Lyme Disease Awareness: So, what is Lyme disease?
So, what is Lyme disease?
WHAT IS LYME DISEASE?
By definition, Lyme disease is: An infectious disease caused by the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi. Transmitted through the bite of a tick, Lyme disease is characterized by fever, rash, and inflammation of the heart and joints. Early symptoms can be as mild as fever and chills, however if left untreated more serious manifestations of the disease can develop, such as severe arthritis, or heart and neurological symptoms.
Lyme disease can present itself in a wide variety of symptoms. The classic indicator of Lyme disease is a red rash that circulates outward in a form of a 'bulls eye' known medically as Erythema migrans (EM). Not all patients develop the rash and the percentage of people that do is statistically varied across medical literature as well as opinion. It is at this point, where Lyme disease can be left untreated and compilations from the disease can present later on to the patient. These complications are multi system disorders and can manifest into three stages of the disease: early localized infection, early disseminated infection and late disseminated or persistent infection.
By definition, Lyme disease is: An infectious disease caused by the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi. Transmitted through the bite of a tick, Lyme disease is characterized by fever, rash, and inflammation of the heart and joints. Early symptoms can be as mild as fever and chills, however if left untreated more serious manifestations of the disease can develop, such as severe arthritis, or heart and neurological symptoms.
Lyme disease can present itself in a wide variety of symptoms. The classic indicator of Lyme disease is a red rash that circulates outward in a form of a 'bulls eye' known medically as Erythema migrans (EM). Not all patients develop the rash and the percentage of people that do is statistically varied across medical literature as well as opinion. It is at this point, where Lyme disease can be left untreated and compilations from the disease can present later on to the patient. These complications are multi system disorders and can manifest into three stages of the disease: early localized infection, early disseminated infection and late disseminated or persistent infection.
LOCALIZED/EARLY LYME DISEASE
The early stage of Lyme disease is often characterized by a distinctive, expanding red rash that usually develops at the site of the tick bite. This rash, known as erythema migrans, is seen in 60-80% of infected individuals (it is important to remember that the converse is true: no rash is ever observed in 20-40% of the cases). A fllu-like illness occurs in many patients with fever, chills, headache and muscle pain (myalgia).
EARLY DISSEMINATED LYME DISEASE
Occurs days to weeks following infection and presents a host of symptoms that again can be variable for each patient. At this stage the spirochetes spread hematogenously to additional body tissues. One or more of the following symptoms and signs may be noted:
fatigue
chills and fever
headache
muscle and joint pain
swollen lymph nodes
secondary annular skin lesions
LATE STAGE/CHRONIC LYME DISEASE
May include many symptoms of disseminated stage but with a strong emphasis on musculoskelete complaints, neurologic, optic neuritis, cognitive and skin disease.The core complaints of this stage are severe headaches, cognitive, muscle and joint pain, fatigue, weakness, light sensitivity and sleep disturbance. Medical research is looking at the possiblity of Lyme disease as the cause or contributing cofactor in other degenerative diseases, including ALS, Alzheimer's, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease. Spirochetes have been found in spinal fluid and tissues samples of MS patients, blood cultures of ALS and Parkinson's disease.
Early Localized- EM Rash
Early Disseminated- Headache, Joint pain, Body aches, Night sweats, Sensitivity to noise & sound, Migratory pains, Bell's palsy, Fatigue, Heart palpitations, Swollen Glands/Sore throat, Stiff neck, Disorientation, Brain fog, Floaters, Sleep disturbances.
Late Disseminated- Severe headaches/migraines, Crippling arthritis, Swollen joints, Heart blockage, Hypersensitivity to light, sound and touch, Crippling migratory pains, Severe fatigue, Optic neuritis and increased eye complications, Seizures, Nosebleeds, Memory loss, Dyslexic reversals, Sleep disturbances, Abnormal MRI, CAT scan, SPECT, EEG, CSF, etc.
LYME DISEASE IS MOST COMMONLY MISDIAGNOSED AS:
(Lyme disease can cause or mimic virtually any symptom(s) of any disease)
* Lupus
* Crohns Disease and/or Colitis
* Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)
* Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
* Lou Gehrig's (ALS)
* Autism
* Fibromyalgia (FMS)
* Parkinson's
* Epstein Barr Virus (EBV)
* Rheumatoid Arthritis
* Alzheimer’s
* Cancer/ Tumors
* Depression/Other Psychiatric Disorders
* Infectious Mononucleosis
* The "Flu"
* Cellulitis
* Fever of Unknown Origin
Could it be Lyme disease responsible for many of the above illnesses? Many MS and ALS patients are coming to find that they have Lyme. Lyme is being found in the autopsies of Alzheimer's patients......Could Lyme be responsible for a portion of the disability in our society?......
