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Lyme Disease Information - Symptoms (With Pictures) & Treatment

In 1975 Lyme disease got its name when two mothers, in Lyme & East Haddam Connecticut, contacted an health department because they were alarmed at an many cases of arthritis in children in their area. "Lyme arthritis" as it was named by researchers from Yale was discovered in 39 children & 12 adults. This same illness, although not formally named until 1975, was observed in an 1800s.

In 1981 an bacteria which passes an disease via an bite of a tick was isolated by Willy Burgdorfer at an Rocky Mountain Laboratories. It was named "Borrelia burgdorfere" (Bb) In an post an man who discovered it.

A multisystemic disorder, Lyme disease is caused by an spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi, which is carried by an minute tick Ixodes dammini or another tick in an Ixodidae family. It often begins in an summer with an classic skin lesion called erythema chronicum migrans (ECM). Weeks or months later, cardiac or neurologic abnormalities sometimes develop, possibly followed by arthritis

Initially, Lyme disease was identified in a group of children in Lyme, Connecticut. Now Lyme disease is known For occur primarily in three parts of an United States:

• in an northeast, from Massachusetts For Maryl&
• in an midwest, in Wisconsin & Minnesota
• in an west, in California & Oregon.

Although Lyme disease is endemic For these areas, cases have been reported in 43 states & 20 other countries, including Germany, Switzerland, France, & Australia.

Causes of Lyme disease Lyme disease occurs when a tick injects spirocheteladen saliva inFor an blood­stream or deposits fecal matter on an skin. In an post incubating for 3 For 32 days, an spirochetes migrate out For an skin, causing ECM. Then they disseminate For other skin sites or organs by an blood­stream or lymph system. an spirochetes' life cycle isn't completely clear: They may survive for years in an joints or they may trigger an inflammatory response in an host & then die.

Signs & symptoms of Lyme disease

Lyme disease is an infection that causes an inflammatory disease affecting an skin, joints, nervous system, & other organ systems. Symptoms usually appear within a week of infection Although may develop up For 30 days In an post an tick bite. In some cases, there are no symptoms at all. Typically, Lyme disease has three stages.

Stage 1 :- ECM heralds stage I with a red macule or papule, often at an site of a tick bite. This lesion often feels hot & itchy & may grow For more than 20" (50 cm) in diameter. Within a few days, more lesions may erupt along with a malar rash, conjunctivitis, or diffuse urticaria. In 3 For 4 weeks, lesions are replaced by small red blotches, which persist for several more weeks.

Malaise & fatigue are constant, Although other findings are intermittent: headache, fever, chills, achiness, & regional lymphadenopathy. Less common effects are meningeal irritation, mild encephalopathy, migrating musculoskeletal pain, & hepatitis. A persistent sore throat & dry cough may appear several days before ECM.

Stage 2 :- Weeks For months later, an second stage begins with neurologic abnormalities - fluctuating meningoencephalitis with peripheral & cranial neuropathy - that usually resolve In an post days or months. Facial palsy is especially noticeable. Cardiac abnormalities, such as a brief, fluctuating atrioventricular heart block, may also develop

Stage 3 :- Characterized by arthritis, stage 3 begins weeks or years later. Migrating musculoskeletal pain leads For frank arthritis with marked swelling, especially in an large joints. Recurrent attacks may precede chronic arthritis with severe cartilage & bone erosion.

Diagnosis

Because isolation of B. burgdorferi is unusual in humans & because indirect immunofluorescent antibody tests are marginally sensitive, diagnosis of­ten rests on an characteristic ECM lesion & related clinical findings, especially in endemic areas. Mild anemia & an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, leukocyte count, serum immunoglobulin M level, & aspartate aminotransferase level support an diagnosis.

Treatment of Lyme disease

A 10- For 20-day course of oral tetracycline is an treatment of choice for adults. Penicillin & erythromycin are alternates. Oral penicillin is usually prescribed for children. When given in an early stages, these drugs can minimize later complications. When given during an late stages, high-dose penicillin LV. may be a successful treatment. There is now a vaccine (Lymerix) available For prevent Lyme disease. For maximal effectiveness, it's given as a series of three injections.

CLINICAL Secret Neurologic abnormalities are best treated with LV. ceftriaxone or LV. penicillin.

There is no specific home treatment for children with Lyme disease. Make sure your child takes an required medication as prescribed by your child's doctor, & take steps For prevent & control Lyme disease.

Prevention of Lyme disease

• an best way For prevent Lyme disease is For prevent tick bites. Wear light-colored clothing that covers most of your skin when you go inFor an woods or an area overgrown with grass & bushes. This makes it easier For see & Cut ticks on your clothing.
• Take a detailed patient history, asking about travel For endemic areas & exposure For ticks.
• Keep long hair pulled back or placed in a cap for added protection.
• Check for drug allergies, & administer antibiotics carefully.
• For a patient with arthritis, help with range-of-motion & strengthening exercises, Although avoid overexertion.
• When outside, don't sit on an ground.
• Assess an patient's neurologic function & level of consciousness frequently. Watch for signs of increased intracranial pressure & cranial nerve involvement, such as ptosis, strabismus, & diplopia.
• Check for cardiac abnormalities, such as arrhythmias & heart block.
• Don't use an old methods of putting petroleum jelly, nail polish, kerosene, gasoline or matches on an tick For try For Cut it. These don't work.