Lyme Disease: Understanding Symptoms, Effects & Treatment

Lyme disease is an illness that is acquired through bites from deer ticks feeding on the blood of humans and animals. When left untreated, Lyme disease can have a myriad of effects, including chronic illnesses.

Features

• Lyme disease is typically acquired in grassy and heavily wooded areas; the infection can spread throughout the body within days or weeks. Lyme disease is expressed through flu-like symptoms, rash and body aches.

Effects

• Lyme disease can cause facial palsy, nerve damage, memory loss, impaired concentration, irregular heart rhythms, changes in sleep habits and mood fluctuations. When Lyme disease remains untreated for a long period, it causes arthritis, brain diseases and nerve damage.

Theories/Speculation

• The link between Lyme disease and pregnancy complications is currently unknown. However, the CDC states that a woman who acquires Lyme disease during pregnancy has a slight risk of transmitting the illness to her unborn child.

Prognosis

• According to the CDC, Lyme disease rarely results in death and is easily treated by taking physician-prescribed antibiotics.

Prevention/Solution

• Cover all exposed skin while in grassy and heavily wooded areas. If you notice a tick on your skin, use tweezers to remove it; get as close as possible to the skin, firmly grasp the tick and lift gently.

Warning

• Ticks should be removed within 24 to 72 hours of attachment to prevent transmission of Lyme disease. Promptly consult your health-care professional if you think you have been exposed to Lyme disease.