LYME DISEASE Ajay Rao RED

Causes It is caused by deer ticks when they bite a mammal. Not all deer ticks carry Lyme disease but some do. Fortunately, less than 5% of tick bites in a high contact area carry “Borrelia Burgdorferi”(bacteria that causes Lyme disease). The bacteria spends part of its time in the deer tick, but when the deer tick bites the mammal, the bacteria travels.

Symptoms 1st symptom of Lyme disease is a small red bull’s eye rash called “Erythema Migrans.” Some symptoms include: fatigue, fever, aching muscles or other joints, chills, stiff neck, swollen glands, and headaches. Stage 2 of Lyme disease is called “Chronic Lyme.” Symptoms from Chronic Lyme vary from different complaints If the brain and CNS (Central Nervous System) are affected, different symptoms may occur. Some of those symptoms are: dizziness, poor memory, poor sleep, confusion, lack of concentration, and others.

Transmission/Prevention (Deer) ticks attach itself onto victims when they are walking through the area where the tick is. The (Deer) tick latches on with it’s legs and it sticks onto you. Lyme disease can easily be prevented. Some ways to prevent it is to apply bug repellent, spend less time in grassy areas, and wear proper clothing. Proper clothing includes wearing your pants tucked into white socks so you can see the (Deer) tick, and long-sleeved clothes so (Deer) ticks can’t bite you.

Infected Ticks That Carry Lyme Disease Epidemiology Infected Ticks That Carry Lyme Disease Lyme disease was first discovered in Lyme, Connecticut. There, 39 kids developed crazy, arthritic-like symptoms. Over the years, changes in land increased the contact between deer, ticks, and mice. Now, deer and white-footed mice can carry Lyme disease. In the early 1980’s, the spirochete of Lyme disease was cultured and isolated. CT, RI, NY, NJ, PA, MD, WI, MH had 92% of all the reported cases of Lyme disease in the 48 states it has been reported in. 1983 was the 1st reported case of Lyme disease.

Treatments During the early stages of Lyme disease, oral antibiotics is the standard treatment. The drug “Doxycycline” is for adults and kids over 8 years of age for treatment of Lyme disease. “Amoxicillin” or “cefuroxime” is the drug for younger children and pregnant women. The drug will clear the infection without any unnecessary complications. The normal period of taking the antibiotics is 14-21 days but 10-14 days also work just as good. If the disease has progressed, doctors recommend intravenous antibiotics which should be taken from 14-28 days.

Sources http://www.lymediseaseblog.com/lyme-disease-symptoms/ http://www.emedicinehealth.com/lyme_disease/article_em.htm http://www.a1trails.com/outdoor/lyme/html http://www.brown.edu/Courses/Bio_160/Projects1999/lyme/background http://www.brown.edu/Courses/Bio_160/Projects2005/lyme_disease/history http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/lyme disease/DS00116/DSECTION=treatments-and-drugs http://www.google.images.com