How can one with Lyme disease prevent tick-borne illness?

Question

Hi doctor,

As my daughter fights Lyme disease, I am deeply concerned about the growing threat of tick-borne illnesses and how climate change here in my country may be exacerbating the problem. I understand that warmer temperatures and changing weather patterns are allowing tick populations to expand into new areas, exposing more people to Lyme and other serious infections. Can you help me understand the specific ways climate change is driving this rise in Lyme cases, both locally and nationally? And what new diagnostic tools, treatment approaches, or prevention strategies are being developed to address this evolving public health challenge? I want to ensure my daughter receives the best possible care as the climate continues to change.

Please help.

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that is spread through the bite of one of several types of ticks.

Lyme disease is caused by bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi (B burgdorferi). Blacklegged ticks (also called deer ticks) can carry these bacteria. Not all species of ticks can carry these bacteria. Immature ticks are called nymphs, and they are about the size of a pinhead. Nymphs pick up bacteria when they feed on small rodents, such as mice infected with B burgdorferi. You can only get the disease if you are bitten by an infected tick. Lyme disease was first reported in the United States in 1977 in the town of Old Lyme, Connecticut. The same disease occurs in many parts of Europe and Asia. There are three stages of Lyme disease:

1. Stage 1 is called early localized Lyme disease. The bacteria have not yet spread throughout the body.

2. Stage 2 is called early disseminated Lyme disease. The bacteria have begun to spread throughout the body.

3. Stage 3 is called late disseminated Lyme disease. The bacteria have spread throughout the body.

Risk factors for Lyme disease include:

Doing outside activities that increase tick exposure (for example, gardening, hunting, or hiking) in an area where Lyme disease occurs.
Having a pet that may carry infected ticks home.
Walking in high grasses in areas where Lyme disease occurs.

Important facts about tick bites and Lyme disease:

A tick must be attached to your body for 24 to 36 hours to spread the bacteria to your blood. Backlegged ticks can be so small that they are almost impossible to see. Many people with Lyme disease never even see or feel a tick on their body. Symptoms of early localized Lyme disease (stage 1) begin days or weeks after infection. They are similar to the flu and may include:

Fever and chills.
General ill feeling.
Headache.
Joint pain.
Muscle pain.
Stiff neck.

There may be a "bull's eye" rash, a flat or slightly raised red spot at the site of the tick bite. Often, there is a clear area in the center. It can be large and expanding in size. This rash is called erythema migrans. Without treatment, it can last four weeks or longer. Symptoms of early disseminated Lyme disease (stage 2) may occur weeks to months after the tick bite and may include:

Numbness or pain in the nerve area.
Paralysis or weakness in the muscles of the face.
Heart problems such as conduction abnormalities (e.g. skipped heartbeats or palpitations ), chest pain, or shortness of breath.

Symptoms of late disseminated Lyme disease (stage 3) can occur months or years after the infection. The most common symptoms are muscle and joint pain. Other symptoms may include:

Abnormal muscle movement.
Joint swelling.
Muscle weakness.
Numbness and tingling.
Speech problems.
Thinking (cognitive) problems.

A blood test can be done to check for antibodies to the bacteria that cause Lyme disease. The most commonly used is the ELISA test for Lymes disease. An immunoblot test is done to confirm ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) results. Be aware, though, that in the early stage of infection, blood tests may be normal. Also, if you are treated with antibiotics in the early stage, your body may not make enough antibodies to be detected by blood tests.

In areas where Lyme disease is more common, your healthcare provider may be able to diagnose early disseminated Lyme disease (stage 2) without doing any laboratory tests. Other tests that may be done when the infection has spread include:

Echocardiography to look at the heart.
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) brain.
Spinal tap (lumbar puncture).

For treatment, I suggest the following:

People bitten by a tick should be watched closely for at least 30 days to see if a rash or symptoms develop. To prevent Lyme disease, a single dose of the antibiotic Doxycycline may be given to someone soon after being bitten by a tick when all of these conditions are true:

The person has a tick that can carry Lyme disease attached to their body. This usually means that a nurse or provider has looked at and identified the tick.
The tick is thought to have been attached to the person for at least 36 hours.
The person is able to start taking the antibiotic within 72 hours of removing the tick.
The person is eight years or older and is not pregnant or breastfeeding.
The local rate of ticks carrying B burgdorferi is 20 percent or higher.

A ten-day to four-week course of antibiotics is used to treat people who are diagnosed with Lyme disease, depending on the choice of medicine:

The choice of antibiotic depends on the stage of the disease and the symptoms. Common choices include Doxycycline, Amoxicillin, Azithromycin, Cefuroxime, and Ceftriaxone. Pain medicines, such as Ibuprofen, are sometimes prescribed for joint stiffness.

I hope this helps you.

Revert in case of queries.

Regards.