More severe neurological complications may require treatment with intravenous antibiotics for 14 to 28 days. These include symptoms like:. Be sure to talk to your healthcare provider right away if you think you might be dealing with neurological issues from Lyme disease.
While most people recover fully after receiving antibiotics, a small percentage of individuals continue to have symptoms that persist after treatment.
These symptoms may last six months or longer. There are a large number of Lyme disease cases in the United States each year. Luckily, the disease is not fatal, and experiencing a recurrence of symptoms is rare. Nonetheless, some people take longer to fully recover from Lyme disease and may need additional treatment after completing their first course of antibiotics. Symptoms that persist, commonly called chronic Lyme disease or post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome PTLDS , are similar to the symptoms that occur in the early stages of Lyme disease, such as:.
Some experts believe that the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi can trigger an autoimmune response or that chronic symptoms could be related to a different and difficult-to-detect infection. Unfortunately, there is no proven treatment for it. Studies have not shown that short-term antibiotic treatment is effective, and long-term antibiotics can have serious negative effects on your health. Lyme carditis is a complication that develops when bacteria enter the heart tissues. Bacteria can interfere with electrical signals from the heart that control the beating of the heart.
Symptoms of Lyme carditis may include:. Your healthcare provider will either prescribe oral or IV antibiotics for Lyme carditis, depending on your condition severity. Some patients might need a temporary pacemaker. Most people recover within one to six weeks. Prompt treatment for Lyme disease reduces the risk of lingering symptoms and complications.
Patience and proactive communication with your healthcare professional will help you get back to your usual state of health. Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. John Hopkins Medicine. Ticks and Lyme disease. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Lyme disease data and surveillance. Updated January 14, Diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of Lyme disease, human granulocytic anaplasmosis, and babesiosis: a review.
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Pain medicines, such as ibuprofen, are sometimes prescribed for joint stiffness. If diagnosed in the early stages, Lyme disease can be cured with antibiotics. Without treatment, complications involving the joints, heart, and nervous system can occur. But these symptoms are still treatable and curable. In rare cases, a person keeps having symptoms that interfere with daily life after they have been treated with antibiotics.
This is also known as post-Lyme disease syndrome. The cause of this syndrome is unknown. Symptoms that occur after antibiotics are stopped may not be signs of active infection and may not respond to antibiotic treatment.
Stage 3, or late disseminated, Lyme disease can cause long-term joint inflammation Lyme arthritis and heart rhythm problems.
Brain and nervous system problems are also possible, and may include:. Take precautions to avoid tick bites. Be extra careful during warmer months. When possible, avoid walking or hiking in the woods and areas with high grass.
If a tick is attached to you, follow these steps to remove it :. Centers for Disease Control website. Lyme disease. Updated December 16, Accessed April 7, Steere AC. Lyme disease Lyme borreliosis due to Borrelia burgdorferi. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; chap Wormser GP. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. Updated by: Jatin M. Editorial team. In the United States, most Lyme disease infections occur in the following areas: Northeastern states, from Virginia to Maine North-central states, mostly in Wisconsin and Minnesota West Coast, mainly in the northwest There are three stages of Lyme disease.
Stage 1 is called early localized Lyme disease. The bacteria have not yet spread throughout the body. Stage 2 is called early disseminated Lyme disease. The bacteria have begun to spread throughout the body. Stage 3 is called late disseminated Lyme disease. The bacteria have spread throughout the body. Risk factors for Lyme disease include: Doing outside activities that increase tick exposure for example, gardening, hunting, or hiking in an area where Lyme disease occurs Having a pet that may carry infected ticks home Walking in high grasses in areas where Lyme disease occurs Important facts about tick bites and Lyme disease: A tick must be attached to your body for 24 to 36 hours in order to spread the bacteria to your blood.
Blacklegged ticks can be so small that they are almost impossible to see. Many people with Lyme disease never even see or feel a tick on their body.
Most people who are bitten by a tick do not get Lyme disease. Others believe that the disease damages your immune system and tissues. Your damaged immune system continues to respond to the infection even after the bacteria are destroyed, causing symptoms. If the infection progresses to the chronic stage, your symptoms might continue for weeks, months, or even years after the initial tick bite.
However, even people who receive antibiotic therapy are at risk. Typically, the symptoms of post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome resemble those that occur in earlier stages. People with persistent symptoms often experience lingering episodes of:.
Living with persistent symptoms of Lyme disease after treatment may affect your mobility and cognitive skills. It can also cause extreme lifestyle changes and emotional stress. Some people who experience long-term debilitating symptoms may be willing to try unproven alternative therapies. Talk to your doctor before beginning any new medications or therapies.
Although they may claim to offer a cure, these potentially toxic remedies can result in further health problems. Your doctor will diagnose Lyme disease by using a blood test that checks your level of antibodies to the disease-causing bacteria. These tests may be done at the same time. Depending on your symptoms, your doctor may recommend testing of specific affected areas to determine the level of damage or the body parts that have been affected.
These tests may include:. When diagnosed at an early stage, standard treatment for Lyme disease is a two- to three-week course of oral antibiotics. Doxycycline , amoxicillin , and cefuroxime axetil are the most commonly prescribed medications. Depending on your condition and symptoms, other antibiotics or an intravenous IV treatment may be necessary. Some experts advocate continued antibiotic therapy.
According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , prolonged use of these drugs can also cause complications. Treatment for post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome is often focused on reducing pain and discomfort. Prescription or over-the-counter OTC pain relievers may be used to treat joint pain. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications NSAIDs and intra-articular steroids can be used to treat problems such as joint swelling.
0コメント