Ticks burrow into the skin and can transmit bacteria, which may lead to Lyme disease. “The early symptoms are the ones where you may have the neck stiffness, the muscle aches, a low-grade fever, the change in appetite, that tends to be in that early phase where this tick has bitten us and put that bacteria into our skin,” he explained. Post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome.CLEVELAND – Warmer weather means people are ready to get outside, but it’s also time for ticks.Ĭleveland Clinic’s Dan Sullivan, MD, reminds us that these critters can transmit Lyme disease. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2018.0751Ĭenters for Disease Control, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID). Rauer S, Kastenbauer S, Fingerle V, Hunfeld KP, Huppertz HI, Dersch R. Probable late lyme disease: a variant manifestation of untreated Borrelia burgdorferi infection. Estimating the frequency of Lyme disease diagnoses, United States, 2010–2018. Kugeler K, Schwartz A, Delorey M, Mead P, Hinckley A. Lyme disease: clinical diagnosis and treatment. doi:10.1016/j.medmal.2018.06.002Ĭenters for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infections Diseases. Multidisciplinary management of patients presenting with Lyme disease suspicion. Notably, blood samples are sometimes taken before antibodies have a chance to form, giving a negative result. Blood tests: When suspected, healthcare providers will use blood samples to test for the presence of antibodies to Lyme disease, with the ELISA for Lyme disease test being the most popular.Differential diagnosis: Since Lyme disease symptoms can resemble those of the flu or another type of infection, healthcare providers will also need to make sure other diseases aren’t causing symptoms.Notably, these can resemble those of other diseases, so this assessment in itself is rarely conclusive. Signs and symptoms: The presence of symptoms must be considered.Gardeners and agricultural workers may be at particular risk. Risky environments: Lyme disease will more often be suspected if you’ve had contact with environments conducive to black-legged ticks-areas of tall grass or forested regions.Alongside the Northeast, mid-Atlantic, Upper Midwest, and West Coast of the United States, infectious ticks reside in Canada, as well as parts of Europe and Asia. Geographical location: Infection is expected only in areas where the black-legged tick is native.The tick bite: While the bullseye bruise doesn’t always accompany the tick bite, the presence of the characteristic rash will certainly raise flags for healthcare providers.If you see a tick attached to your body, gently remove it and try to save it to bring to your healthcare provider for identification.
The presence of a tick: For the black-legged tick to successfully infect someone, it needs to be attached to a person for 24 to 36 hours.Antibiotic therapy, if applied promptly, tends to be effective as a treatment. This can also affect the meninges-the layer of tissue surrounding the brain and spine-leading to meningitis, among other conditions. Lyme neuroborreliosis: Inflammation of multiple nerves, including those in the spine and brain, is the chief characteristic of this condition.Lyme carditis: If the bacteria reach the heart tissues, they can cause inflammation and lead to “heart block.” The electrical signals being sent between the upper and lower chambers of the heart are interrupted, impairing the coordination of the heartbeat.This arthritis is relatively difficult to manage, though antibiotics and steroids may be attempted. These symptoms tend to arise within two years of infection, with periods of flare-ups and remissions. Arthritis: Prolonged infection with Lyme disease leads to chronic joint inflammation and swelling, usually in the knees (though other joints can be affected).