Lyme disease, also called Lyme borreliosis is a bacterial infection that is spread by ticks. Bacteria causing this disease are of the borrelia type. The disease is spread to humans through bites by the causative ticks. These ticks get the bacterium by biting other infected animals like deer and mice. However, not all ticks carry the bacterium causing Lyme disease. Most common diseases have their methods of treatment and cure. Due to the increasing spread and illnesses, more research has been done on the cure of Lyme disease. Answer to the question; is there a cure for lyme disease?
After the tick gets attached to you, it takes around 36 to 48 hour to pass the infection to your body. Removal of these ticks is not possible due to their small size making them difficult to recognize. In addition to that, the ticks hide in difficult-to see areas such as the armpits, groin and the scalp regions. Erythema migrans, a reddish area that starts as a rash and expands is the first signal of infection. It usually occurs one week after being bitten. The area won't be painful or itchy.
Fevers, migran headaches and getting easily fatigued are the other accompanying signs. As the infection progresses, the joints, face and neck area, heart and muscles also get infected. Stiffness of the neck and easy cramping of muscles are other developing signs. In addition, the meninges get inflamed as the disorder spread and reach the brain. To diagnose the disease, signs and symptoms are assessed. Confirmatory diagnosis is done through blood testing.
There is a possibility to recover from this disease. Chances however, are increased with early detection of this disorder. Late diagnosis may lead to other complications that may not be fully resolved. Seeking early treatment is therefore vital to avoid all these.
Antibiotic medications have been proved to be effective in treatment of Lyme disorder. Such antibiotics include Doxycycline which is widely recommended as first line medication. This is because it has double advantage in that apart from curing Lyme infection, it also cures other infections caused by ticks. However, the drug is not advisable for use in children less than eight years or pregnant women. This is due to the fatal side effects.
Amoxicillin and azithromycin, also antibiotics, act as second line medications for treating the disorder. They are effective when administered either orally or intravenously. The period of treatment varies and usually ranges from one week to four weeks to completely eliminate the disorder. This duration is however determined by the severity of the disease process. It has been proved that starting the treatment within the first two weeks of infection is effective but this is not possible since the bacteria can be visualized in blood for diagnosis after five weeks.
Prevention, having the advantage of being economical, is better than treatment. This makes prevention therefore a better option. Several ways of preventing Lyme disorder have been developed. Initially, vaccination, which was considered to be effective was being used. Due to the small market, production of vaccines stopped.
Wearing of protective clothing such as long sleeved hat and long trousers or boots is another preventive method. Also, light colored clothing make the tick easily visible for removal before it attaches itself. Using insect repellents, keeping off long grass and reducing contacts with primary hosts, deer and mice would also help in prevention.
After the tick gets attached to you, it takes around 36 to 48 hour to pass the infection to your body. Removal of these ticks is not possible due to their small size making them difficult to recognize. In addition to that, the ticks hide in difficult-to see areas such as the armpits, groin and the scalp regions. Erythema migrans, a reddish area that starts as a rash and expands is the first signal of infection. It usually occurs one week after being bitten. The area won't be painful or itchy.
Fevers, migran headaches and getting easily fatigued are the other accompanying signs. As the infection progresses, the joints, face and neck area, heart and muscles also get infected. Stiffness of the neck and easy cramping of muscles are other developing signs. In addition, the meninges get inflamed as the disorder spread and reach the brain. To diagnose the disease, signs and symptoms are assessed. Confirmatory diagnosis is done through blood testing.
There is a possibility to recover from this disease. Chances however, are increased with early detection of this disorder. Late diagnosis may lead to other complications that may not be fully resolved. Seeking early treatment is therefore vital to avoid all these.
Antibiotic medications have been proved to be effective in treatment of Lyme disorder. Such antibiotics include Doxycycline which is widely recommended as first line medication. This is because it has double advantage in that apart from curing Lyme infection, it also cures other infections caused by ticks. However, the drug is not advisable for use in children less than eight years or pregnant women. This is due to the fatal side effects.
Amoxicillin and azithromycin, also antibiotics, act as second line medications for treating the disorder. They are effective when administered either orally or intravenously. The period of treatment varies and usually ranges from one week to four weeks to completely eliminate the disorder. This duration is however determined by the severity of the disease process. It has been proved that starting the treatment within the first two weeks of infection is effective but this is not possible since the bacteria can be visualized in blood for diagnosis after five weeks.
Prevention, having the advantage of being economical, is better than treatment. This makes prevention therefore a better option. Several ways of preventing Lyme disorder have been developed. Initially, vaccination, which was considered to be effective was being used. Due to the small market, production of vaccines stopped.
Wearing of protective clothing such as long sleeved hat and long trousers or boots is another preventive method. Also, light colored clothing make the tick easily visible for removal before it attaches itself. Using insect repellents, keeping off long grass and reducing contacts with primary hosts, deer and mice would also help in prevention.
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