Lyme Disease: What you need to know about the cause, symptoms and prevention

Lyme disease is an illness that is transmitted to humans through ticks- difficult to diagnose early because of its sometimes vague or flu-like symptoms. Without treatment, the disease can advance and cause serious health problems such as joint pain, neurological issues and heart problems (Image: Pexels)

Lyme disease is an illness that is transmitted to humans through Ticks carrying the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, and in some cases Borrelia mayonii. It’s spread to humans through the bite of infected black-legged ticks, often called deer ticks. Lyme disease can be difficult to diagnose early because of its sometimes vague or flu-like symptoms. Without treatment, the disease can advance and cause serious health problems such as joint pain, neurological issues and heart problems.

The protection against the risk for Lyme disease is awareness. Knowing the symptoms and taking protective measures while outdoors can help tremendously. "Early diagnosis is key," comments Dr. Arjun Mehta, Infectious Disease specialist at Sunrise Multispeciality Clinic. Fast treatment with antibiotics can often clear up the infection entirely, but a delay in diagnosis can cause long-term health problems.”

What Causes Lyme Disease?

Lyme disease is most caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, a corkscrew-shaped bacterium carried by the deer tick. These ticks can then become infected when they feed on rodents, birds or deer carrying the bacteria. If the tick attaches and feeds on the blood of a human for 36 to 48 hours or longer, there is a risk of infection by the Lyme disease bacteria. It is worth noting that not all ticks possess Lyme disease and transmission usually requires prolonged attachment.

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Early Symptoms to Watch For

Signs and symptoms commonly develop 3 to 30 days after the bite. Symptoms in the beginning may include:

Erythema migrans (EM) rash – a characteristic bull's-eye rash of the bite can occur at site in ~70–80%3.

Flu-like symptoms: Fever, chills, malaise (fatigue), headache, and muscle/joint aches.

Lymph nodes are swollen: Most commonly near the bite.

And some people might not even remember being bitten; ticks are small, and their bites are often painless.

Advanced Symptoms If Left Untreated

Lyme disease, if not treated early, can spread to other areas of the body. Symptoms may include:

• Severe headaches and neck stiffness
• Facial palsy (Bell’s palsy)
• Six types of indentation are described at the website (indentations 1-3 are for the right hand and indentation 1-3 are for the left hand).incl.
• Palpitations, chest pain, or irregular heart beat (Lyme carditis)
• Nerve pain, dizziness or difficulty breathing

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How to Prevent Lyme Disease

-Wear protective clothes: long sleeves, pants tucked into socks and light-coloured clothes to help spot ticks more easily.

-Apply insect repellent: DEET or permethrin containing repellents are good.

-Do tick checks: When you go indoors, check your body, paying special attention to your underarms, behind your ears and on your knees.

-Shower immediately: Take a shower as soon as possible after coming indoors (preferably within two hours) to wash off and more easily find ticks that are crawling on you.

-Remove ticks immediately: Grab the tick as close to the skin as possible and pull upward with tweezers with a firm, steady pressure.

Disclaimer: This article, including health and fitness advice, only provides generic information. Don’t treat it as a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist for specific health diagnosis.