Deer ticks are tiny parasites that live on deer and other woodland creatures in the forests of North America and Europe and can carry the Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria which causes Lyme disease. People who spend time hiking, camping or such run an increased risk of coming into contact with these parasites, which is why they should do all they can to become aware of prevention strategies and how to treat Lyme disease.
The symptoms vary from person to person, and sometimes they don't appear until as long as one month after the tick bite occurred. Common symptoms include fever and chills, headache, sore joints and muscles, and fatigue, as well as a bull's-eye pattern at the bite site. Some patients will also have a body rash. While rare, serious complications include miscarriage in pregnant women, liver or eye inflammation, Bell's palsy, irregular heartbeat, weakness or immobility of limbs, and meningitis.
A tick bite will not necessarily result in one contracting Lyme disease because not all deer ticks carry the bacteria, however it's always advisable to see a doctor as soon as possible if a bite is detected. If left to its own course, this illness can cause chronic arthritis and damage to the nervous system, which is why early treatment is critical.
Diagnosis is not normally done based on symptoms alone since there are also many other conditions which have similar manifestations. Without the characteristic rash, the doctor will likely ask the patient a series of questions, and also order some lab tests to look for antibodies to this particular strain of bacteria, namely the ELISA-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and Western blot tests.
Once confirmed, Lyme disease will be treated using antibiotics. How quickly treatment is begun plays a big role in determining the outcome for the patient. Doxycycline or amoxicillin are the usual drugs of choice and they are to be taken orally for a period of two to four weeks. It is not recommended to take antibiotics longer than this, as this could have an adverse effect.
If a patient is exhibiting signs of cardiac or nervous system involvement, IV antibiotics may be administered for as much as two weeks. Nursing mothers or children under the age of 9, will be prescribed penicillin or amoxicillin instead of doxycycline, which is known to stain developing teeth. Patients who have an allergy to penicillin-based drugs, will be given erythromycin.
Prevention of Lyme disease is the best cure. When one will be outdoors in areas that are grassy or wooded, it's a good idea to wear light-colored, snug clothing which covers the arms and legs, tuck shirts into pants and pant-legs into socks or boots, stay on the central trails and avoid overgrown areas, wear repellents containing DEET or the tick repellent Permethrin, and spray it on clothing before venturing out. After returning home, checking oneself and their family members for signs of ticks is important, if they are removed early, infection may not occur.
Serious implications are generally not a issue with Lyme disease provided the patient seeks treatment right away. It is important to note however, that the presence of antibodies in the bloodstream does not mean that one is immune to future infections. Taking preventative measures before going outside is always recommended.
The symptoms vary from person to person, and sometimes they don't appear until as long as one month after the tick bite occurred. Common symptoms include fever and chills, headache, sore joints and muscles, and fatigue, as well as a bull's-eye pattern at the bite site. Some patients will also have a body rash. While rare, serious complications include miscarriage in pregnant women, liver or eye inflammation, Bell's palsy, irregular heartbeat, weakness or immobility of limbs, and meningitis.
A tick bite will not necessarily result in one contracting Lyme disease because not all deer ticks carry the bacteria, however it's always advisable to see a doctor as soon as possible if a bite is detected. If left to its own course, this illness can cause chronic arthritis and damage to the nervous system, which is why early treatment is critical.
Diagnosis is not normally done based on symptoms alone since there are also many other conditions which have similar manifestations. Without the characteristic rash, the doctor will likely ask the patient a series of questions, and also order some lab tests to look for antibodies to this particular strain of bacteria, namely the ELISA-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and Western blot tests.
Once confirmed, Lyme disease will be treated using antibiotics. How quickly treatment is begun plays a big role in determining the outcome for the patient. Doxycycline or amoxicillin are the usual drugs of choice and they are to be taken orally for a period of two to four weeks. It is not recommended to take antibiotics longer than this, as this could have an adverse effect.
If a patient is exhibiting signs of cardiac or nervous system involvement, IV antibiotics may be administered for as much as two weeks. Nursing mothers or children under the age of 9, will be prescribed penicillin or amoxicillin instead of doxycycline, which is known to stain developing teeth. Patients who have an allergy to penicillin-based drugs, will be given erythromycin.
Prevention of Lyme disease is the best cure. When one will be outdoors in areas that are grassy or wooded, it's a good idea to wear light-colored, snug clothing which covers the arms and legs, tuck shirts into pants and pant-legs into socks or boots, stay on the central trails and avoid overgrown areas, wear repellents containing DEET or the tick repellent Permethrin, and spray it on clothing before venturing out. After returning home, checking oneself and their family members for signs of ticks is important, if they are removed early, infection may not occur.
Serious implications are generally not a issue with Lyme disease provided the patient seeks treatment right away. It is important to note however, that the presence of antibodies in the bloodstream does not mean that one is immune to future infections. Taking preventative measures before going outside is always recommended.
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