Lyme disease (also known as borreliosis) is caused by an infection with the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. Humans become infected with B. burgdorferi when they are bitten by a tick of the genus Ixodes that is carrying the bacterium; dogs, cats and other animals can also contract the disease in this way. Lyme disease is most common in the North-East, Midwest and Pacific states of the USA, and is prevalent in Scandinavia and Central Europe.
Signs of Lyme Disease in Humans
The most common early symptom of Lyme disease in humans is a rash at the site of the tick bite. This rash often has a characteristic “bullseye” pattern. Over the following few weeks, the infection spreads to various parts of the body, including the nervous system, the muscles and joints, the cardiovascular system and the skin. Rashes, nerve pain, swollen joints and flu-like symptoms may result. Lyme arthritis, neurological disorders and heart problems may occur in the later stages of untreated Lyme disease.
Long-term or chronic Lyme disease (sometimes called “post-Lyme syndrome”) is said to occur when a person continues to suffer the effects of B. burgdorferi infection many months or even years after the tick bite. The most frequent complaints are nonspecific pain, fatigue and headaches.
Is Chronic Lyme Disease Treatment Necessary?
Lyme disease can be treated with antibiotics, taken by mouth or injected intravenously in more severe cases; in most people, a course of three to four weeks is all that is needed to halt the B. burgdorferi infection. In some patients, however, antibiotics have been continued for many months – long after the infection has been treated – in an attempt to control chronic symptoms.
Studies by the US National Institutes of Health have shown there is no benefit to taking antibiotics long term for Lyme disease; indeed, prolonged use of antibiotics can be hazardous. The human body contains huge numbers of “friendly bacteria” that are vital for well-being, particularly in the gut, and these are killed indiscriminately by antibiotics along with the “unfriendly bacteria” that cause disease. Taking antibiotics indefinitely can severely disrupt the healthy functioning of the body, and may even cause death. In addition, repeated use of an intravenous line can lead to infection in itself, and overuse of antibiotics contributes to the increasing worldwide problem of antibiotic resistance in dangerous micro-organisms.
A recent study published in the Journal of Pediatrics suggests that most physicians do not even believe chronic Lyme disease exists, or are undecided but do not diagnose or treat it. Doctors who do diagnose chronic Lyme disease risk leaving other conditions untreated. According to Lyme disease expert Dr Raymond Dattwyler of New York Medical College, “The majority of people who get the diagnosis of chronic Lyme disease have either depression, fibromyalgia or another chronic illness...The tragedy is that sometimes really serious, treatable diseases are ignored.”
Are Chronic Fatigue, Depression and Malaise Signs of Chronic Lyme Disease?
It is now well accepted that tick bites on humans cause the symptoms of Lyme disease, through infection with the bacterium B. burgdoferi. Less well accepted is the long-term problem of chronic Lyme disease. Many physicians dispute its existence, and few would give prolonged antibiotic treatment to a patient who shows no signs of active bacterial infection.
References:
Chronic Lyme Disease. Accessed 26-10-10
Few Docs Recognize “Chronic” Lyme Disease. Accessed 26-10-10
IDSA Guidelines. Accessed 26-10-10
O’Connell S. Lyme Borreliosis. Medicine 2005; 33(5): 106−8.
Disclaimer
The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and should not be used for diagnosis or to guide treatment without the opinion of a health professional. Any reader who is concerned about his or her health should contact a doctor for advice.
