lyme disease is a bacterial infection
DESCRIPTION
Lyme disease is caused by bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi. It is a bacterial infection that is spread through the bite of one of several types of ticks.TRANSCRIPT
Lyme disease is a Bacterial Infection
Dr. Peter Dobie
Lyme disease is caused by bacteriacalled Borrelia burgdorferi. It is abacterial infection that is spreadthrough the bite of one of severaltypes of ticks.
Causes of Lyme Disease
There are various stages of Lyme disease.
• In first stage the infection has not spread throughout the body.
• In second stage of Lyme disease the bacteria have begun to spread throughout the body.
• And in third stage the bacteria have spread throughout the body.
Risk factors for Lyme disease include: doing outside work i.e. gardening, in an area where Lyme disease is known to occur.
Symptoms of Lyme Disease
Symptoms of early localized Lyme disease stage first begindays or weeks after infection. They are similar to flu and mayinclude: fever, general ill feeling, headache, joint pain, musclepain etc. Lyme disease can spread to the brain, heart, andjoints.
Symptoms of second stage may occur weeks to months afterthe tick bite and may include: numbness or pain in the nervearea, paralysis or weakness in the muscles of the face, heartproblems, chest pain, or shortness of breath
Symptoms of stage third can occur months or years after theinfection. The most common symptoms are muscle and jointpain. Other symptoms may include: Abnormal musclemovement, joint’s swelling, muscle weakness, numbness andtingling, speech problems etc.
Tests for Lyme Disease
A blood test can be done to check for antibodiesto the bacteria that cause Lyme disease. Themost commonly used is the ELISA for Lymedisease test. An immunoblot test is done toconfirm ELISA results.
In areas where Lyme disease is more common,your health care provider may be able todiagnose early disseminated Lyme diseasewithout doing any lab tests. In the early stage ofinfection, blood tests can be normal.
Treatment of Lyme Disease
Anyone who has been bitten by a tick should be watchedclosely for at least 30 days.
A single dose of doxycycline may be offered to someonesoon after being bitten by a tick, if all of these conditionsare true:
• The person has a tick that can carry Lyme diseaseattached to his or her body. This usually means that anurse or physician has looked at and identified the tick.
• The tick is thought to have been attached to the personfor at least 36 hours.
• The person can begin taking the antibiotics within 72hours of removing the tick.
• The person is over 8 years old and is not pregnant orbreastfeeding.
A 10 day to 4-week course of antibiotics is used totreat people who are diagnosed with Lyme disease,depending on the choice of drug.
• The choice of antibiotic depends on the stage ofthe disease and the symptoms
• Common choices include doxycycline, amoxicillin,azithromycin, cefuroxime, and ceftriaxone
Lyme Disease Australia
Thank You
Dr. Peter Dobie
Address: SUITE 3A, EDGECLIFF COURT, 2 NEW McLean ST, EDGECLIFF, NSW 2027
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 02 9362 0493
Fax: 02 9363 0767