Lyme Disease Ticks

      Lyme disease is a disease that is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorfere, which is likely to be spread via a deer tick.  The deer tick feeds on the blood of both humans and animals, and can hold the disease and transfer it to its host.  Some of the symptoms of lyme disease range from body aches, joint swelling, rash, fever, temporary paralysis, and weakness. 

     You are most likely to contract lyme disease if you live near wooded or grassy areas where ticks may live.  Usually, if you can identify that you have been bitten by a tick carrying lyme disease, you can be treated with antibiotics early to prevent any long-lasting or serious symptoms. 

Symptoms of Lyme Disease

      Every person who contracts Lyme disease may react differently, so it is important to remember that if you have Lyme disease, you may see one or all of these symptoms.  Typically the first sign of Lyme disease is the rash.  It will probably begin with just a small, red bump that begins a few days to a month after the tick bite occurs, and the rash will usually occur right around the tick bite.  The rash may feel a little tender and may also feel warm when you touch it.  The redness will probably get bigger over the next few days, and may be anywhere from the size of a penny to as much as twelve inches across.  It characteristically appears as a bulls eye, having a red ring with a clear area and then a red center.  This rash is referred to as erythema migrans, and usually will affect about 70 to 80% of people who are infected.  Additionally, if you are allergic to the saliva of the tick, you may have redness that develops at the location of the tick bite.  This redness may fade after a week or so.  This redness is not erythema migrans. 

     Another symptom of lyme disease is flu-like symptoms.  These symptoms may include body aches, headaches, chills, fever, and fatigue.   Another symptom could be migratory joint pain, which means that you may feel severe joint pain as well as swelling from several weeks to months after the time of infection.  This usually occurs in cases that have not been treated.  Often the knees are affected, but the pain can be felt in any of your joints, but finger joints are rare. 

     Neurological problems are another symptom of Lyme disease.  Some people may suffer from an inflammation of the membranes that surround your brain.  This is known as meningitis.  Also, Bell's palsy may be experienced, which is a temporary paralysis that affects one side of your face.  You may also feel numbness or weakness in your limbs.  Impaired muscle movement may happen weeks, months, or years after an untreated infection occurs.  Some other symptoms of late stages of Lyme disease may be difficulty concentrating, loss of memory, and changes in your mood or in your sleep habits.  Some less common symptoms of Lyme disease include eye inflammation, severe fatigue, hepatitis, and heart problems, which include an irregular heartbeat.

Causes of Lyme Disease

     Lyme disease is caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, which is a bacteria carried by deer ticks.  These ticks appear brown and are tiny; in fact they are about the size of a pin.  A tick feeds on blood.  This means that it must find a host, penetrate the host, and begin feeding on the blood of the host.  Many of these ticks will feed until they have become so engorged that they have grown to many times larger than their normal size.  If the tick is carrying disease producing bacteria, it can transmit this to a healthy host while it is feeding.  If their host is infected, they can also pick up the disease and become infected in that manner. 

     Often deer ticks, primarily responsible for the transmission of Lyme disease, will feed on mice, deer, and small birds.  They can also feed on dogs, horses, cats, and humans.  What they normally do is wait on low bushes or tall grasses, and when a host passes by, they will land on the host and then begin feasting. 

     In order to get Lyme disease, you have to be bitten by a deer tick that is infected with the disease.  The bacteria will enter into your skin by means of the bite and then make their way into your bloodstream.  When you see a tick on your body, you need to remove it immediately and place it in a jar.  You an also send the tick to your local health department to find out if the tick is diseased.  It is important that in the meantime you look for the symptoms so that you can start on antibiotics if you do indeed have Lyme disease, because with Lyme disease, the earlier the detection, the better chance you have of remaining symptom free and healthy. 

    To remove a tick, you will need a tweezers.  Next, grasp the tick by its mouthpart, as close as you can get to your skin.  Then pull the tick out in a straight, even, and steady motion.  Be sure that you did not leave any part of the tick embedded in your skin.  This can lead to an infection.  Put some antiseptic on the area after removing the tick. 

     Remember that the longer the tick remains on your skin, the greater your risk is for developing Lyme disease.  If you have signs or symptoms of Lyme disease, you need to see your doctor immediately.  If Lyme disease is left untreated, it can spread to other portions of your body for several months to years after the initial infection occurred.  This can lead to nervous system problems and long-term arthritis.  Ticks are also able to transmit other diseases, such as Colorado tick fever, anaplasmosis, and ehrlichiosis. 

     In many cases, Lyme disease is overdiagnosed. Some of the symptoms of Lyme disease are found in other conditions.  To confirm your diagnosis of Lyme disease, your doctor may wish to perform lab tests that will identify antibodies to the bacteria.  These are usually reliable tests a few weeks after the infection and your body has developed antibodies.  The ELISA test, or Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay test will detect antibodies, but can sometimes provide false-positive results.  The Western blot test may be used in conjunction with the ELISA test which detects antibodies to a few proteins of B. Burgdorferi.  Polymerase chain reaction test can be given to detect any baterial DNA in fluid that is taken from an infected joint.  It is not good at detecting an infection of the blood or the urine.  It can be effective for people who have chronic Lyme arthritis. 

Treatment of Lyme Disease

     Once you have been diagnosed with Lyme disease, it is time to figure out what to do about it.  The typical standard treatment for Lyme disease in the early stages is to take oral antibiotics.  Often these drugs will prevent complications and clear the infection.  Typically the antibiotics will need to be taken for fourteen to twenty-one days.  If the disease has progressed to later stages, you may need to have intravenous antibiotics.  This may last for fourteen to twenty-eight days.  However, keep in mind that there are some side effects to intravenous antibiotics, such as a lower white blood cell count, diarrhea, and gallstones. 

Prevention of Lyme Disease