Lyme disease is dangerous and insidious

Lyme disease, also called borreliosis, develops in humans as a result of a bite of an ixodid mite that carries disease-causing bacteria. It was first described by American physicians in the mid-70's. XX century, and its causative agent was isolated in 1982. The disease was named after the village of Lime, Connecticut. It is here that scientists began their studies, drawing attention to the frequent cases of arthritis in children.

Ticks borreliosis is usually infected in the spring-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 more often (up to 80% of cases) begins with the appearance on the skin in the bite of the papule, and then - ring-shaped erythema, reddening with a diameter of 10-20 or more centimeters. The incubation period with 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 many years, not manifesting itself at all, or proceeding almost asymptomatically, resembling a mild form of influenza.

In parallel with erythema, weakness, a feeling of aching in the 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 may be accompanied by meningeal symptoms: nausea and recurrent 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 has the form of a bluish-red infiltrate.

Characteristic for this period of the disease combination of symptoms - 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 in any way communicate in the view of the ill with each other.

In the absence of adequate medical care, borreliosis 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.

Borreliosis is treated 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 features 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 - asparks, riboxin, fever-antipyretic agents.

In order to prevent the disease, it is recommended that in the period of tick-borne activity it is recommended to walk into 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 mites 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.