Lyme disease is capable of infecting humans through the bite of a tick. The organism responsible for causing the disease is the bacteria borrelia burgdorferi. The bacteria and the ticks that carry them are most often present in forests. Even though most persons who acquire Lyme disease experience an initial round of fairly minor symptoms and then recover, some can develop complications months or even years after if the initial infection was not properly treated or simply ignored. The detection of Lyme disease during its initial phase and prompt treatment using antibiotics will prevent the development of the long-term complications.
If you want to learn more about Lyme disease and the proper management measures, all you have to do is to enroll in one of the courses on first aid today in Victoria. Early detection and prompt treatment of the Lyme disease is vital to prevent the possible long-term effects from developing.
Arthritis
It is important to note that a specific form of arthritis called Lyme arthritis can develop in some individuals who were exposed to Lyme disease. Take note that the arthritis from Lyme disease often targets the knees and these attacks can persist up to a few months at a time. There are measures that can help ease the pain in the joints during the course of the illness.
During an attack, the joints can feel sore and start to inflame. Antibiotics can be utilized to manage chronic Lyme disease that present with the arthritis symptoms. Pain medications particularly non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs as well as siphoning of the fluid from the inflamed joints can relieve the sore arthritic joints. The individuals who were not treated will later on develop arthritis and a small percentage of cases can be considered chronic.
Neurological disease
Some of the symptoms of the neurological damage caused by Lyme disease include mood swings, difficulty concentrating as well as difficulty remembering things, muscle weakness and memory loss. In some cases, poor motor coordination, meningitis and Bell’s palsy can also occur.
The indications of meningitis might have taken hold in the brain include stiff neck and headaches. The administration of intravenous antibiotics which spans 14-28 days can manage the bacterial infection that causes the Lyme disease but symptoms might take longer to dissipate. The usual antibiotics that are used in the treatment of late stage Lyme disease include penicillin and ceftriaxone.
Heart issues
A small percentage of those who are infected with Lyme disease develop heart issues. The heart problems linked with Lyme disease often include heart rhythm irregularities including sluggish heart rate and heart palpitations. The less apparent symptoms of heart issues caused by Lyme disease in some individual usually include shortness of breath, lightheadedness and fainting. In some cases, chest pain can also occur in some individuals.