Understanding Lyme disease and Options for Treatment

Updated on June 22, 2020

We would not imagine that ticks can cause chronic infections or diseases. The origin of Lyme disease traces to Connecticut. Its symptoms manifested itself around 1975 in a place to be named Lyme, after the disease. Over time, scientists have achieved promising results in Lyme disease treatment.

Lyme disease is a result of bacteria known as Borrelia Burgdorfer. According to extensive research, the bacteria originate from rodents, birds, or deer and it transmits to man via the black-legged tick. Research has found the disease to be prevalent in woody and forest-covered areas. Those who have domestic animals around these environments are likely to be exposed to this disease.

Scope of the disease

The disease is common in The United States and Europe. Medical practitioners claim that only a portion of infected individuals undergo diagnosis and treatment. Many other cases remain unreported. In the United States, the cases reported annually surpass 30,000 individuals with those already infected running in hundreds of thousands. Children are at a greater risk of getting a tick bite due to their outdoor activities. According to medical reports in the United States, there are over 200 kids between the ages of 3 years to 14 years diagnosis daily. Seniors aged 50 years and above are exposed to the disease as they spend time in outdoor leisure activities. Pets can be carriers of an infected tick into the house, thus exposing human beings infection from a tick bite. 

Globally, diagnosis and treatment of cases is evident in over 80 countries. Apart from the US, the pacific people are most prone to infections due to their rocky mountains. Scientists predict that before 2020, two million individuals may be exposed and dealing with chronic Lyme disease. For some patients, bacterial manifestations are likely to resurface after the initial treatment.

Symptoms and signs

This disease that is transmitted by a tick bite probably starts as a rash that develops within three days of the encounter. This rash looks more like a painless and non-itchy mosquito bite.

It might take as long as 30 days for an infected individual to show symptoms of the disease. Lyme disease symptoms do manifest itself differently in individuals. Below are some symptoms that are common during early infection;

·        Body ache

·        Headache

·        Chills

·        Stiffness of the neck

·        Swollen lymph nodes

Other chronic symptoms that may appear later include;

·        Swelling and Joint pains

·        Numbness in the limbs

·        Difficulty in muscle movement

·        Erythema migraines

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of Lyme disease can be tasking since the signs and symptoms exist in other medical conditions. While visiting a clinic, inform your doctor about any medical history as well as outdoor activities undertaken in recent times.

Doctors conduct the disease diagnosis clinically by taking blood samples and conducting lab tests. Recommendations by government disease control units prefer a two-step test on the same blood sample;

  • The ELISA test; This uses enzymes to detect antibodies produced by the body against bacteria. The full name is Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. A positive test will prompt doctors to proceed to the next test. If this test turns negative, the subsequent test is not needed.
  • Western Blot test; It acts as a confirmatory test to this disease-specific bacteria in the body. It enables the detection of the body’s reaction to proteins of Borrelia Burgdorfer bacteria.

These tests developed for the diagnosis of Lyme disease detect the presence of antibodies produced by the body to fight the bacteria. A recently infected individual can test negative against the disease because antibodies may take time to develop. It may take two to three weeks for body antigens to be present. Other viral or bacterial infections can wrongly indicate the presence of antibodies.

Available Treatment for the Lyme disease

The strategic procedures to employ for Lyme disease treatment date back to more a century of research work. It takes time, perseverance, and commitment to implement the treatment methods as well as achieve the desired results. 

At its early stages, doctors at LIVV Natural undertake Lyme disease treatment using oral antibiotics. The dosage is complete in less than one month of prescription. The most commonly prescribed medications are amoxicillin, doxycilline, or cerufoxine. The use of intravenous antibiotics take prominence treatment once the disease has spread. It takes a similar period to treat as the mild symptomatic case. If some of the symptoms persist post-treatment, the medics refer to the disease as post-Lyme disease syndrome. No treatment is available for the later stages. Continuously eradicating the bacteria using antibodies is effective in managing the post-Lyme disease. With the advice of your doctor, you can seek the services of an infectious disease specialist.

Extensive studies reveal that certain oils can eradicate the Borrelia Burgdorfer bacteria. The industry has seen global milestones in the development of essence from plants and herbs such as garlic, cinnamon bark, thyme leaves, and eucalyptus. The plants have antibacterial components that aid in fighting the infection. To make sure that there is no relapse of the infection, the specialist may treat other fungal, viral, or bacterial elements existing in the body. The Lyme disease treatment focuses on relieving any symptomatic discomfort and pain. 

Natural components as an alternative therapy for Lyme disease treatment are beneficial in the production of antibodies. A specialist administers and undertakes the process of treating this infectious disease. Some of these lifestyle supports include;

  • Ozone therapy: It is the process of establishing ozone (O3) in the body. It induces the production of antibodies that fights infection. 
  • Vitamin C Supplements: A prescribed dose of the vitamin will eradicate micro-organisms.
  • Nutritional supplements: This is the process of detoxifying the body of bacteria.

Prevention of Lyme disease syndrome

  • Make use of insect repellant while engaging in outdoor activities.
  • Use protective clothes while hiking or navigating the woods.
  • Thoroughly examine the body for bugs and ticks.
  • Regularly check, clean, and treat the pets against ticks and other insects.
  • If in an infested area, take a shower after outdoor activities

Conclusion

Most of the infected individuals achieve full recovery using antibiotics. While taking the alternative herbal and natural treatments, undertake extra care on any side effects. The best practice is to access treatment under the supervision of your doctor.

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The Editorial Team at Healthcare Business Today is made up of skilled healthcare writers and experts, led by our managing editor, Daniel Casciato, who has over 25 years of experience in healthcare writing. Since 1998, we have produced compelling and informative content for numerous publications, establishing ourselves as a trusted resource for health and wellness information. We offer readers access to fresh health, medicine, science, and technology developments and the latest in patient news, emphasizing how these developments affect our lives.