Also can you describe what the treatment is.

Hi .

Lyme disease, sometimes referred to as Lyme infection, is a bacterial illness, transmitted to humans by the bite of deer ticks (Ixodes ticks) carrying a bacterium known as Borrelia burgdorferi. The disease has been reported in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, North Central, and Pacific coastal regions of the United States (see map) and in Europe, where it was first described almost 100 years ago. it is most prevalent in the northeastern states of the United States, with about half of all cases clustered in New York and Connecticut.

Doctors at New Haven's Yale Medical Center first described and named Lyme disease in the United States in the late 1970s. an unexpected number of residents in Lyme, Connecticut, were found to have a "new" and unusual illness.

• Fortunately, less than 5% of tick bites in high-contact areas result in Lyme infections.
• Doctors have learned a great deal about the illness since that original cluster of people was observed. Treatments are available for Lyme disease.

CAUSES OF LYME DISEASE

B. burgdorferi bacteria cause Lyme disease. The bacteria have a complex life cycle, spending part of their life in the deer tick and part in some mammals such as mice and deer.

Humans are not a part of the bacterium's life cycle but can become infected when bitten by the tick.

SYMPTOMS OF LYME DISEASE

1• The initial infection can occur with minimal or no symptoms. But many people experience a flulike primary illness or a characteristic rash several days to a few weeks following a tick bite.

2• The flulike illness usually occurs in the warm weather months when flu (influenza) does not occur.

3• The rash is a red rash that grows in size daily. it is called erythema migrans.

3(a)• The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines this rash as a skin lesion that typically begins as a red spot and expands over a period of days to weeks to form a large round lesion, at least 5 cm (about 2 inches) across. A red circular spot which begins within hours and is smaller is usually a reaction to the tick bite.
3(b)• when the rash occurs at the site of the tick bite, it is called a primary lesion. Multiple secondary lesions can occur that are a reaction to the infection and are not due to multiple tick bites. All of these lesions can grow up to the to the size of a football. this growing in size is characteristic of Lyme disease.
3(c)• its shape can be circular or oval.
3(d)• As it grows, the rash can remain red throughout, although it often can develop a clear area. In a minority, it may take on the appearance of a target with multiple rings (alternating red with clear skin). this is known as a bull's eye lesion.

4•Left untreated, symptoms of the primary illness usually will go away on their own within a few weeks although the rash may recur.

5•Later, additional symptoms may occur. The organs affected later may lead to the following conditions:

5(a)• Facial palsy is paralysis of the facial nerve that causes the facial muscles to be uneven (This may get better without treatment.)
5(b)• Meningitis causes headache, fever, and stiff neck
5(c)• Nerve inflammation causes numbness and tingling in the arms or legs
5(d)• Brain swelling (encephalitis) causes learning difficulties, confusion, and dementia
5(e)• Intermittent episodes of arthritis last about a week and usually involve the knee or wrist. These may recur over periods of weeks to months, and if the Lyme disease remains untreated, about 10% of people who have these episodes develop persistent arthritis in the knee. Occasionally, people with Lyme disease can present with an acute arthritis in the knee without a clear history of a rash or other joint complaints.
5(f)• Inflammation of the heart (carditis) results in irregularities in heart rhythm

LYME DISEASE TREATMENT (Self-Care at Home)

Health departments in areas with high rates of infection have undertaken campaigns to raise public awareness of Lyme disease.

• it is known that certain outdoor areas are highly infested with deer ticks and should be avoided if possible — these include woods and brush areas.
• Generally, the tick counts on suburban lawns are much lower.

LYME DISEASE TREATMENT (Medications)

• Doctors will treat primary or early Lyme disease with oral antibiotics including doxycycline, penicillins, or erythromycin.
• Doctors may treat cases of neurological, heart, or arthritic Lyme disease with intravenous antibiotics in the hospital or as an outpatient.

PREVENTION

Please visit emedicinehealth.com/lyme_dise… and find out the ways of prevention.

Take Care. Regards.

