Lyme disease is a disease that has been extensively studied for the last forty years. It has been established that the causative organisms are bacteria known as spirochetes. Different species have been discovered over time. The symptoms associated with the illness are variable and may include, skin lesions, multiple joint pains, symptoms of heart disease and central nervous system abnormalities. Knowing how to treat Lyme disease is important for Tucson, AZ residents.
The vector ticks that play a central in the transmission are parasites of deer in many geographical regions of the world. One a human is bitten by these ticks the bacteria are released into the blood stream where they begin to incubate. As a result, the disease typically has two phases; an early brief phase that is localised and a prolonged systemic late phase.
During the first phase, there is flu like illness a few days after being bitten. The second phase follows an incubation period of about two weeks. More advanced conditions may manifest as meningitis, cerebral palsy or arthritis. In the long term, some persons have been found to be extraordinarily anxious and depressed. To diagnose the illness there is need to corroborate the history with the appearance of specific antibodies in the blood.
A special technique, ELISA, is used in the detection of the antibodies. It is important to remember that antibodies may be detected in blood in the absence of an illness. They tend to remain in the blood stream even when the patient has been treated and cured. Interpretation of a positive result should therefore be treated with a lot of caution. The nonspecific nature of the illness is another major challenge as it resembles other diseases.
Treatment is mainly through the use of antibiotics. There are numerous antibiotics that are very effective and the choice depends on disease severity and the area of the body that has been affected. Oral drugs have been found to be highly effective for early phase illness while intravenous drugs are useful in the advanced forms of the disease. The most important thing to remember here is that prompt treatment has better outcomes.
Doxycycline, amoxicillin and cefuroxime are some of the drugs that are used for early phase treatment. If treated promptly the early phase of the illness resolves in a week or two and usually there are no long term consequences. Doxycycline is, however, contraindicated in expectant women and children under the age of 8. The drugs that are commonly used once complications set in include ceftriaxone ad penicillin G. Unfortunately, no home remedies exist.
Analgesic drugs also have a role to play because of the associated complications. They are particularly useful in managing cases such as arthtris. If the joint swelling is very severe, aspiration of joint fluid may help. It should be pointed out that all treatments should be initiated and monitored by a qualified health professional.
The highest incidence of this illness is found among children aged five to fourteen years and adults aged forty to fifty years. Living in areas infested with the ticks is perhaps the biggest risk factor to contracting the illness. This disease is not contagious and is not cross the placenta.
The vector ticks that play a central in the transmission are parasites of deer in many geographical regions of the world. One a human is bitten by these ticks the bacteria are released into the blood stream where they begin to incubate. As a result, the disease typically has two phases; an early brief phase that is localised and a prolonged systemic late phase.
During the first phase, there is flu like illness a few days after being bitten. The second phase follows an incubation period of about two weeks. More advanced conditions may manifest as meningitis, cerebral palsy or arthritis. In the long term, some persons have been found to be extraordinarily anxious and depressed. To diagnose the illness there is need to corroborate the history with the appearance of specific antibodies in the blood.
A special technique, ELISA, is used in the detection of the antibodies. It is important to remember that antibodies may be detected in blood in the absence of an illness. They tend to remain in the blood stream even when the patient has been treated and cured. Interpretation of a positive result should therefore be treated with a lot of caution. The nonspecific nature of the illness is another major challenge as it resembles other diseases.
Treatment is mainly through the use of antibiotics. There are numerous antibiotics that are very effective and the choice depends on disease severity and the area of the body that has been affected. Oral drugs have been found to be highly effective for early phase illness while intravenous drugs are useful in the advanced forms of the disease. The most important thing to remember here is that prompt treatment has better outcomes.
Doxycycline, amoxicillin and cefuroxime are some of the drugs that are used for early phase treatment. If treated promptly the early phase of the illness resolves in a week or two and usually there are no long term consequences. Doxycycline is, however, contraindicated in expectant women and children under the age of 8. The drugs that are commonly used once complications set in include ceftriaxone ad penicillin G. Unfortunately, no home remedies exist.
Analgesic drugs also have a role to play because of the associated complications. They are particularly useful in managing cases such as arthtris. If the joint swelling is very severe, aspiration of joint fluid may help. It should be pointed out that all treatments should be initiated and monitored by a qualified health professional.
The highest incidence of this illness is found among children aged five to fourteen years and adults aged forty to fifty years. Living in areas infested with the ticks is perhaps the biggest risk factor to contracting the illness. This disease is not contagious and is not cross the placenta.
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