• What is Lyme Disease?

    A Brief History 

    Lyme disease was first reported in medical literature in Europe in 1883. The first case in the United States was in Wisconsin in 1969, years before it gained official recognition as a tick-borne illness in Lyme, Conn.  The history of Lyme disease in Connecticut began in 1975 when a cluster of children and adults residing in the Lyme, Connecticut area all started experiencing strange arthritic symptoms.

    A woman named Polly Murray, was crucial in getting Lyme Disease recognized when she noticed not only her child but other children in her neighborhood were all coming down with juvenile arthritis. She contacted authorities and went to the media. In 1977, there were 51 cases of Lyme arthritis, and eventually the Ixodes scapularis (black-legged) tick was linked to the transmission of the disease. Then in 1982, Willy Burgdorfer, Ph.D discovered the bacterium that causes Lyme disease.

    What causes Lyme Disease

    Lyme disease is a spirochetal infection caused by Borrelia burgdorferi. It is caused by a type of bacterium called a spirochete.  An infected tick can transmit the spirochetes to the  humans and animals it bites. There is some debate to whether other bugs can transmit it, or if it is sexually transmitted. It is however transmitted in utero. It is a multi systemic inflammatory infection. If left untreated it will travel from your skin, through the bloodstream, joints, organs, and will establish itself in various body tissues, and can cause a number of symptoms incuding neuropsychiatric manifestations.

    The Symptoms of Lyme Disease

    There are three stages to Lyme Disease. 

    Stage 1 

    Early localized infection (The first month)                                                                                                                                            

    Bull’s eye rash (erythema migrans) The rash is usually circular and has a fading spot in the center. Less then half the people infected will develop a rash.Note: Some people will never have any symptoms in this stage.

    Flu like symptoms (Usually the first symptoms)
    Fever
    Headache
    Stiff neck
    Muscle and joint pain S
    Swollen lymph nodes
    Fatigue

    Stage 2

    Early disseminated infection (1 to 4 months)

    If Lyme disease is not detected and treated while early symptoms are present, the infection may disseminate and affect the skin, joints, organs, nervous system, and heart.
    Extreme fatigue
    Rashes
    Migrating pain (pain that changes locations and comes and goes)
    Weakness and/or numbness in the arms or legs.
    Twitching muscles
    Severe and recurring headaches
    Fainting or vaso vagal attacks
    Poor memory and concentration problems
    Irritability Vision problem
    Internal buzzing feeling
    Heart palpitations
    Panic Attacks
    Mood disorders


    Stage 3 Late Persistent Infection      

    Late disseminated Lyme  

    Swelling and pain in the joints
    Numbness and tingling in the extremities
    Severe fatigue
    Insomnia
    Bells Palsy (partial paralysis of the face)
    Getting lost in familiar places
    Problems speaking,
    Word retrieval problems,
    Word block
    Migrating pain and symptoms
    Heart damage
    Pericarditis
    Meningitis
    Depression
    Panic Attacks
    Bladder problems
    Tinnitus, ear ringing or feeling of fullness
    Poor balance
    Shortness of breath
    Rib and sternum soreness
    Fevers/sweats
    Vertigo
    Upset stomach and GI problems
    Burning and stabbing pains

    This is just a generalized short list of symptoms. Lyme disease can cause almost any symptom because it is a multi systemic disease. It can travel anywhere including your central nervous system (spine and brain). One of the common complaints of patients with Lyme Disease is that the symptoms come and go and change locations frequently.  You can take a group of several people infected with Lyme, and all might be  experiencing different symptoms. The time frames of each stage are generalized also. Each patient moves through these stages at different timing. One  person may not show symptoms for several months while another may get stage three symptoms rather quickly. It all depends on strains, co-infections, and your own immune system.

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