Lyme Disease
Introduction/Overview
Lyme disease is caused by a deer tick which carries a bacterium known as Borrelia burgdorferi. Deer ticks spread the disease when they bite humans and animals. People who live in the country are more susceptible to the disease than those who live in more urban locations. Dogs are prime candidates for Lyme disease particularly if they live in a rural region where it is prevalent. While canine Lyme disease is never passed on to humans by the dog., the tick itself can bite humans as well.
Symptoms & Diagnosis
Symptoms of Lyme disease are similar to those found in other infections. Often you will notice a red mark where you were bitten by the tick. That red mark usually turns into a rash which can range from around an inch to as much as ten to twelve inches. The middle of the rash will look like a bull’s eye. Other Lymes disease symptoms can be as vague, such as general flu-like body aches, chills, fever, tiredness and headache. If a Lyme disease diagnosis is not made and the treatment started, more advanced symptoms, such as joint pain will appear. Meningitis or swelling around the brain may develop, along with Bell’s palsy (facial numbness), muscle weakness, memory loss and other conditions. Sometimes chronic Lyme disease symptoms can cause temporary heart arrhythmias. Tests for Lyme disease include the ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) test and then the western blot test, both of which detect Lymes disease antibodies.
Known Causes
Lyme disease is caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, a bacterium carried by deer ticks. These deer ticks feed on blood, both human and animal, and pass the disease on to
the host upon which they are feeding. They live in wooded grasslands and bite birds, deer, mice, dogs, cats, horses and humans, among others.
Treatments/Procedures
The number one treatment for Lyme disease is antibiotics. The usual medications are doxycycline, amoxicillin, or cefuroxime axetil, which are taken orally. If you have the symptoms of Lyme disease, you will need to be on antibiotics for up to three weeks. With chronic Lyme disease cases, injectable antibiotics are used.
Prevention / Vaccination
There are several excellent ways to prevent Lyme disease. If you are walking outside in the woods or across grasslands, always wear long pants and a long-sleeved shirt. If you know it is a tick-infested area, also wear a hat, gloves and tuck your pants into your socks so ticks have nowhere to attach themselves. Do not let your dog run loose. Get rid of brush and leaves in your yard and always use insect repellent. Check your dogs, cats and horses for ticks regularly. Should you find one, don’t squash it. Remove it gently with tweezers and dispose of it.
Prognosis / Management
Lyme disease can be frustrating but a course of antibiotics should get rid of it. There are several ways to manage the symptoms, which often include fatigue, pain, depression, headaches, etc. Limit physical exertion and take a break or leave from work if you can. If you have a lot of pain, over-the-counter or prescription meds can help. Visit a pain center for management of chronic pain. If you are suffering from depression, talk to your doctor or about depression medications and a referral to a counselor. If you are diagnosed with Lyme disease, it is very important to wear a medic alert bracelet identifying your disease, meds, and who to call in case of emergency.
Alternative Treatments & Products
Lyme disease affects so many parts of the body that many alternative treatments are often used as complementary treatments. Be sure to visit your doctor for prescription antibiotics which will cure the disease. Probiotics or the “friendly bacteria” you find in yogurt and other foods can help with gastrointestinal effects.
There are several herbs which are recommended for inflammation and their anti-bacterial activity. These include reishi mushroom, green tea, olive leaf, ginko, cat’s claw, and garlic. Do not ingest ginko if you take blood thinning medicines. Do not use bismacine (chromacine) for Lyme disease because of its high levels of the bismuth metal. Acupuncture many help joint and muscular pain which is associated with chronic Lyme disease symptoms.