DEAR DR. GOTT:
A friend of mine feels that he has Lyme disease. He does not have a rash on his skin; however does have a loss of memory and nervousness from time to time.
The place he lives in has ticks. Also, a friend of his who lives in the neighborhood has had Lyme disease. What are the symptoms of the disease, therapy, cure and duration?
DEAR READER:
Lyme disease was first recognized in 1975 following an excessive outbreak of arthritis near Lyme, CT. Lyme infection is spread by the bite of a black-legged deer tick (Ixodes scapularis) in the northeast and north-central United States. On the Pacific coast, the culprit is the western black-legged tick (Ixodes pacificus).
Most individuals are infected through bites of immature ticks known as nymphs that are tiny and difficult to see. For the most part, they feed during spring and summer. Adult ticks can also transmit Lyme disease bacteria, but because they are so much larger than nymphs, they are easier for an individual to see and remove from clothing or skin before they have had time to feed. The complete life cycle of an Ixodes is two years; a complete meal can take several days and the tick’s body enlarges as it feeds. The general consensus is that a tick must feed for two days before it can transmit bacteria. However, some physicians take the position that if a tick feeds at all, it can transmit the “disease”.
Ticks attach to animals or humans as they brush against them. They can neither jump nor fly. The risk of exposure is greatest in wooded areas, but keep in mind that animals can carry ticks from a wooded area into your backyard. Hosts such mice and deer can provide food for ticks throughout their stages of life.
Lyme disease is most frequently identified by a characteristic skin rash or rashes, bull’s eye ring or rings, fatigue, muscle and joint pain, headache, chills and fever. The difficulty here is that the symptoms mimic those of the flu. Physicians outside an endemic area will often lean toward a virus or arthritis, rather than Lyme disease during the initial stages. Without a characteristic rash or bull’s eye ring, the most important thing a suspecting individual can present to his or her physician is a complete history of possible exposure to ticks and any classic symptoms. Not all rashes that occur at the site of a bite are Lyme disease. This is because when a tick bites an individual, an allergic reaction to the tick’s saliva results. This reaction ordinarily appears within a few hours to a few days following the bite. It does not enlarge, often itches excessively, and should disappear within a few days to a few weeks.
Some physicians will choose to treat an individual simply by history and symptoms. Others might choose to order laboratory testing to confirm the diagnosis. Unfortunately, testing takes several days, during which a patient can be quite uncomfortable.
Several antibiotics are available for treating Lyme disease. They are given orally during early stages and recovery is often rapid and complete. For those with late-stage Lyme, intravenous antibiotics might be preferred. Some individuals suffer recurrent symptoms and may require a second course of treatment. There is some question on the length of time an individual should remain on antibiotic therapy. Your own physician can best guide you.
Following a walk in the woods or in areas where deer and mice traverse, a complete body check should be made for any ticks that might have attached to skin or clothing. Should a tick be found, there is no need to panic. Remove it with tweezers placed nearest the skin and as close to the head of the tick as possible. Carefully pull the tick away from the skin and dispose of the body. Do not become alarmed if the mouthparts remain in the skin.
Prevention includes avoiding walking in known tick-infested areas, using insect repellent with DEET and wearing protective clothing. Avoid shorts. Tuck long pants inside socks or boots and shirts into pants. And most important of all, remember daily tick checks.
I do not feel your friend’s loss of memory and nervousness are related to Lyme disease. If he is that concerned, a simple blood test will assist. He should visit his primary care physician, explain his concerns and be referred to the appropriate specialists if his doctor cannot pinpoint the problems.
To give you related information, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report “Alzheimer’s Disease”. Other readers who would like a copy should send a self-addressed, stamped number 10 envelope and $2 to Newsletter, PO Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092. Be sure to mention the title.
