Just How Dangerous is Lyme Disease?

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Lyme disease has become more common in the United States due to the climate crisis and this disease is caused by ticks.

It is very important for anyone who is living in the country to know about this disease, because if this is not treated as soon as possible, it could very well put a person's life at risk. 

These are some symptoms you should watch for if you think you have contracted Lyme disease, according to CNN Health:

• Fever, chills, body aches, swollen lymph nodes, neck stiffness, shortness of breathing, headache, fatigue, and a rash.

How to know that you have been bitten by a tick?

A tick usually bites like a mosquito. If you see any red bump that looks like a mosquito bite, but three to 30 days it shows signs like expanding and rashes are showing-up then that could be a sign that you have Lyme disease. 

This red bump is usually itchy and painful and the area would feel a little bit warm when you touch it. Doctors call this rash erythema migrans. Most patients who have this disease develop a rash in more than one location in the body.

What will happen if the disease is not treated?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that if this disease is left untreated it can spread to the joints, heart, and nervous system. The patient usually feels pain and swelling of joints. If this is still not treated after weeks or months, it will develop more complications like swelling of the membranes that surround the brain, temporary paralysis of one side of the face, and can lead to forgetfulness and confusion.

How does a person get Lyme disease?

According to the Mayo Clinic, Lyme disease has four main bacteria, but in the United States, it's Borrelia burgdorferi and Borrelia mayonii which cause the disease.

This happens when an infected tick bites a person and transfers the bacteria. It was found that several types of ticks carry the bacteria and that includes the black-legged ticks. Most of the immature ticks are active during summer and spring months. This is also the season where most people get sick, because of this disease. 

What to do if you get bitten by a tick?

Ticks are very tiny so you have to be careful. Once you have a red bump, the first thing that you need to do is to find the tick within 24 hours to avoid the development of Lyme disease. The longer that the tick is attached to the body, the more that the person is infected. You can use tweezer in removing the tick and put an antiseptic on the infected area. However, you have to see a doctor if the symptoms persist or even you have removed the ticks to avoid more complications.

What is the treatment?

According to the Mayo Clinic the standard treatment for persons who have the Lyme disease is an oral antibiotic that will last for 14 to 21 days. However, if the disease has affected the nervous system, intravenous antibiotics will be given for 14 to 28 days. The treatment may have some side effects like lower count of white blood cells, diarrhea, or infection. 

How to prevent Lyme disease?

The CDC recommends everyone, most especially during spring and summer, to wear insect repellant with at least 20 percent DEET concentration. Avoid in an area with high grass is also the best solution because ticks are usually found in this area. You should also take a shower when coming back from spending time outdoors. And when you are outside, it helps to wear long sleeves and pants.