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Lyme disease - primary Causes and Risks:
Lyme disease was first described in the U.S. in the town of Old Lyme, Connecticut, in 1975, but it has now been reported in most parts of the U.S. Most cases occur in the Northeast, upper Midwest, and the Pacific Coast. Mice and deer are the most commonly infected animals that serve as hosts to the tick . Most infections occur in the summer. The disease is difficult to diagnose because the symptoms mimic other diseases. A characteristic red rash usually occurs at the site of the bite; however, the bite may go unnoticed. In primary infection, a flu-like illness with fever , chills, and muscle aches occur in about 50% of those infected. The second stage develops weeks to months after the skin lesions disappear. It is characterized by neurological or cardiac symptoms. The third stage develops later on and is characterized by arthritis. Risk factors include recent tick bite or recent outdoor activities in endemic areas. Approximately 8 out of 100,000 people are affected annually.
Prevention:
When walking or hiking in tick infested areas, tuck long pants into socks to protect the legs, and wear shoes and long sleeved shirts. Ticks will show up on white or light colors better than dark colors, making them easier to remove from clothing. Remove ticks immediately by using a tweezers, pulling carefully and steadily. Insect repellent may be helpful. Check pets for ticks also.
Symptoms:
- a flat or slightly raised red lesion at the site of the tick bite
expansion of the red lesion ( rash ) to several inches over several days
Signs and Tests:
Treatment:
The objective of treatment is to eliminate the infection by antibiotic therapy, and prevent secondary or tertiary infection. Medications include tetracycline, cefuroxime, or amoxicillin in children.
Note: oral tetracycline is usually not prescribed for children until after all the permanent teeth have erupted; it can permanently discolor teeth that are still forming.
Prognosis:
The signs and symptoms resolve in 3 to 4 weeks, even without treatment; however, the secondary or tertiary form of the disease may develop if the initial infection is not treated. Neurologic or cardiac symptoms may develop in the second stage of the disease, followed by arthritis in the third stage of the disease.
Complications:
Call Your Healthcare Provider:
Call for an appointment with your health care provider if you exhibit symptoms of Lyme disease , particularly if you could have been exposed to ticks .
Call your health care provider if sensory or muscular weakness , numbness or tingling , or heart irregularities develop.
Erythema chronicum migrans is the initial lesion of Lyme disease, and often appears at the site of the infecting tick bite. It is a red, enlarging rash, flat (macular) or slightly raised, and may reach from 4 to 20 inches across (the average rash is 6 inches). (Courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control.)
Borrelia burgdorferi is a spirochete similar to spirochetes of other diseases, such as relapsing fever and syphilis. This organism causes Lyme Disease. (Courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control.)
This is an illustration of deer and wood ticks. Diseases are often carried by ticks. These diseases include: Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Colorado Tick Fever, Lyme disease, and tularemia. Less common or less frequent diseases include typhus, Q-fever, relapsing fever, viral encephalitis, hemorrhagic fever, and babesiosis.
There are many species of ticks. Of these, a large proportion are capable of carrying disease. Diseases carried by ticks include Lyme disease, Erlichiosis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Colorado Tick Fever, tularemia, typhus, Q fever, hemorrhagic fever, and viral encephalitis. (Courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control.)
Centers for Disease Control (CDC) maintain statistics on disease, including Lyme disease. This chart illustrates the number of cases reported in 1992 for each state. (Courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control.)
Centers for Disease Control (CDC) maintain statistics on diseases, including Lyme disease. This graph shows the number of reported cases of lyme disease has increased since 1982. (Courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control.)
Centers for Disease Control (CDC) maintain statistics on diseases, including Lyme disease. This graph shows the proportion of lyme disease compared to other diseases that are spread by contact with an animal or insect bite. (Courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control.)
Centers for Disease Control (CDC) maintain statistics on diseases, including Lyme disease. (Courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control.)
Lyme disease was a cover story in Newsweek. Lyme disease is now a nationally-recognized problem. (Courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control.)
Centers for Disease Control (CDC) maintain statistics on diseases, including Lyme Disease. (Courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control.)
The typical lesion of Lyme disease is a large, rapidly-expanding area of redness located at the tick bite site (shown here on the back, near the underarm). The rash can cover from 4 to 20 inches across, though the average rash is 6 inches across. The name migrans is derived from migrate. (Courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Gary Wormser M.D., New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY.)
Centers for Disease Control (CDC) maintain statistics on diseases, including Lyme Disease. (Courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control.)
Lyme disease is caused by a bacterium known as a spirochete because of its long, corkscrew shape. The infectious organism is named Borrelia burgdorferi. The photomicrograph shows the typical corkscrew appearance of a spirochete. (Courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control.)
This is one suggested method of tick removal. Care must be taken not to squeeze the body of the tick, as this may force infectious fluid back into the skin. (Courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control.)
The typical lesion of Lyme disease is a large, rapidly-expanding area of redness located at the tick bite site (shown here on lower leg). The rash can cover from 4 to 20 inches across, though the average rash is 6 inches across. The name migrans is derived from migrate. (Courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Allen Steere M.D., New England Medical Center, Boston, MA.)
Facial paralysis (palsy) may be associated with Lyme disease. (Courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Andrea Kiesk M.D., Marquette Clinic, Marquette, MI.)
Centers for Disease Control (CDC) maintain statistics on diseases, including Lyme disease. (Courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control.)
This is a close-up photograph of a tick embedded in the skin. Ticks are important because they can carry diseases such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever, tularemia, Colorado tick fever, Lyme disease, and others.
The rash produced by Lyme disease often appears at the site of the infecting tick bite. It is a red, enlarging rash,that is flat (macular) or slightly raised, and covers an area from 4 to 20 inches across (the average rash is 6 inches).
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