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What you Need to Know about Lyme Disease

Sep 19 09

  Filed Under: Lyme Disease


LYME DISEASE

is one of the fastest growing infectious diseases in the nation. The disease is caused by the bite of a tick infected with the spirochete bacterium Borrellia Burgdorferi and may be complicated by other parasites or co-infections, such as Babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Tularemia and Bartonella. Certain co-infections require different treatment and can be the cause of continued symptoms after being treated for Lyme.

Tick Pictures

From left to right: The deer tick adult female, adult male, nymph, and larva on a centimeter

LYME DISEASE

often called "the great masquerader" because of its ability to mimic other illnesses. Early in the infection patients may have flu-like symptoms including headache, stiff neck, fever, muscle aches, and fatigue. Early symptoms usually disappear and serious multi-systemic problems may start later. Late symptoms include: "Lyme Arthritis" with joint pain and swelling; heart disease; neurological problems such as Bells Palsy; dizziness; irritability; ADHD-like symptoms; memory and concentration impairment; word finding difficulties and muscle weakness. The symptoms can imitate other diseases such as Lupus, Multiple Sclerosis; Parkinson, and Lou Gehrig's (ALS) and may be misdiagnosed.

SYMPTOMS

  • Tick-bite
  • Rash - Basically circular, sometimes spreading, or "bulls-eye", may appear away from the bite site, occurs in less than 50% of Lyme patients.

    • MUSCULOSKELETAL SYSTEM

  • Joint pain and/or swelling
  • Stiffness of joints, back, neck
  • Muscle pain, cramps
  • Heel pain
  • Twitching of facial or other muscles
  • Restless legs

    • NEUROLOGICAL SYSTEM

  • Headache, persistent and severe
  • Numbness and tingling
  • Weakness or partial paralysis
  • Light-headedness or dizziness
  • Poor balance, difficulty walking
  • Burning and stabbing pains
  • Bells Palsy (facial paralysis)
  • Memory loss (short or long term)
  • Confusion (difficulty with thinking)
  • Speech difficulty (slurred or slow, word finding)
  • Seizures/stroke symptoms

    • VISION/EYES

  • Blurry or double vision, sight change
  • Sensitivity to light and flashing lights

    • PSYCHOLOGICAL

  • Mood swings, irritability
  • Unusual depression
  • Panic/anxiety attacks
  • Aggression/rage
  • Insomnia or sleeping too much
  • Obsessive-compulsive behavior
  • Suicidal thoughts
  • Paranoia

    • HEARING/EARS

  • Tinnitus (ringing)
  • Sound sensitivity

    • REPRODUCTION

  • Loss of sex drive

    • RESPIRATORY/CIRCULATORY SYSTEM

  • Recurring bronchial infections
  • Shortness of breath
  • Chest pain/rib soreness
  • Night sweats or chills
  • Heart palpitations, murmurs, valve prolapse, heart block, heart attack

    • GENERAL WELL-BEING

  • Extreme fatigue
  • Sore throat
  • Weight gain/loss
  • Jaw pain
  • Swollen/painful lymph glands
  • Chemical sensitivity/increased allergic reactions
  • Skin changes/nodules under the skin, dryness
  • Flu-like symptoms followed by intermittent illness

    • WHAT TO DO IF YOU ARE BITTEN BY A TICK

    1. Use a fine-point tweezer to grasp the tick at the place of attachment, as close to the skin as possible.

    2. Gently pull the tick straight out.

    3. Place the tick in a small bottle or zip lock bag labeled with the patient's name, addressed, and the date tick was removed. Do not add alcohol or preservative.

    4. Have the tick identified/tested by a lab, health department, or veterinarian.

    5. Wash your hands, disinfect the bite site and the tweezers.

    6. Seek immediate treatment.

    Proper Tick Removal, step 1

    Proper Tick Removal, step 1

    Proper Tick Removal, step 2

    Proper Tick Removal, step 2

    Images courtesy CDC Division of viral and RickettsialDisease

� Copyright 2008 National Capital Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease Association. This article may be reproduced or linked with attribution and without modification.

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Prevention Tips

1. BEWARE OF TICKS. Ticks do not hop, or fly, they crawl toward a host when detecting body heat, or carbon dioxide. Ticks live in weedy areas. Tall grass, leaf litter, low shrubs, underbrush, and field and trail edges are favored. In highly infected areas, lawns may have ticks.
2. WEAR LONG SLEEVES & LONG PANTS. Tuck the legs into your socks. Light-colored clothes make it easier to spot ticks.
3. STAY IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAILS. Don't brush against leaves and weeds or hike through the underbrush.
4. USE AN INSECT REPELLENT. Follow manufacturers directions.Look for ones containing 25-35% DEET.
5. CHECK FOR TICKS OFTEN. Crawling ones can be brushed off carefully.
6. PLACE CLOTHES IN A DRYER. A 1/2 hr. dryer high heat cycle will destroy ticks which might be hiding in clothing. the scalp, and behind the ears.
7. DO A THOROUGH TICK CHECK. Ticks crawl upward until they are stopped..Check legs, waistline, bra line, and armpits, and ask a family member to help check scalp, back, etc.
8. USE REPELLENTS AND CHECK YOUR PETS before they enter the house for crawling or attached ticks.
9. HUNTERS AND TRAPPERS SHOULD HANG ANIMAL CARCASSES AWAY FROM BUILDINGS. Put a bucket of bleach water under the animal to catch any ticks falling off. Wear rubber gloves when field dressing or handling meat to minimize chances for infection.