After a period of time more than half of people not treated develop painful and swollen joints. The knee is most commonly affected and 10 to 20 percent of patients will go on to develop chronic arthritis. Neurological symptoms can also occur including numbness, poor motor coordination, stiff neck, memory loss, and difficulty with concentration.
Lyme disease is called the Great Imitator because it can mimic many other diseases. Other symptoms are jaw pain, frequent urination, cough, ear involvement, eye inflammation, sore throat, and liver problems.
The good news is, Lyme disease is readily treatable and, in most cases, curable. A new study suggests that when a person detects the very first symptoms of Lyme, which is the rash, a 10-day treatment is available in doxycycline pill form. A report from SUNY, Stony Brook, New York says that 99 percent of cases are now detected early and the cure rate is high. The Infectious Disease Society says a small percentage of patients go on to express “chronic Lyme disease” or “post–Lyme disease syndrome".
Antibiotics are recommended for a minimum of four to six weeks for late detection (you need to get checked when seeing early symptoms). Chronic cases may require a longer treatment. Doxycycline or amoxicillin taken orally for a few weeks can speed the healing of the rash and usually prevents subsequent symptoms such as arthritis or numbness. A study suggests that doxycycline, if taken within three days of a tick bite, can prevent the disease.
More good news is that with aggressive treatment more than 85 percent of patients are fully recovered within three years. There are still the 15% who do not fully recover and continue to have joint and nerve problems. Few people, if any, die of the disease.
There is a vaccine for dogs - and some strides have been made for a human vaccine but it is not yet proven practical to take. Problem is, people do not easily develop an immunity to Lyme disease and re-infection is possible. You should receive treatment if you are bitten by a tick that tests positive for spirochetes, if you have symptoms after a tick bite, if you are pregnant and have had a tick bite, or if you are bitten in an endemic area.
