Lyme disease is a tick-borne illness that progresses in three stages, with the final stage causing damage to the brain. The Ixodes tick carries the bacteria, which can be prevented and treated with antibiotics. It is found in several US states and has been reported in other countries.
Lyme disease is a tick-borne disease that affects several thousand people each year. It usually progresses in three stages, with the final symptoms causing damage to the brain. The disease can be prevented and treated, often very successfully.
The Ixodes tick carries the bacteria that cause Lyme disease. This tick can be identified by its distinctive black legs and is found primarily in a handful of US states, including Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin. However, cases have been reported in all 50 US states, as well as Canada, Europe and Asia. When a tick bites, the bacteria living inside it “jump ship” to the person being bitten and enter the person’s bloodstream. The initial result is a rash and the disease proceeds from there.
The first stage is called the localized stage and involves symptoms that do not extend beyond the area immediately surrounding the initial site of the bite. A red-ringed rash appears at the site of the bite and can last up to five weeks. Other symptoms of this stage include fatigue, headaches and general pain, joint pain, and swollen lymph glands near the site of the bite.
The second stage, or early disseminated stage, begins two weeks to three months after the initial bite. Symptoms include a rash in areas away from the bite site, severe fatigue and headache, irregular heartbeat, fever, sensitivity to light, and sometimes even facial paralysis.
The last stage is called the advanced stage. The onset of symptoms in this stage can range from a few weeks to a few years after the initial bite. Arthritis, especially in the knees, is a common symptom. An extreme complication in the advanced stage is a decrease in cognitive function.
Lyme disease can usually be treated, and the sooner it is detected, the more effective and less severe the treatment. In most cases, treatment consists of oral and/or intravenous antibiotics to fight the bacteria that are causing the disease. The vast majority of sufferers quickly experience a complete eradication of the bacteria once antibiotics kick in. Even medical professionals require prevention techniques to avoid this disease in the first place.
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