Chronic Lyme Disease Symptoms

Chronic Lyme Disease, or late disseminated Lyme disease, is the third stage of this multi-system, multi-stage illness. Various factors may contribute to chronic Lyme disease. Not all people infected with the Lyme bacteria develop the same symptoms, and a correct diagnosis is difficult. Chronic Lyme disease can occur when people have not been properly diagnosed or treated, or if they have received inadequate treatment. If all of the bacteria that cause Lyme disease are not killed off, the illness can move into a chronic stage, resulting in arthritis, chronic fatigue, poor concentration skills, and more.

Patients who are diagnosed immediately after getting infected seem to have the best chance of quick and complete recovery when they begin antibiotic treatment immediately. Yet Lyme Disease, which has been nicknamed the Great Imitator, can mimic the symptoms of at least a hundred other medical conditions. Unsuspecting patients and their physicians simply may not know which tests to administer in the face of so many possibilities. Lyme disease is so often misdiagnosed that if and when the patient does eventually receive a correct diagnosis, their condition may have already become chronic.

According to some medical experts, if the Lyme Disease patient does not receive antibiotics for a long enough period of time, the symptoms may become chronic. Misdiagnosis can contribute to chronic Lyme Disease when doctors subscribe medications for diseases or conditions they believe their patients have, but in fact they do not. This can have disastrous results. For example, the use of cortico-steroids will replicate the spirochetes (bacteria) that cause Lyme Disease. Therefore, steroids are to be avoided where Lyme Disease is suspected, and they are contraindicated. Some Lyme-literate doctors believe that steroid use while Lyme bacteria are present will cause chronic Lyme disease. But, ignorant of the possibility of Lyme bacteria, Lyme-iliterate MDs have mistakenly prescribed steroids to control inflammation, with calamitous results for their patients.

Many people who have been labeled with another chronic disease such as Lupus, Multiple Sclerosis, Fibromyalgia, Parkinson's, and others, may indeed have a condition that could be effectively treated with antibiotics. Lyme bacteria may be the underlying cause of their current condition, or at least a contributor. Many MDs are Lyme-illiterate. This is unfortunate considering the alarming rise in the number of proven Lyme Disease diagnoses. Incurious doctors may simply never suspect infection and therefore, never administer a test for Lyme Disease or one of the many coinfections with which it is frequently associated. They may go on wrongly treating a misdiagnosed patient for years. The patient, for their part, may continue being sick with chronic Lyme Disease, never understanding why the medicines they consume aren't making them any better.

Rampant misdiagnosis, unreliable tests and contentiousness between medical experts regarding the correct treatment of Lyme Disease has created a milieu wherein patients are typically aware that they must advocate for their own healing path. But how can Lyme Disease patients advocate the best treatment for themselves if they remain ignorant of the underlying cause of their illness? And why are many medical experts ignorant of and uninformed about this rapidly spreading disease, now verging on epidemic?

Medical insurance constraints on long-term treatment of chronic Lyme Disease contribute to the problem. Many clinics, doctors and hospitals, are heavily lobbied by wealthy insurance companies who refuse to acknowledge the evidence put forth by Lyme-literate experts that long-term care is necessary for treating chronic Lyme disease successfully. Many MDs simply adhere to the stringent definition of this damaging disease posited by the Center for Disease Control (CDC).

Typical CDC protocol followed by many uninformed, Lyme-iliterate MDs is to administer a 30 day prescription of antibiotics, and assume that the bacteria will be killed off and the patient recovered by the end of the month. In some cases this is probably sufficient. But given the extremely complicated nature of a correct diagnosis, the varied symptoms of Lyme Disease patients, and the confusion of MDs over how best to treat Lyme Disease, it's little wonder that in most cases, 30 days of antibiotic treatment does not cure the patient. In fact, according to one line of Lyme expert thought, this course of treatment is to blame for the disease moving into a chronic stage.

Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

Copyright © 2005 Suzanne Arthur. All rights reserved.

About the Author:
Suzanne Arthur is a freelance writer and frequent contributor to the Lyme Disease Research Database. Learn how to defeat Lyme, join the Lyme Disease Research database- http://www.lyme-disease-research-database.com

Lyme Disease And Your Dog – A Deadly Combination

Lyme disease is primarily spread to both dogs and humans through the bite of an infected tick. Many different species of ticks can be involved, including the deer tick, the western black-legged tick, and the black legged tick. Ticks are tiny parasites that are difficult to see with the naked eye and can easily hide on people and pets.

Ticks, however, are not the only way the disease can be spread, fleas and other biting insects are capable of spreading it as well. There have been incidents in which Lyme disease has been transmitted by direct contact with infected body fluids. This ease of transmission has made Lyme disease one of the most commonly reported tick-borne diseases.

The symptoms of Lyme disease in dogs include lethargy, loss of appetite, high fever, swollen lymph nodes and joint, and/or a sudden onset of lameness. Veterinarians have the ability to test for this disease in house and should be consulted immediately if any of the symptoms develop. Rapid treatment of a diagnosed case of Lyme disease is essential to prevent permanent damage to the joints on internal organs.

