Lyme disease can affect:
different body systems, such as the nervous system, joints, skin, and heart. The symptoms of Lyme disease are often described as happening in three stages (although not everyone experiences all three):
1. A circular rash, typically within 1-2 weeks of infection, often is the first sign of infection. Although it’s considered typical of Lyme disease, many people never develop one.The rash usually has a characteristic “bull’s-eye” appearance, with a central red spot surrounded by clear skin that is ringed by an expanding red rash. It can also appear as an expanding ring of solid redness. It may be warm to the touch and usually is not painful or itchy. The rash might be more difficult to see on people with darker skin tones, where it can look like a bruise.
The rash usually resolves in about a month.
2. Along with the rash, a person may have flu-like symptoms such as swollen lymph nodes, fatigue, headache, and muscle aches. Left untreated, symptoms of the initial illness may go away on their own. But in some people, the infection can spread to other parts of the body. Symptoms of this stage of Lyme disease usually appear within several weeks after the tick bite, even in someone who has not developed the initial rash. A person might feel very tired and unwell, or have more areas of rash that aren’t at the site of the bite.
Lyme disease can affect the heart, leading to an irregular heart rhythm or chest pain. It can spread to the nervous system, causing facial paralysis (Bell’s palsy), or tingling and numbness in the arms and legs. It can start to cause headaches and neck stiffness, which may be signs of meningitis. Swelling and pain in the large joints also can occur.
3. The last stage of Lyme disease can occur if the early stages were not detected or appropriately treated. Symptoms of late Lyme disease can appear anytime from weeks to years after an infectious tick bite, and can include arthritis, particularly in the knees, and memory lapses (mainly in adults; this symptom is rare in kids and teens).
Having such a wide range of symptoms can make Lyme disease difficult for doctors to diagnose, although certain blood tests can be done to look for evidence of the body’s reaction to Lyme disease.
What causes Lyme disease?
Lyme disease is caused by an infection from a micro-organism (Borrelia burghdor feri), itself transmitted by a bite from the wood tick, a blood-sucking parasite which normally lives on deer.
The wood tick is found in many areas, particularly in forests where deer are common. A tick will settle anywhere on a human body, but prefers warm, moist and dark places like the crotch or armpits.
When the tick has found a suitable place on the body, it sticks in its probe to draw up blood, exposing the host to the risk of infection.
What does Lyme disease feel like?
Simply seeing a tick somewhere on your body does not mean that you have contracted Lyme disease. Unfortunately, not everyone knows when they have been bitten, so consult your GP if you detect the following symptoms.
A red spot around the location of the tick’s bite. The spot will gradually grow bigger, often with a pale area in the middle. This symptom is called erythema migrans.
Erythema migrans can also appear at other places on the body where the tick has not bitten. Some people get many red spots.
Usually one to four weeks will pass between the bite and when erythema migrans appears.
Some patients with Lyme disease feel like they have caught influenza – the symptoms may be:
TREATMENT
Lyme disease is treated with antibiotics. Timely treatment increases chances of recovery and may lessen the severity of any later symptoms in both animals and man. The most effective treatment will be recommended by your physician or in the case of your animals by your veterinarian and will depend on the stage of the disease. Treatment for later stages is more difficult often requiring extended and repeated courses of antibiotic therapy. In animals and man treatment failures and relapses are reported.
Late persistent infection Deer tick life cycle
After several months, untreated or inadequately treated patients may go on to develop severe and chronic symptoms that affect many parts of the body, including the brain, nerves, eyes, joints and heart. Many disabling symptoms can occur, including permanent paraplegia in the most extreme cases.
different body systems, such as the nervous system, joints, skin, and heart. The symptoms of Lyme disease are often described as happening in three stages (although not everyone experiences all three):
1. A circular rash, typically within 1-2 weeks of infection, often is the first sign of infection. Although it’s considered typical of Lyme disease, many people never develop one.The rash usually has a characteristic “bull’s-eye” appearance, with a central red spot surrounded by clear skin that is ringed by an expanding red rash. It can also appear as an expanding ring of solid redness. It may be warm to the touch and usually is not painful or itchy. The rash might be more difficult to see on people with darker skin tones, where it can look like a bruise.
The rash usually resolves in about a month.
2. Along with the rash, a person may have flu-like symptoms such as swollen lymph nodes, fatigue, headache, and muscle aches. Left untreated, symptoms of the initial illness may go away on their own. But in some people, the infection can spread to other parts of the body. Symptoms of this stage of Lyme disease usually appear within several weeks after the tick bite, even in someone who has not developed the initial rash. A person might feel very tired and unwell, or have more areas of rash that aren’t at the site of the bite.
Lyme disease can affect the heart, leading to an irregular heart rhythm or chest pain. It can spread to the nervous system, causing facial paralysis (Bell’s palsy), or tingling and numbness in the arms and legs. It can start to cause headaches and neck stiffness, which may be signs of meningitis. Swelling and pain in the large joints also can occur.
3. The last stage of Lyme disease can occur if the early stages were not detected or appropriately treated. Symptoms of late Lyme disease can appear anytime from weeks to years after an infectious tick bite, and can include arthritis, particularly in the knees, and memory lapses (mainly in adults; this symptom is rare in kids and teens).
Having such a wide range of symptoms can make Lyme disease difficult for doctors to diagnose, although certain blood tests can be done to look for evidence of the body’s reaction to Lyme disease.
What causes Lyme disease?
Lyme disease is caused by an infection from a micro-organism (Borrelia burghdor feri), itself transmitted by a bite from the wood tick, a blood-sucking parasite which normally lives on deer.
The wood tick is found in many areas, particularly in forests where deer are common. A tick will settle anywhere on a human body, but prefers warm, moist and dark places like the crotch or armpits.
When the tick has found a suitable place on the body, it sticks in its probe to draw up blood, exposing the host to the risk of infection.
What does Lyme disease feel like?
Simply seeing a tick somewhere on your body does not mean that you have contracted Lyme disease. Unfortunately, not everyone knows when they have been bitten, so consult your GP if you detect the following symptoms.
A red spot around the location of the tick’s bite. The spot will gradually grow bigger, often with a pale area in the middle. This symptom is called erythema migrans.
Erythema migrans can also appear at other places on the body where the tick has not bitten. Some people get many red spots.
Usually one to four weeks will pass between the bite and when erythema migrans appears.
Some patients with Lyme disease feel like they have caught influenza – the symptoms may be:
- drowsiness
- headaches
- mild fever
- joint and muscle pains
- swollen lymph glands.
TREATMENT
Lyme disease is treated with antibiotics. Timely treatment increases chances of recovery and may lessen the severity of any later symptoms in both animals and man. The most effective treatment will be recommended by your physician or in the case of your animals by your veterinarian and will depend on the stage of the disease. Treatment for later stages is more difficult often requiring extended and repeated courses of antibiotic therapy. In animals and man treatment failures and relapses are reported.
Late persistent infection Deer tick life cycle
After several months, untreated or inadequately treated patients may go on to develop severe and chronic symptoms that affect many parts of the body, including the brain, nerves, eyes, joints and heart. Many disabling symptoms can occur, including permanent paraplegia in the most extreme cases.
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