Lyme Disease

Lyme Disease

Lyme disease is a condition that is created by a specific bacterium that is referred to as “Borrelia Burgdorferi”. Humans can acquire this disease if they receive a bite from a tick that is considered to be blacklegged. This specific illness was discovered in the year of 1975. For nearly four decades, medical professionals and scientists alike have studied Lyme disease in order to establish solid information that could be relayed to the general public.

This medical condition can be treated in a successful manner if treated in a timely fashion, but left untreated; it can cause many health complications. It has been discovered that the infection established by this particular disease can spread to the organs of the body, the joints of the body, and even the nervous system. In this general guide, you will learn the basics surrounding Lyme disease.

Symptoms of Lyme Disease

There are many symptoms associated with Lyme disease. It is important to understand that the symptoms of this potentially serious disease can vary from one individual to another. The symptoms that occur do so based on which part of the body is affected. Initially, an individual will typically notice that they have a rash. This occurs in nearly all that are affected and occurs near where the tick bit the infected individual.

Medical professionals refer to this rash as “Erythema Migrans”. It could be as long as a month before a rash is noticed after being bitten by a tick. This rash may be localized to the area of the bite, but many patients have additional rashes that develop in other areas of the body. In some instances, many areas of the body will shown the physical signs of a rash.

Many individuals that suffer from Lyme disease will find that they develop a fever. The fever may be mild but it may be severe depending on the severity of the infection in the body. The fever may or may not be accompanied by body chills and/or hot flashes. Many often complain of pain throughout the body in the area of the joints as well as the muscles.

Headaches of varying degrees of severity are often experienced by patients that contract Lyme disease. As the infection progresses, it is not uncommon for sufferers to discover that various lymph nodes are swollen in the body.

In the advanced stages of Lyme disease, the following symptoms may be experienced:

• Decline in Muscle Tone Throughout the Body

• Development of Bell’s Palsy

• Migraines

• Severe Pain in the Neck

• Palpitations in the Heart

• Mild to Severe Dizziness

• Swelling of Joints

• Neurological Complications

• Cognitive Difficulties

Preventing Lyme Disease

There are many steps that individuals can take in order to prevent Lyme disease. While this condition can be treated with antibiotics, most of the time the disease has progressed to a dangerous level by the time it is identified. This is why prevention techniques must be taken to avoid the issue. The first prevention measure is to ensure that you and your family implement the use of insect repellent. If you or another identifies a tick on their body, it is important to remove it as quickly as possible.

Even if the tick does not transmit the bacterium that causes Lyme disease, it could transmit another sickness. Furthermore, you should ensure that you take the appropriate measures to control pests both outside the home and inside the home. By doing so, you can successfully reduce the chance of developing Lyme disease.