Lyme disease is an illness you can get from a tick bite. The tick must be infected to spread the disease .Lyme disease can make your joints hurt. Doctors usually treat it with antibiotics. Sometimes, you might still feel sick even after treatment.
What is Lyme disease?
Lyme disease is an illness caused by bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi.
You can get it if a deer tick (also known as a black-legged tick) bites and
These ticks can carry the bacteria and pass it to you.
Regular wood ticks or dog ticks do not spread Lyme disease.
What are the stages of Lyme disease?
Lyme disease can happen in different stages, and sometimes the symptoms from each stage can overlap.
It can affect your skin, joints, heart, or nervous system. The stages include:
Early localized Lyme disease – happens in the first 1 to 4 weeks.
Early disseminated Lyme disease – happens from 1 to 4 months.
How common is Lyme disease?
In the U.S., around 30,000 people report having Lyme disease to the CDC every year.
Other common symptoms are:
Fever
Headache
Stiff neck
Sore muscles or joints
Feeling very tired
Swollen glands (lymph nodes)
Signs and Symptoms – Stage 2 (Early Disseminated Lyme Disease)
This is called the second stage. Symptoms may include:
Weakness or drooping on one or both sides of the face (called Bell’s palsy)
Problems with your heart’s rhythm (heart block)
Numbness, tingling, or strange feelings in your body (neuropathy)
Signs and Symptoms – Late Stage (Untreated Lyme Disease)
Symptoms in the late stage can include:
Swollen, painful joints (usually the knees) that come and go
Trouble thinking clearly or focusing — often called “brain fog”
Nerve damage throughout the body — affecting skin, muscles, and even organs
Management and Treatment
Lyme disease is treated with antibiotics.
The most common ones are doxycycline or amoxicillin.
How long you take them depends on how far the infection has spread.
The sooner you get treatment, the better and faster you’ll feel.
What about during pregnancy?
Pregnant women should still be treated if they get Lyme disease.
There’s no strong evidence that Lyme disease harms the baby.
It’s also not likely to cause miscarriage.
What should I do if a tick bites me?
If you find a tick on your skin, here’s what to do:
1. Use tweezers (not fingers) to grab the tick close to your skin, near its head.
2. Pull gently but firmly until the tick lets go.
3. Do not twist, crush, or squeeze the tick.
4. Wash the area with soap and water after removal.
5. Do not use Vaseline, heat, or chemicals to try to kill or remove the tick.
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