Disease
The signs of the disease are classified into early signs and later signs [4] .
Early symptoms of lyme disease are as follows:
- Rashes
- Fever
- Chills
- Fatigue
- Body aches
- Headache
- Neck stiffness
- Swollen lymph node
Later signs of lyme disease are as follows [5] :
- Joint pain
- Neurological problems
- Rashes that spread all over the body
Some of the other signs and symptoms of the diseases are heart problems (irregular heartbeat), eye inflammation, liver inflammation (hepatitis) and severe fatigue [6] .
Causes Of Lyme Disease
The Lyme disease was initially reported in the US, where it was caused by the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi and Borrelia mayonii, carried primarily by black-legged or deer ticks [7] . In order for the bacteria to transmit the disease, it has to be attached to the body of the host for 36 to 48 hours.
Risk Factors Of Lyme Disease
The places you go to and live are all factors that can increase your risk for lyme disease. Exposed skin and spending time in heavy wooded areas and grassy areas can increase your chances of contracting the disease[8] .
Complications Of Lyme Disease
If left untreated, the disease can lead to chronic joint inflammation, neurological problems such as facial palsy and neuropathy, cognitive defects, such as impaired memory and heart rhythm irregularities [9] .
Diagnosis Of Lyme Disease
The signs and symptoms of Lyme disease are often found in other conditions as well, therefore making the diagnosis difficult. If you do not have any rashes, the doctor will ask about your medical history to gain some clarity about the symptoms.
Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test and Western blot test are the two diagnosis method, where the Western blot test is carried out if the ELISA test is positive - so as to confirm the diagnosis [10] .
Swine Flu: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment & Prevention
Treatment For Lyme Disease
Antibiotics are used as the treatment method for lyme disease. Oral antibiotics are the standard treatment for early-stage Lyme disease. Doxycycline for adults and children older than 8, or amoxicillin or cefuroxime for adults, younger children, and pregnant or breast-feeding women.
In case of involvement of the central nervous system, intravenous antibiotics will be the recommended form of treatment for a period of 14 to 28 days [11] .
Prevention Of Lyme Disease
Below mentioned are the ways that the Lyme disease can be prevented [12] .
- Make a proper tick barrier between your lawn and the taller grasses.
- Avoid exposure in wooded, overgrown grassy areas.
- Stay out of tall grass and un-cleared areas of the forest floor.
- Wear protective clothing such as long sleeves, long pants tucked into socks and shoes should be worn by persons.
- Avoid going barefoot or opting for open-toe sandals.
- Use insect repellents.
- Remove ticks once found immediately by grasping them with tweezers and pulling them off from the skin.
- [1] Burgdorfer, W., Barbour, A. G., Hayes, S. F., Benach, J. L., Grunwaldt, E., & Davis, J. P. (1982). Lyme disease-a tick-borne spirochetosis?. Science, 216(4552), 1317-1319.
- [2] Barbour, A. G. (1984). Isolation and cultivation of Lyme disease spirochetes. The Yale journal of biology and medicine, 57(4), 521.
- [3] Steere, A. C., Grodzicki, R. L., Kornblatt, A. N., Craft, J. E., Barbour, A. G., Burgdorfer, W., ... & Malawista, S. E. (1983). The spirochetal etiology of Lyme disease. New England Journal of Medicine, 308(13), 733-740.
- [4] Fraser, C. M., Casjens, S., Huang, W. M., Sutton, G. G., Clayton, R., Lathigra, R., ... & Gwinn, M. (1997). Genomic sequence of a Lyme disease spirochaete, Borrelia burgdorferi. Natur
- [5] Johnson, R. C., Schmid, G. P., Hyde, F. W., Steigerwalt, A. G., & Brenner, D. J. (1984). Borrelia burgdorferi sp. nov.: etiologic agent of Lyme disease. International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology, 34(4), 496-497.
- [6] Steere, A. C., Bartenhagen, N. H., Craft, J. E., Hutchinson, G. J., Newman, J. H., Rahn, D. W., ... & Malawista, S. E. (1983). The early clinical manifestations of Lyme disease. Annals of internal medicine, 99(1), 76-82.
- [7] Feder Jr, H. M., Johnson, B. J., O'Connell, S., Shapiro, E. D., Steere, A. C., Wormser, G. P., & Ad Hoc International Lyme Disease Group. (2007). A critical appraisal of “chronic Lyme disease”. New England Journal of Medicine, 357(14), 1422-1430.
- [8] Steere, A. C., Taylor, E., McHugh, G. L., & Logigian, E. L. (1993). The overdiagnosis of Lyme disease. Jama, 269(14), 1812-1816.
- [9] Benach, J. L., Bosler, E. M., Hanrahan, J. P., Coleman, J. L., Habicht, G. S., Bast, T. F., ... & Edelman, R. (1983). Spirochetes isolated from the blood of two patients with Lyme disease. New England Journal of Medicine, 308(13), 740-742.
- [10] Mead, P. S. (2015). Epidemiology of Lyme disease. Infectious Disease Clinics, 29(2), 187-210.
- [11] Berende, A., ter Hofstede, H. J., Vos, F. J., van Middendorp, H., Vogelaar, M. L., Tromp, M., ... & Kullberg, B. J. (2016). Randomized trial of longer-term therapy for symptoms attributed to Lyme disease. New England Journal of Medicine, 374(13), 1209-1220.
- [12] Kugeler, K. J., Farley, G. M., Forrester, J. D., & Mead, P. S. (2015). Geographic distribution and expansion of human Lyme Disease, United States. Emerging infectious diseases, 21(8), 1455-1457.
- disorders cureVocal Cord Paralysis: Causes, Symptoms, Risk Factors, Diagnosis And Treatments
- healthAlert! New Tick-Borne Viral Fever Reported In China, 7 Dead
- pulseWatch: Scary Footage Of Tick Being Removed From Woman's Ear
- healthCommon Cold: Causes, Symptoms, Risks, Effective Remedies And More
- pregnancy parentingWhite Lung Syndrome: What Are The Symptoms Of The Disease Rampant In China? How Does It Spread?
- healthWorld HIV/AIDS Day: What Is The Difference Between HIV and AIDS?
- healthDoes This Everyday Cooking Ingredient Trigger Diabetes?
- healthWorld AIDS Day: 3 Not So Common Ways HIV Can Spread from Person to Person
- health5 Signs Your Kidneys Need Attention: Don't Ignore These Warning Signals
- healthWorld Diabetes Day 2023: 3 Weird Things That Can Put You At Risk Of Developing Diabetes
- healthWorld Diabetes Day 2023: Daily Habits That Make One At Risk Of Diabetes
- healthDengue 101: Causes, Symptoms, Risks, Complications, Treatment, Prevention, Diet And More