Integrated-1st Period

Lyme Disease

Page history last edited by evan b 1 yr ago

Lyme disease is also a serious disease caused by the bite of deer ticks. Approximately 20% of all deer ticks carry the bacteria which causes Lyme Disease ( Jenessa)

ticks infected with berrelia burgdorfery spread lyme disease
the type of tick most commonly linked to the disease is the black legged tick
the ticks transmit lyme disease to humans during their nymphal stage of life
often, humans can not see the ticks due to their small size
there is no evidence that states lyme disease can be transmitted any other way (amanda)

often starts with flu like symptoms including headache, stiff neck, fever, stiff muscles and fatigue
60% of light skinned victims of this disease notice a unique enlarging rash days to weeks after the bite
nerve conduction in brain defects (loss of reflexes)
meningitus
cranial nerve involvement (change in smell and taste, difficulty chewing, swallowing or speaking)
facial paralysis
eye damage includes; retinal damage, red eye and blindness
irregular heart beats
mild liver function abnormalities
difficulty breathing
pain, cramps and loss of muscle tone
nausea, vomiting, diarehhea, loss of appetite, anorexia
women in pregnancy could suffer from misscarriage, premature birth and still birth (amanda)

Most Lyme disease is curable with antibiotics.
The type of antibiotic depends on the stage of the disease (early or late) and what areas of the body are affected. Early illness is usually treated with oral medicines
Some examples of oral medicines are: doxycycline, amoxicillin, or cefuroxime axetil.
If a person has a rash in an area of a tick bite they should seek medical attention as soon as possible.
The antibiotic treatment resolves the rash within one or two weeks.
Later illness such as nervous-system disease might require intravenous drugs, for example, ceftriaxone
For the relief of symptoms, pain-relieving medicines might be added ( Jenessa)

Treatment of early localized Lyme disease typically involves a course of antibiotics administered for 3 to 4 weeks.
If diagnosed quickly and treated with antibiotics, Lyme disease in children is almost always treatable. The skin rash usually goes away within several days after starting treatment, but other signs and symptoms may persist for several weeks (evan)

lyme disease occurs in the temperate forrested regions of europe, asia and costal north america
first discovered by alfred buchwald, sweden, 1883 (amanda)