Allergist named the signs of Lyme disease after a tick bite
Lyme disease is the most common disease in Russia that is transmitted by ixodic ticks. It can really have serious consequences for the nervous system, but timely action will help prevent them. On October 8, Elena Sycheva, an allergist, immunologist, rheumatologist, and general practitioner, told Izvestia about this.
According to her, one of the first signs of Lyme disease is erythema migrans, redness at the bite site, which can increase and form a spot with a diameter of 5 to 15 cm. However, erythema does not occur in everyone, and the disease can occur without it. Other symptoms include fever, headache, muscle and joint aches, and severe fatigue.
A few weeks or months after the bite, neurological symptoms (neuroborreliosis) may occur, such as persistent headaches; stiffness of the occipital muscles (symptoms of meningitis); paralysis of the facial nerve, facial asymmetry; shooting pains in the body, limbs; impaired sensitivity; weakness in the arms or legs; problems with memory and concentration.
"If you find a tick stuck on you, the ideal solution is to consult a doctor in the first 72-96 hours. During this period, if there are indications (for example, if a tick has been infected, which can be determined by taking it for analysis), preventive antibiotic therapy may be prescribed. This is the only proven method to prevent the development of Lyme disease in most cases," said Sycheva.
If Lyme disease has affected the nervous system, the doctor added, treatment becomes more prolonged. The main method is a course of antibiotics that penetrate the blood—brain barrier. After the infection is eliminated, symptomatic therapy is used to restore the nervous system to relieve pain and improve nerve conduction; physiotherapy and physical therapy to restore muscle function; neurometabolic therapy to improve nerve cell metabolism and blood circulation in the brain.
"Lyme disease is not a verdict. Its destructive effect on the nervous system can and should be prevented. The algorithm is simple: remove the tick as soon as possible, save it for analysis, monitor the bite site and well-being, and immediately consult a doctor at the first alarming symptoms. Do not self-medicate. Early diagnosis and proper antibiotic therapy are the key to a full recovery without consequences," the specialist concluded.
Earlier, on August 19, Natalia Otdelnova, director of the scientific and practical Center for Integrative Medicine, told us by what symptoms it is possible to understand that an infection has occurred after a tick bite. The specialist explained how Lyme disease, transmitted through ticks, manifests itself. According to her, after being bitten by this insect, a person may develop a rash, dizziness, headaches and general malaise. In severe cases, the disease leads to brain inflammation and hospitalization in intensive care.
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