Lyme disease transmission occurs through infected ticks. These insects have to attach to a host for 24 hours before transmission of Lyme disease occurs, but removing a tick improperly or contact with a tick that has systemic infection can result in transmission much sooner. Lyme disease affects several different organs, usually depending on the length of time the bacteria is in the body. When treated early, it rarely affects more than one organ, but over time it attacks more.
Types
Because Lyme disease causes inflammation, any organ system can sustain damage. This inflammation is most common in the brain, eyes, skin, heart, liver, lungs, stomach, intestines, spleen and the uterus when pregnancy exists.
Function
The brain is responsible for cognition and overall control of the body and nervous system. The heart pumps blood throughout the body. The liver takes care of detoxification of the body. The lungs are responsible for breathing and providing oxygen to the rest of the body. The stomach and intestines take in and process food and send out the waste. The uterus holds the fetus until it is time to give birth.
Misconceptions
Ticks don't just live in the woods. Many people don't realize that ticks exist virtually everywhere, from beaches to yourr very own backyard. They are able to survive in almost any weather conditions. Tick bites aren't just isolated to summer. If someone happens to brush up against a tick in the winter, they attach the same way.
Effects
Lyme disease causes inflammation anywhere and everywhere in the body. This inflammation has the ability to impair functioning severely. Brain involvement leads to decreased mental functioning, nerve impairment causes numbness or tingling throughout the body and other organs can slow down processing due to the restraints from inflammation.
Identification
There are no tests that completely confirm Lyme disease. While some doctors order blood serum tests to check for Borrelia bacteria or antibodies, these tests are not the basis for Lyme disease diagnosis. Symptoms accompanied by a tick bite are the most accurate way to diagnose Lyme disease.
Prevention
Because Lyme disease spreads via an attached tick, avoiding tick attachment is the best way to prevent Lyme disease. Check for ticks after going outside, especially during warmer months, which are peak season for tick activity. The head, neck, fingers, toes, armpits and genitals are favorite places for ticks, so check especially thoroughly there. If hiking, wear long sleeves, pants and socks to reduce the risk of ticks finding skin to attach to. Use a DEET-containing spray on skin and clothing to keep ticks off, or spray clothes with permethrin. Seek treatment immediately if a bull's-eye pattern appears around a tick bite, as this is a major indicator of Lyme disease.
Solution
Treatment completely depends on the stage of Lyme disease. When caught early, oral antibiotics are the treatment of choice. Later stage Lyme disease may respond better to intravenous antibiotics, or a combination of oral antibiotics and intravenous antibiotics.
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