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Lyme Disease Treatment
This site is a resource for the Lyme Disease Causes, Diagnosis, and Lyme Disease Cures.
Lymes disease is an infectious disease that is caused by the Borrelia bacteria. The disease is primarily spread by tick bites. When the tick bites into a host, the bacteria is able to infect the body. Lyme disease is not contagious from one person to another person. The disease causes many adverse effects, ranging from skin, joint, and heart abnormalities. Lyme disease is hardly fatal.
The earliest signs of infection is an aggressive rash that develops a week to 30 days after the bite has occurred. Flu-like symptoms are also typical of a Lyme disease infection. The body will try to eradicate the bacteria from the body by raising the body’s temperature. Lethargy, achy joints, and swollen lymph nodes are signs of the body trying to destroy the Lyme disease-causing bacterium. The rash starts as a small, irritated patch on a localized area on the skin. After a few days, the rash will grow and spread.
If left untreated, further signs of Lyme’s disease will appear, with some symptoms being neurological. Neuroborreliosis can occur, with symptoms usually consisting of facial palsy and stiffness of the neck. At this stage, nerve damage can occur, with paraplegia occurring in some extreme cases of infections. If any of these warning signs persists, then visit a doctor as soon as possible; especially if you have been in heavily wooded areas in the past 30 days.
During the early signs of infections, a doctor can make a diagnose by inspecting the rash typical of Lyme disease infections. Blood tests to check for antibodies are usually not effective during this stage, but it can act as a marker for individuals who are experiencing the later stages of infections. The most effective and accurate way of diagnosing this disease is through the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. This biochemical technique is used to measure antigens in a sample from the infected person.
Lyme Disease Treatment
Lymes disease is treated with antibiotics. The type of antibiotics used will be in accordance to the stage and severity of the symptoms. Early or mild infections can be cured with oral antibiotics like cefuroxime. More extreme cases will usually require a hospital stay with intravenous drugs like penicillin being administered until the disease is eradicated. Ibuprofen is usually used to reduce the inflammation in the joints. Antibiotics can cure the disease within a few weeks.
Lyme disease does not only affect people, it can also affect dogs. The disease is spread by tick bites. Just like humans, the symptoms range from lethargy, inflammation of the joints, and loss of appetite. Severe cases might cause neurological and kidney damage. The legs of an infected dog will tend to have a lameness to them. Some other symptoms include difficulty of breathing, sensitivity to touch and light.
A diagnosis will usually include a blood profile to see if there are any present antibodies. Like humans, the dog will usually be given a round of antibiotics to help the body eradicate the disease. In most cases, the dog will be able to stay home while the antibiotics are being administered. It is the pet owner’s responsibility to heed any dietary changes mandated by the veterinarian, as well as keep up with the dosage schedule. Long term joint pain is, unfortunately, a permanent symptom for certain dogs, especially if they have a compromised immune system.
For more information on Lyme Disease check out our information on:
* Lyme Disease Treatment
* Lyme Disease in Dogs
* Lyme Disease Videos