Lyme disease is dangerous and insidious
Lyme disease, also called borreliosis,develops in humans as a result of a bite of an ixodid tick transporting pathogens. It was first described by American physicians in the mid-1970s. XX century, and its causative agent was isolated in 1982. The disease was named after the village of Lyme, Connecticut. It is here that scientists began their studies, drawing attention to the frequent cases of arthritis in children.
Tick borreliosis is usually infected inspring-summer months. At this time ticks are most active, and any walk through the forest can result in infection. The causative agent of borreliosis penetrates the body together with the saliva of the tick. Lyme disease most often (up to 80% of cases) begins with the appearance on the skin in the bite of the papule, and then - annular erythema, reddening with a diameter of 10-20 or more centimeters. The incubation period for this disease is usually 1-2 weeks (almost half of the patients). Therefore, a tick bite several days ago gives reason to suspect borreliosis. However, in some cases, Lyme disease can lurk in the body for years to come, not manifesting itself at all, or proceeding almost asymptomatically, resembling a mild form of influenza.
In addition to erythema, weakness appears,sensation of aching muscles and bones. The body temperature rises - sometimes up to 40 degrees. In half of the patients, the rate of erythrocyte sedimentation in the blood was increased. The first signs of borreliosis, thus, are similar to the symptoms of ARI or ARVI, and in some cases the diagnosis of the disease can be difficult. Most patients develop a secondary rash of smaller sizes a few days after the onset of erythema.
Lyme disease in the second stage mayaccompanied by meningeal symptoms: nausea and repeated vomiting, photophobia, severe headaches. Some patients have liver enlargement and a mild form of hepatitis. From the heart, the disease manifests itself as myocarditis and pericarditis. There are marked pains in the joints and muscles. Borreliosis at this stage can also manifest as conjunctivitis, angina and bronchitis, increased fatigue. There may appear on the skin multiple erythematous lesions, as well as Borrelia lymphocytoma, which looks like a bluish-red infiltrate.
A characteristic combination of this periodsymptoms - meningitis, peripheral paresis and radiculoneuritis. In this case, the diagnosis is usually not difficult. All the symptoms of the second stage of borreliosis described above are often observed after fever, erythema and intoxication have passed. In this case, they can not communicate in any way in the view of the ill with each other.
In the absence of adequate medical careborreliosis passes into the third stage. This period is characterized by joint damage (arthritis), chronic atrophic acrodermatitis (skin lesion); from the side of the nervous system - encephalitis, encephalomyelitis, polyneuropathy. Named after the American town of Laima, this disease is thus extremely diverse in its manifestations. This fact is associated with the ability of Borrelia to affect any tissues and organs.
Treat borreliosis with antibiotics - doxycycline,amoxicillin, ceftriaxone. The choice of the drug, its dose and the duration of the course depend on the stage of the disease and the individual characteristics of its course, as well as the body's response to antibiotic therapy. In addition, symptomatic treatment is used: with arthritis - non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, physiotherapy, with cardiac manifestations - asparkam, riboxin, fever-antipyretic agents.
To prevent the disease, during the tick-borne periodit is recommended to walk in the forest in clothes with long sleeves. The ends of trousers should be tucked into socks and shoes (rubber boots). The head and neck are protected by a handkerchief, open parts of the body are treated with repellents. After a walk in the forest, you should carefully inspect your clothes and body. If ticks are detected, it is undesirable to extract them yourself. As studies show, it is the incorrect extraction of parasites in many cases that leads to infection. It is better to contact the doctors - they, except for first aid to the victim, will send the mite to the laboratory. If it detects pathogens, it is necessary to take urgent measures: Lyme disease, whose treatment can not be delayed, may lead to disability in the future.
