Lyme Disease: What You Need to Know

D Swain
D Swain
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Ticks are pesky insects that can host and transmit a variety of diseases. Of these diseases, Lyme disease is by far the most common. It is a bacterial infection caused by the bite of an infected tic
k. This article will share with you everything you need to know about this illness.

There has been no vaccine to guard against Lyme disease since it was pulled off the market in 2002. The best way to prevent this illness is to avoid ticks as best as you possibly can. When going into wooden areas, you should wear clothing that covers your whole body like long pants and long-sleeved shirts. You should also use repellents on your body and around your home. If you have pets, you should especially use some form of pest control.

If you do get bitten by an infected tick that carries Lyme disease, there are a variety of symptoms that you will experience. The most common symptom is a rash at the location of the tick bite. This rash will expand gradually over a period of several days. Other symptoms include fever, chills, headache, fatigue, and swollen lymph nodes. Symptoms can get much worse if left untreated.

If you suspect that you have been bitten by an infected tick, you should consult a doctor immediately. The preferred treatment of Lyme disease is a regiment of antibiotics taken by mouth over a period of weeks. This is usually very effective in the early stages of the disease. For patients that have certain cardiac and neurological problems, treatment includes an intravenous shot with drugs such as ceftriaxone and penicillin.

If Lyme disease is left untreated, it can compromise your immune system and lead to chronic conditions. This can cause a variety of problems such as pain in the joints and severe headaches. It can also cause other debilitating conditions like arthritis and numbness or tingling in the hands and feet. In a few cases, it can even be fatal.

 
 
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