Lyme disease: symptoms, causes and treatment

This disease is transmitted through the bite of a type of tick.

There are a large number of diseases that can affect us to a greater or lesser extent. Many of them are caused by bacterial or viral infections, infections that can appear for different reasons. Some of them are caused by the stings or bites of other living beings, such as insects. This is what happens with Lyme disease, which we are going to talk about in this article.of which we are going to speak throughout this article.

Lyme disease: basic symptoms

Relatively frequent in the northern hemisphere, Lyme disease is an infectious disease transmitted by the bite of some species of ticks. It is a bacterial a disease of bacterial originIt is a bacterial disease that can evolve through several stages. We are also facing an old acquaintance of mankind: there are traces of its existence even in prehistoric times, although the first documented cases as such are from the last century.

This alteration can appear at any age and in any sex, these variables not being determinant at the time of getting sick or not. Generally there is more probability of appearance in those people who are frequently outdoors in areas inhabited by the usual hosts of these ticks.

The most noticeable symptoms of this disorder are the presence of an erythema at the site of the bite, which may be spreading (erythema).This may spread (usually called erythema migrans), along with typical flu-like symptoms. Nausea, conjunctivitis, headache, fatigue and muscle stiffness are relatively frequent.

If the disease progresses arthritis, loss of muscle tone, facial paralysis, tremors, increased tensionincreased tension, memory problems and even respiratory problems that could lead to respiratory arrest. It can also affect the brain in the form of neuroborreliosis, causing paralysis and meningitis, and even psychiatric symptoms such as hallucinations.

However, some people may develop the disease into a chronic phase, especially if they have not been treated or if it has not been detected in time. Although some deaths from Lyme disease have been reported (e.g. from cardiorespiratory arrest), death from Lyme disease is not common.

Causes

The origin of this disease is found in the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi (in fact, Lyme disease is also known as borreliosis) which is introduced into the organism by the bite of some species of ticks (although other insects could transmit it, such as mosquitoes and fleas), being very frequently transmitted by ticks of the genus Ixodes.

These ticks are common in rodents, horses and deer. Humans are not usually hosts of these beings, but an accidental exposure to these insects can generate a bite. However, not all ticks of this not all ticks of this genus transmit the aforementioned bacteria, causing the However, not all ticks of this genus transmit the aforementioned bacteria, causing Lyme disease only those that are infected by it. Although this article mainly explores the disease and the symptoms caused in humans, it can also affect other animals and pets.

To transmit the bacteria and cause Lyme disease, it is estimated that the tick must attach to the skin for one to two days, although its small size can make it difficult to know how long it has been on the body because it cannot be located.

Lyme disease is not contagious from person to person.Lyme disease is not contagious from person to person: it is not spread through physical contact, breathing or sexual contact. A person with Lyme disease cannot transmit it unless a tick infected with the bacteria is passed from its carrier to another person. For example, if a dog has the disease it will not infect its caregiver per se, although it may have ticks attached to it that could do so.

Stages of the disease

As mentioned above, Lyme disease can go through a series of stages in which different symptoms can come and go. It can take weeks from the time of the bite to the appearance of symptoms, although it is common for symptoms to appear within a few days to a week post-bite. Specifically, the following phases stand out.

1. Early localized infection

In this stage, erythema migrans usually appears around the tick bite, which can cause itching and other alterations. may generate itching and other skin alterations and sensations.. In general, no other symptoms usually appear. Occasionally discomfort and bluish colored lymphocytomas also appear in areas such as the ears.

2. Early disseminated infection

The bacterium has penetrated and spread throughout the body, and may cause other skin lesions in areas other than where the bite occurred, along with fatigue and muscle aches. Some more serious symptoms may be the appearance of arrhythmias and cardiac alterations. It is at this stage when neurological problems tend to appear, such as meningitis, paralysis such as meningitis, paralysis or hallucinations.

3. Late infection

After several months of untreated infection, joint problems usually develop (in fact, one of the first names for this disease is Lyme arthritis) which may become permanent. Problems such as memory loss and altered levels of consciousness and alterations of the level of consciousness, and encephalitis could appear.

Treatment

Lyme disease usually has an effective diagnosis and treatment that usually results in complete recovery.

The first element to consider is the possibility that the tick that has transmitted the bacteria or its stinger still remains in the subject's body. A first step to follow is removal of the arachnid from the body using hooks or tweezers, as well as disinfection of the area. If a bite is identified, observation of the patient is recommended for at least one month to check whether or not symptoms appear.

Subsequently, different Antibiotics will be applied depending on the characteristics of the patient, the evolution of the disease and the symptoms. This treatment generally cures the disease over a period of several weeks, although residual symptoms may sometimes appear. In cases in which the disease becomes chronicIn cases where the disease becomes chronic, a more continuous antibiotic treatment program may be necessary over time.

Analgesics may also be applied to combat possible muscle pain or other drugs to control fever and other symptoms that appear during the condition.

Bibliographic references:

• Herrera, O.; Infante, J.; Ramirez, R. & Lavastida, H. (2012). Lyme disease: history, microbiology, epizootiology and epidemiology. Cuban Journal of Hygiene and Epidemiology, 50 (2). Havana City, Cuba.
• Dickinson, F.O. & Batlle, M.C. (1997). Lyme borreliosis: approach to an emerging infectious disease. Cuban Journal of Hygiene and Epidemiology, 35 (2). Havana City, Cuba.