Published: 2:00 AM – 03/23/11

Yesterday my youngest dog, Bibi, came in with the first sign of spring: a tick crawling across the top of her forehead. true, she noses in the absolutely worst places, but the ticks are out, the spring molt has started, and it’s time to think about all the blood-borne, tick-carried diseases that dogs, cats and humans can catch.

Lyme is the big player. Borrelia burgdorferi is the causative organism; its symptoms include fever, joint pain and lameness. in years of a bumper crop of acorns, where mice and deer are well-fed, Lyme disease tends to have a heavier incidence. This spring will have an abundant 25-year acorn crop; you can imagine what this portends.

Tick prevention is key locally; Revolution, Frontline and PrevenTic collars are excellent products for this purpose. Remember, if your dog sleeps in your bed, she must be adequately protected for you to be adequately protected.

Lyme vaccines are recommended as well; ask your veterinarian about this effective immunization. But vaccines are not a substitute for preventive products.

Other diseases that we see commonly carried by ticks are ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and babesiosis. the first is similar in effect to Lyme, although other signs can include clotting disorders and a tendency to bleed abnormally. This disease can have fatal consequences; see your vet if your dog comes down with lameness, fever or any signs of blood in urine or stool.

Ticks tend to be very active in late winter and early spring, with numbers decreasing as the year progresses.

Prevention is your pet’s best friend, and starting today.

Dr. Ellen Friedman is in general practice, with an interest in geriatric feline medicine, at Newburgh Veterinary Hospital and all Creatures Veterinary Hospital in new Paltz. Visit facebook.com/people/Newburgh-VeterinaryHospital/576787764.

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Get more info lyme disease

Lyme disease can be a infection brought on by this bite of any tick which holds the particular Borrelia burgdorferi germs. otherwise identified and dealt with instantly, Lyme disease moves on and results in various other critical, even-life intimidating attacks.your break that can transmit Lyme disease is really a little parasite that will endures pets, such as deer, rabbits, racoons, and rodents. Folks at risk for obtaining bitten with a break infected with Borrelia burgdorferi, include things like those that spend some time inside areas where ticks are likely to reside, such as heavily wooded locations or perhaps areas with high remember to brush and turf. Ticks that could transfer Lyme disease tend to be specifically energetic through may well, August and September.

Lyme disease ends up with signs and symptoms including any attribute “bull’s eye” lesion. Symptoms are vastly different involving people however they are commonly just like symptoms of various other microbial infection. Issues of without treatment Lyme disease can be essential and incorporate meningitis. to read more with regards to symptoms and problems, refer to signs and symptoms of Lyme disease.

Generating a decides Lyme disease commences with getting a comprehensive history, such as signs or symptoms and good reputation for the mark mouthful or perhaps of being with sites, for example wooded locations, where by excessive levels of clicks live. Examination includes performing an actual examination, and discovering to the timeless “bull’s eye” sore evolves once your there of the contaminated tick nip. this kind of lesion, called erythema migrans, commences to be a spherical, red-colored position that will expands much larger and grows an ordinary skin-colored center. could also be numerous wounds, which could be also stable red-colored within shade.

Screening consists of undertaking two blood vessels testing that can help to identify Lyme disease. The particular ELISA and Traditional western mark test out calculate antibodies that this body’s immune system tends to make reacting towards infection. Assessments will also be implemented to spot or maybe rule-out various other2 disease brought on by break bites, including babesiosis and ehrlichiosis.

A diagnosis regarding Lyme disease can be had missed or perhaps postponed since don’t assume all those with the actual disease build the classic “bull’s eye” lesion. Moreover, other symptoms of Lyme disease can vary. For additional info on misdiagnosis, refer to misdiagnosis connected with Lyme disease.

Lyme disease could be efficiently eliminated having particular measures. It can be addressed with anti-biotics. The sooner the disease is actually identified and treated, the greater powerful treatment solutions are and that not as likely it is that someone with the disease will develop severe complications, like meningitis and rheumatoid arthritis. For additional info on treatment, talk about treatment of Lyme disease.