To lessen your dogs chances of contracting lyme disease, you should vaccinate him. After the initial immunization, a booster is recommended three weeks later, followed thereafter by annual re-vaccinations. The symptoms of Lyme disease in humans are similar to those found in dogs, and vaccination of the family dog will help to prevent the spread to humans.

A tick must feed on the host for approximately 24 hours before spread of the disease takes place. When you return from an outing, carefully check your dog’s skin and coat, including the groin, around the ears and tail and between the toes. If a tick is found, remove it immediately with an alcohol swab and tweezers. After applying the alcohol to the tick, carefully pull the tick upwards. Try not to squeeze the tick while removing it as this may force bacteria from the tick, back into the animal.

If possible, save the tick in a jar or sealed container. If the dog becomes sick or exhibits any of the symptoms described earlier, your veterinarian can identify the type of tick to aid in the choice of antibiotics to use. When it comes to ticks, do not take any chances.

About The Author

Randy Jones and his partner Brent Jones have been in the pet industry for a long time. Recently they formed http://www.joncopets.com. On the site, customers can shop for the latest dog collars, dog clothes, pet supplies and more. Check them out at http://www.joncopets.com.

The Symptoms of Lyme Disease

The Symptoms of Lyme Disease takes many form. But skins signs, arthrithis and various neurological symptoms are often presents. One sign of Lyme Disease is a rash, This rash called "EM" or Erythema Migrans. It begins as a small red spot and grow larger, creating a "bulls eye" or ring appereance. Some people with Lyme Disease may have many Red Spots. This rash may burn, hurt, or itch, or even you may not feel it.

Other Early synptoms and sign of Lyme Disease are Fever, Fatigue, Headache, Muscle and joint aches. In some people, early Lyme disease can spread to the heart or nervous system. If the Lyme Disease spreads to the heart, the person may feel an irregular or slow heartbeat and if It spreads to the nervous system, can cause the face to droop (A condition which called "Bell's Palsy").

The Incubation period from bite, infection and to symptoms is usually 1- 2 weeks, but can be much shorter (a couple of days), or even months to years.

Source : Wikipedia and American Academy of Family Physicians
Picture : www.healthofchildren.com

Neurological Symptoms Of Lyme Disease

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection transmitted by the bite of an infected tick. It may cause a number of medical conditions. The disorder is often hard to diagnose because its symptoms and signs mimic those of many other diseases. In its early stage, Lyme disease may be a mild illness with flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills, swollen lymph nodes, headaches, fatigue, muscle aches, and joint pain. Symptoms appear within 7 to 10 days following the infected tick's bite. Many people bitten by an infected tick develop a large, expanding skin rash around the area of the bite. The rash may feel hot to the touch, but is usually not painful. Rashes vary in size, shape, and color, but often have a "bull's eye" appearance (a red ring with a clear center). Nervous system abnormalities may include numbness, pain, Bell's palsy (paralysis of the facial muscles), and meningitis symptoms such as fever, stiff neck, and severe headache. Other problems, which may not appear until weeks, months, or years after a tick bite, include arthritis (especially in the knees) and heart problems.

Is there any treatment?

Lyme disease is treated with antibiotics under the supervision of a physician.

What is the prognosis?

Most individuals with Lyme disease respond well to antibiotics and have full recovery. In a few patients symptoms of persisting infection may continue or recur, requiring additional antibiotic treatment. Varying degrees of permanent joint or nervous system damage may develop in patients with late chronic Lyme disease. In rare cases, death may occur.

What research is being done?

The NINDS supports research on Lyme disease. Current areas of interest in research on the disorder include improving diagnostic tests and treatments, and finding an effective vaccine. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases also support research on Lyme disease.

Recommended Books:
Surviving Lyme Disease Using Alternative Medicine by David A. Jernigan
Outwitting Ticks : The Prevention and Treatment of Lyme Disease by Susan Carol Hauser
Everything You Need to Know About Lyme Disease and Other Tick-Borne Disorders by Karen Vanderhoof-Forschner

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Source: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892

Picture : www.forestryimages.org

What is Lyme disease?

Lyme disease or lyme borreliosis is an infection caused by some kind of bacteria called Spirochete and most happened in North America and Europe. Lyme disease is the fastest growing infectious disease in United States. It is name after the town of Lyme, Connecticut where a cluster of cases was found in 1975. But, the first case of this disease was found in1909, where Europe was the place. Now this disease has been found almost in all continent in the world, as well as in Asia and southern part of America.

The Spirochete bacteria caused lyme disease through the bite of infected ticks. The common species which carried Spirochete bacteria are deer ticks and western black-legged ticks. These ticks can also spread the disease to animals and humans through bite.

So how big are these ticks? And where do they live? The ticks are about the size of sesame seed and they usually found close the ground, especially in moist, shaded area also in the woods or an area overgrown with grass and bushes. Lyme disease is most common happen in rural and sub urban areas.

The lyme disease can cause nervous system problem that trigger to loss of memory, muscle weakness, and trouble concentrating. Delayed or inadequate treatment may often lead to late stage lyme that is difficult to treat.

Source: Wikipedia and American Academy of Family Physicians