LYME DISEASE

OVERVIEW

• Lyme Disease is caused by an untreated bite from a deertick that is infected
• It can spread to the heart, joints, and nervous system
• Ways to prevent are using insect repellent and removing a tick properly

SYSTEMS AFFECTED

• In the nervous system, the brain can be affected by mood swings, personality changes, mentally slow, and loss of memory
• The heart can also be affected with chest pain or burns

SYMPTOMS

• 60-70% of the time the symptoms are flu-like
• Headache
• Fatigue
• Soar throat
• Fever
• Chills
• Muscle Aches
• Swollen joints

CAUSES

• Cause is Borrelia Burgdorferi
• Borrelia Burgdorferi is a bacteria that a tick can be infected with
• If that (infected) tick bites you, you will get Lyme disease

DIAGNOSIS

• If you don’t have the typical Lyme disease rash, you will be asked things like did you go outside a lot in the summer
• Testing the disease is best to do it a few weeks after the infection is in your body

TREATMENT

• Intravenous antibiotics can be used to eliminate the infection but it can take some time for the infection to be gone.
• Oral antibiotics are for early stage Lyme disease, it should be used right away

Prognosis

• Less than 5 percent of tick bites result to having Lyme disease

PREVENTION

• Cover skin
• Bug repellent
• Check skin daily for ticks
• Shower after being outside
• Remove tick with tweezers