Lyme disease is a typical disease by tick bites that is common in the United States. Every year, around 30,000 patient cases of the disease get reported. It is a condition that is caused by bacteria, including the species Borrelia mayonii and Borrelia burgdorferi, mostly by the latter one. Erythema migrans is the hallmark symptom of the disease.
The Signs and Symptoms of Lyme Disease
A typical erythema migrans rash starts at the site of the infection within a week. In some cases, it may take as long as a month. It extends over a period of several days and reaches up to 30 cm or more across. The rash might feel warm on the touch. It may rarely be painful or itchy. In some cases, it may become enlarged, giving an overall appearance of a “bull’s eye.”
Later with the progression of the disease, the following symptoms appear:
- Neck stiffness and severe headaches
- Rashes all over the body other than the site of infection
- facial palsy in some cases
- Severe joint pain and inflammation-causing arthritis
- Intermittent pain in the bones, joints, muscles, and tendons
- Bradycardia and tachycardia
- Dizziness and shortness of breath
- Neuroinflammation in the brain and spinal cord
- Pain in the nerves
- Numbness and tingling sensations in the limb extremities
The Causes of Lyme Disease
Lyme disease occurs as a result of the bacterial infection of Borrelia bacterium species. The bacteria get transferred to humans from tick bites with black legs that are infected with the bacteria.
The Treatment Options for Lyme Disease
The disease occurs because of the infection from the bacterium Borrelia and subsides by taking a course of oral antibiotics from two to four weeks. Patients might develop fatigue or pain after the typical treatment procedure. In the typical protocol, doxycycline is given twice in a day of dose 100mg, or amoxicillin is given of the dose of 500mg three times a day. In some cases, cefuroxime might be given to patients of 500 mg two times a day.
If you have any of the symptoms mentioned above, telemedicine makes it possible for you to get the care you deserve. Schedule a virtual consultation with a Telakai Health online Provider and get on the road to recovery. Schedule your visit today.
