Lyme disease is a common condition that affects several people. Today, we will discuss the disease, its symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment.
What is Lyme Disease?
It is an infectious disease that is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. It is transmitted to the human body when an infected tick bites you. If the tick remains present on the body for 36 to 48 hours, the infection gets transmitted to the body. It is to be known that many people suffering from Lyme disease are not able to recall when they got bit by a tick.
Lymes disease was diagnosed more than 4 decades ago, and it happens to be one of the common tick-borne diseases. It has been observed that people living in wooden areas are vulnerable to getting the illness. Apart from that, if people who have domesticated animals visit wooden areas, they are at higher risk of getting the disease.
Symptoms Of Lyme Disease
People who have Lyme disease react differently. It means that symptoms can vary from person to person. It is to be known that there are three Lyme disease stages – early localized, early disseminated, and late disseminated. The symptoms can overlap in each stage. It has been observed that some individuals in the later stage of the infection have no symptoms.
The Lyme disease diagnosis can be made on the basis of symptoms present in the individual. Here’s a look at the symptoms that you need to be careful about:
- A circular or flat rash that appears like a bull’s eye on any part of the body
- Feeling fatigued
- Headache and fever
- Suffering from swelling and joint pain
- Muscle aches
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Difficulty in concentrating
- Sleep disturbance
If you observe any of the above-mentioned signs of Lyme disease, you should immediately seek medical attention.
The symptoms in children are almost the same as in adults. They experience fever, fatigue, joint, and muscle pain, along with flu-like symptoms. The symptoms might appear soon once you get infected. However, in some cases, it might take a few months or a year for the symptoms to appear. It is to be noted that some children also show psychological issues with their children during Lyme disease, such as:
- Depression
- Anger/aggression
- Nightmares
- Mood changes
If the child begins to behave differently or is unable to explain how they are feeling, you must talk to the doctor. These could be a symptom of Lyme disease. As mentioned above, Lyme disease shows in the form of several symptoms, and it is vital to stay alert and identify them in the early stage of treatment. Now that you know what does Lyme disease do, you should never ignore the symptoms and get the treatment done immediately.
What Does Lyme Disease Look Like?
The Lyme disease shows in the form of rashes that might be flat or raised. They look red, purple, or pink in color. They are apparently visible on white skin as compared to black or brown skin, where it may just look like a bruise. The rash might also look like a bullseye on a dartboard.
Is Lyme Disease Curable?
Lyme disease is curable with the help of antibiotics, but it might take a few weeks or months for treatment. If individuals are not finding relief with antibiotics, they can try alternative modes of treatment such as Ozone therapy. Ozone is a natural way of Lyme disease treatment which has shown significant benefits for the patients.
It has been observed that ozone therapy in combination with vitamin C can prove to be really effective for treating Lyme disease. In some cases, ozone therapy can be a primary treatment for treating patients with Lyme disease.
Ozone therapy has been in existence for decades, and in recent years, it has gained more significance in medical treatment. Ozone therapy is found to be effective in treating a wide array of health conditions, including Lyme disease. Ozone therapy leads to a moderate and controlled oxidation reaction in the blood. As a result of the oxidation, the immune system releases products that have effective physiological effects.
Ozone therapy is also effective in treating disorders related to the immune system owing to the non-suppressive effect along with immune-modulating advantages. Ozone therapy also helps in treating viral, fungal, and bacterial infections. When bacteria get exposed to ozone gas, it compromises the integrity of the bacterial envelope. The inner structure of the bacteria gets exposed, and ozone also damages the outer layer of the virus.
Though ozone has been used for the treatment of diseases for years, it has proved to be successful in treating Lyme disease as well. The later stages of Lyme disease lead to inflammatory cytokines and cause several symptoms. It can be challenging to treat the infection. Ozone therapy helps in reducing the pro-inflammatory cytokines. This increases cytokines which reduce inflammation and helps in improving the symptoms as well.
Post-Lyme Disease Syndrome
If an individual continues to show symptoms even after the treatment from antibiotics, it is known as post-Lyme disease syndrome. It has been observed that approximately 10% to 20% of Lyme disease patients experience this syndrome. The cause of the disease is yet to be known.
Post-Lyme disease syndrome affects the cognitive skills as well as mobility of a person. The treatment focuses on offering relief from the pain or discomfort. There is nothing to worry about as people recover, but it might take a few months or a year.
The symptoms of post-Lyme syndrome are the same as those that occur in the early stage of Lyme disease. These symptoms are as follows:
- Difficulty in sleeping
- Not able to concentrate
- Short-term memory issues
- Pain in muscles and joints
- Pain and swelling in large joints like elbows, shoulders, and knees
- Speech issues
Lyme disease is primarily treated with antibiotics but using ozone therapy with or without antibiotics can prove to be really helpful for Lyme disease patients. There are different ways of administering ozone, and the therapy can be performed at home as well with appropriate tools and knowledge.