Lyme disease is an infection which is caused by the bacterium called Borrelia burgdorferi. This bacterium is generally seen in animals such as mice and deer. It can be transferred to people from these animals by Ixodes ticks: as well known as black - legged or deer ticks. These ticks pick up the bacterium when they bite infected animals and then infect humans by biting them and passing the bacteria into human bloodstream. Young ticks, or nymphs, are about the dimension of a poppy seed. Mature ticks are about the size of a sesame seed. So spotting them is very difficult with naked eyes.
Because the ticks are hard to spot we should be aware of the symptoms of Lyme disease. It is easy to overlook a tick bite. Many people who get Lyme disease do not remember being bitten. But the good news is that most tick bites do not result in Lyme disease. Lyme disease is not contagious, so we cannot catch it from another person. But we can get it more than once from ticks that live on deer, in the woods, or travel on our pets.
Lyme disease can have an effect on different body systems, such as the nervous system, joints, skin, and heart. The symptoms of Lyme disease can be described and classified into three stages.
The initial sign of the disease is a rounded rash. This rash occurs within 1-2 weeks of infection but may develop within a month of the tick bite. The rash often has a distinct "bull's-eye" appearance, with a central red spot surrounded by clear skin that is ringed by an expanding red rash. It may also occur as an expanding ring of solid redness. It may be warm to the touch and is generally not sore or scratchy. The bull's-eye rash may be more difficult to see on people with darker skin tones, and may look like a bruise.
The rash frequently cures on its own in about a month. Although this rash is considered typical of Lyme disease, many people never develop it. Besides the inflammation a person may experience flu-like indication such as swollen lymph nodes, exhaustion, headache, and muscle pain. If it is left untouched, symptoms of the initial illness may go away on their own. But in some people, the infection can extend to other parts of the body.
Lyme disease can influence the heart also leading to an uneven heart rhythm or chest pain. It can extend to the nervous system, causing facial paralysis or stinging and numbness in the arms and legs. It can lead to illness such as headaches and neck inflexibility, which may be an indication of meningitis. Swelling and pain in the large joints can also crop up.
The last stage of Lyme disease can occur if the early stages of the disease are not detected or properly taken care of. Indication of late Lyme disease can become visible any time from weeks to years after an infectious tick bite. They may comprise arthritis, predominantly in the knees, and memory lapses.
As my step son who is getting his life back from Lyme says, "Lyme is like an octopus. It reaches out with its many arms to other members of the family." Once one member of the family is diagnosed with the disease it is not uncommon to find that one or more other members have it as well. You may be surprised, as I was, to learn that tests results reveal several generations of one family testing positive for Lyme.
So, how does this happen that many members of a family have Lyme but their friends do not. How is this disease passed from one human being to another? This is an important question.
Lyme bacteria are passed from one person to another through the blood and at least one other body fluid. Although Lyme can be passed to a person via blood transfusions, the most commonly known ways people get Lyme include:
? Tick bite
? Mosquito bite
? From a man to his sexual partners through semen
? From a woman to her unborn children in utero
? Dogs, horses, cats, rats, mice
All get sick with Lyme and pass it on to those who inhale the vapors of their infected feces. As you may imagine this method of transfer occurs most frequently among those who clean cat litter boxes and horse stables.
When presented with this information, people often wonder aloud:
"If a mother passes it onto her unborn children, is Lyme a genetic disorder." The answer is, "No, Lyme is not a genetic disorder. The Lyme bacteria transfers from the mother to the child in the blood."
"Is Lyme an autoimmune disorder?" Gone untreated Lyme can strip away the T-cells, the immune system's front line of defense against unwanted foreign invaders. When those T-cells are low, the B-cells try to do the job of the T-cells. B-cells can end up attacking the body itself as they are not designed to deal with foreign invaders.
By way of brief example my husband spent some 30 years of his life in treatment and with surgeries associated with the diagnosis of Crohn's disease. Crohn's is referred to as an autoimmune disorder. The immune system seemingly turns on itself, and cause ulcerations of the digestive tract. Turns out he regained excellent health when he was finally diagnosed as having and received treatment for Lyme and Lyme related co-infections. As soon as those were treated and resolved all of the symptoms here-to-fore thought of as Crohn's symptoms were gone.
The next question that is voiced is, "How do I protect my family." Watch out for ticks wear light colored clothing when you are outside especially in heavily wooded areas. You will be able to see little ticks on light colored fabric and brush them off. Be especially watchful during the months of May and October when tick are being born and are active. Tick and mosquito repellants can be helpful as well.
Check with your veterinarian about Lyme symptoms in pets. And finally if you are symptomatic be sure and stay in close touch with a Lyme literate physician.
Both Jeniferhobson & Leslie Buterin are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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