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?
It takes about 36 to 48 hours for an infected tick to transmit the disease into you once it attaches itself. Such ticks are small and difficult to notice. They also hide in areas that are difficult to see such as the armpits, groin or scalp. Once the disorder gets into you, erythema migran, which is an expanding area of redness is the common indicator. This occurs around a week after the bite. This rash is neither itchy nor painful.
Other symptoms that may follow include fevers, headaches and feeling tired. Within the body, joints, face, neck, muscles and even the heart may be affected by this infection. These lead to the said signs and symptoms in addition to muscle pains and neck stiffness. It may also lead to meningeal inflammation in the brain. Diagnosis of this disorder is usually based on the above symptoms. Blood test is however the officially confirmatory means of diagnosing it.
Treatment of Lyme disorder is possible. This is however effective if detected early. If diagnosis or treatment is delayed, there are risks of developing long lasting complications. It is therefore important to seek treatment once you start developing such signs and symptoms.
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.
Other medications used for treating Lyme disorder include amoxicillin and azithromycin. These drugs can be administered through various routes including oral or intravenous means. The medication regimen vary and lasts for one to four weeks depending on the severity. It will be more effective if these medications are initiated within the first two weeks of infection. However, it this is difficult since the bacteria can be detected in blood after 5 weeks thus hindering effective cure.
As we all know, prevention is better than cure. It is therefore more prudent to prevent this disease than cure it. There are many ways that have been suggested to prevent the disease. Vaccines were initially the most effective way of preventing the disease. However, production of the vaccines was stopped due to the small market that was available.
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.
It takes about 36 to 48 hours for an infected tick to transmit the disease into you once it attaches itself. Such ticks are small and difficult to notice. They also hide in areas that are difficult to see such as the armpits, groin or scalp. Once the disorder gets into you, erythema migran, which is an expanding area of redness is the common indicator. This occurs around a week after the bite. This rash is neither itchy nor painful.
Other symptoms that may follow include fevers, headaches and feeling tired. Within the body, joints, face, neck, muscles and even the heart may be affected by this infection. These lead to the said signs and symptoms in addition to muscle pains and neck stiffness. It may also lead to meningeal inflammation in the brain. Diagnosis of this disorder is usually based on the above symptoms. Blood test is however the officially confirmatory means of diagnosing it.
Treatment of Lyme disorder is possible. This is however effective if detected early. If diagnosis or treatment is delayed, there are risks of developing long lasting complications. It is therefore important to seek treatment once you start developing such signs and symptoms.
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.
Other medications used for treating Lyme disorder include amoxicillin and azithromycin. These drugs can be administered through various routes including oral or intravenous means. The medication regimen vary and lasts for one to four weeks depending on the severity. It will be more effective if these medications are initiated within the first two weeks of infection. However, it this is difficult since the bacteria can be detected in blood after 5 weeks thus hindering effective cure.
As we all know, prevention is better than cure. It is therefore more prudent to prevent this disease than cure it. There are many ways that have been suggested to prevent the disease. Vaccines were initially the most effective way of preventing the disease. However, production of the vaccines was stopped due to the small market that was available.
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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