Tips On The Question; Is There A Cure For Lyme Disease?

By Daphne Bowen


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?

Passing the infection to a human being from a tick after being attached will take around 36 to 48 hours. Due to their minute size, noticing and removal of the ticks may be difficult. The ticks also settle in hidden parts of the body making it difficult for you to see. Groin, armpits and scalp regions are some of their favorite areas. After getting infected, the first and foremost symptom is the development of an erythema migran. This appears as a reddish area and expands as it swells. It originally starts as a rash. It is however not itchy and painless.

Fevers, migran headaches and getting easily fatigued are the other accompanying signs. As the infection progresses, the joints, face and neck area, heart and muscles also get infected. Stiffness of the neck and easy cramping of muscles are other developing signs. In addition, the meninges get inflamed as the disorder spread and reach the brain. To diagnose the disease, signs and symptoms are assessed. Confirmatory diagnosis is done through blood testing.

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.

Lyme disease is usually treated with antibiotic therapy. Doxycycline, which is considered as the first line therapy, is commonly used for treatment. Apart from the advantage of curing the disease, Doxycycline also has the advantage of curing all other infections of tick origin. Due to its adverse effects, it is not advisable for use in children particularly less than eight years and expectant women.

In addition to Doxycycline, amoxicillin and azithromycin are the other antibiotic medications used as second line for treatment of Lyme disorder. Oral and intravenous routes of administration can be used to administer them. Treatment regimen usually varies and range from one to four weeks of therapy. This regimen depends on the severity of the disease. Initiating treatment within two weeks of infection increases its effectiveness. This however, is not possible as it takes five weeks for the bacteria to appear in blood used for confirmatory diagnosis.

Preventing any disorder is more economical than curing it. Preventing Lyme disorder would be wise therefore than treating it. Several means to prevent the disease have been put up. Vaccination proved more effective than the other protective means. The production of particular vaccines stopped because of limited market available.

To add on that, use of preventive cloths for protection, wearing light colored clothes that makes the tick is easily visible, keeping off long grass, application of repellents and limited contact with deer and mice are other preventive means.




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