Lyme disease may initially begin with flu-like symptoms. These are fever, headache, muscle aches and fatigue. However, if left untreated, it can lead to serious health problems. These include arthritis, nerve damage, and in rare cases, heart problems. Early diagnosis and treatment is important. As the disease progresses, the treatment process may become more complex.
What is Lyme disease?
Lyme disease is an infection caused by a bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi, which is usually carried by tick bites. Symptoms may include fever, headache, muscle aches and fatigue. Early diagnosis and treatment is important. It can cause serious health problems in later stages. Taking precautions includes simple steps such as wearing long-sleeved clothing, seeking medical attention when ticks are found on the skin, and checking the body after outdoor activities.
Lyme disease is generally more common in areas where tick bites are more common, but there is risk everywhere. Therefore, it is important to be careful when interacting with nature. It is important not to forget to check the body and clothing after outdoor activities. For the question of how do we know if it is Lyme, the general symptoms of Lyme disease are:
- The most common symptom is a circular or target-shaped red rash at the site of the tick bite.
- Flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, fatigue, sore throat, and weakness may be observed.
- Symptoms may occur due to infection in the nerves or brain tissue. These may include dizziness, muscle weakness, loss of sensation or numbness, neural facial pain, or paresthesia (tingling sensation).
- Rarely, Lyme disease can cause heart rhythm disturbances. These may include heart palpitations, irregular heartbeat, or chest pain.
Although there is a perception that Lyme disease causes tooth loss, there is no relationship between Lyme disease and tooth loss.
How is Lyme disease treated?
Lyme disease treatment is usually done with antibiotics. Treatment may vary depending on the stage of the disease and the severity of symptoms. The typical treatment process for Lyme disease is as follows:
- In early-stage treatment, oral antibiotics are often prescribed to people who show early symptoms. A course of antibiotics is typically administered for 2 to 3 weeks. During this time, symptoms usually improve.
- In cases of Lyme disease that is not treated early or does not respond, a longer or stronger course of antibiotics may be required.
- In advanced stages, antibiotics may be given intravenously (IV). This treatment is more common in cases where the disease affects organs such as the nervous system, joints, or heart.
To protect yourself from Lyme disease, it is important to take some precautions to protect yourself from tick bites, especially when spending time in forests or grasslands. It is necessary to wear long-sleeved clothes, prefer light-colored clothes, and seek medical help when a tick is detected on the skin. It may also be helpful to check for ticks frequently.
Is there Lyme in Turkey?
There is Lyme disease in Turkey. It is known that Ixodes ricinus and Ixodes persulcatus species are found in different regions of Turkey. These ticks can carry the Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria, which is the causative agent of Lyme disease.
Outside Türkiye, world-famous model Bella Hadid and her brother Anwar Hadid were diagnosed with Lyme disease in 2013. Bella Hadid shared a post about her Lyme disease treatment on her 100th day on Instagram in 2022.
Is Lyme disease fatal?
Lyme disease is not usually fatal. With early diagnosis and appropriate antibiotic treatment, most patients recover completely. However, untreated Lyme disease can progress and lead to serious health problems, including:
- heart problems
- Nervous system problems
- joint problems
- Arthritis
- eye problems
Is Lyme disease temporary?
The answer to the question of whether Lyme will go away on its own depends on the diagnosis and treatment process. Lyme disease is usually temporary in patients diagnosed early and receiving appropriate antibiotic treatment. In these cases, antibiotics kill the bacteria and the disease is completely cured. Lyme disease, diagnosed late or untreated, can become chronic. In this case, antibiotics may not completely kill the bacteria and symptoms of the disease may persist.
This information is for informational purposes only. If you have a medical question, it is important to consult your doctor.