What is Lyme disease? What are the symptoms and treatment methods?

Lyme disease is caused by an infection of one of the four main types of bacteria transmitted through ticks. In the United States, Borrelia burgdorferi and Borrelia mayonii cause Lyme disease, while in Europe and Asia, Borrelia afzelii and Borrelia garinii cause this disease to occur. If you live or spend time in grassy and dense forest areas where ticks carrying bacteria are concentrated, you are more likely to get this disease. In this context, it is important to take precautions in areas with tick infestations. In this article, important information about Lyme disease is compiled for you.

What is Lyme disease?
Tick and similar parasites can infect the virus or bacteria they carry after they adhere to the human body. Lyme disease is especially caused by the transmission of Borrelia bacteria in a tick species called “deer tick” to human. When Lyme disease is left untreated, it can cause neurological symptoms that progress to stroke.
What are the symptoms of Lyme disease?
The most prominent symptom of Lyme disease is a special type of rash that is observed specific to this disease. Erythema migrans, also known as Öküzgözü erythema; It is a kind of redness, which is observed in the form of open, middle and red and intertwined rings. This image is observed from 3 days to 1 month after a tick bite, and then the diagnosis is made. However, it is not seen in every case. Signs and symptoms of Lyme disease are variable. They usually appear in stages, but stages can come at the same time.
Early signs and symptoms:
A small, red bump resembling the swelling of a mosquito bite is usually observed in the area where a tick bite or tick is removed and disappears within a few days. This normal formation does not indicate Lyme disease. However, the following symptoms may occur within one month after infection:
erythema migrans (rash can be observed in more than one place)
fire,
chills,
fatigue,
body aches,
headache ,
stiff neck
swollen lymph nodes
Late signs and symptoms:
If left untreated, new signs and symptoms of Lyme infection may occur over the next weeks or months. These can be explained as follows:
Erythema migrations: The rash can occur in other parts of the body.
Joint pain: Severe joint pain, especially affecting the knees and progressing with swelling, can be observed.
Neurological problems: It can happen months or even several years after infection. Inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain (meningitis), temporary paralysis of one side of the face, numbness or weakness in the limbs can occur.
Less common signs and symptoms:
Heart problems such as irregular heartbeat
Eye inflammation
Liver inflammation (hepatitis)
Severe fatigue
Even if the symptoms and symptoms disappear, it is useful to contact the health institution. Because the absence of symptoms does not mean that the disease has passed. When left untreated, Lyme disease can spread to other parts of your body a few months or years after infection, causing arthritis and nervous system problems.
What causes Lyme disease?
Lyme disease in the United States is caused by Borrelia burgdorferi and Borrelia mayonii bacteria. Young brown ticks that carry these bacteria are often the size of poppy seeds. Bacteria, with a tick bite, overcome the skin barrier, enter the bloodstream and cause disease.
In most cases, the infected tick must be stuck to the human for at least 36 to 48 hours to get Lyme disease. Ticks that were later noticed on the body and now swollen, were fed long enough to possibly infect bacteria. Removing the tick as soon as possible is important to prevent infection.
Who is at risk of Lyme disease?
The most common risk factors for Lyme disease can be summarized as follows:
Spending time in forest or grassy areas: Traveling in forested areas in areas where ticks infecting Lyme disease is risky. Children who spend a lot of time outdoors in these areas are particularly at risk. Outdoor professionals who are also at high risk are also at risk.
Wearing less skin-covering clothes: Ticks stick very easily to the skin. If you are in an area where ticks are common, you can protect yourself by wearing a long-sleeved top and long-leg trousers. Do not let your pets walk around on tall grass and grass.
Failure to remove ticks promptly or properly: If the tick remains attached to your skin, bacteria from a tick bite for 36-48 hours or longer may enter your bloodstream. If you remove a tick within two days, you have a low risk of developing Lyme disease.
How is Lyme disease diagnosed?
Many signs and symptoms of Lyme disease can often be observed in other diseases, so diagnosis may be more difficult if you do not show oxe erythema characteristic in Lyme disease. Moreover, ticks that transmit Lyme disease can spread other diseases.
Especially in spring, autumn and summer, your doctor can investigate your medical history in detail by examining whether you are outdoors or not. If he suspects Lyme disease during a general physical exam, he may order some tests to confirm his diagnosis:
Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test: It is the most commonly used method to detect Lyme disease. It detects antibodies against B. burgdorferi but is sometimes not used as a single test for diagnosis, as it can sometimes give false-positive results.
Western blot test: If the ELISA test is positive, this test is usually done to confirm the diagnosis. Western blot detects antibodies against various proteins of B. burgdorferi.
How is Lyme disease treated?
Since Lyme disease is a bacterial disease, antibiotics are used in its treatment.
Oral antibiotics: These are standard treatment of early stage Lyme disease. Oral antibiotics are usually doxycycline for children over 8 years old and adults; Contains amoxicillin or cefuroxime for young children and pregnant or lactating women. An antibiotic course of 14 to 21 days is usually recommended. However, some studies show that cures lasting 10 to 14 days are equally effective.
Intravenous antibiotics: If the disease has advanced to the central nervous system, your doctor may recommend treatment with an intravenous antibiotic for 14 to 28 days.
How to prevent against Lyme disease?
The best way to prevent Lyme disease is to stay away from ticks' habitats, especially tall grassy forest areas. You can reduce your risk of developing Lyme disease with some simple measures:
Choosing long and covering clothes: In woodland or grassy areas, wear shoes, long trousers, long-sleeved shirt, a hat and gloves. Try to stick to traces like paths and avoid walking over low bushes and tall grass.
Use insect repellents: Apply insecticide to your skin with 20% or more DEET concentration. Note that chemical repellents can be toxic, so follow the instructions carefully.
Take precautions to make your garden ticks: mow long grass, bushes that ticks prefer to live in. Take precautions to remove rodents bearing ticks. For example; Stack your winter wood neatly in dry and sunny areas.
Check your clothes, yourself, children and pets for ticks: Be especially careful after spending time in woodland or grassy areas. Ticks are usually no larger than a needle head, so you may not find them unless you search carefully. It will be useful to take a shower as soon as you get inside. Ticks usually stay on your skin for hours before wearing them. Using a shower fiber can help remove ticks that have not yet caught on.
Remove the tick correctly as soon as possible: gently hold the tick near your head or mouth. Do not squeeze or crush the tick, but carefully and regularly pull it off. After removing the whole tick, apply antiseptic to the bite site.

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