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nafex - [NAFEX] signs and symptoms of Lyme disease

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  • From: Charles Paradise <machelp@attglobal.net>
  • To: North American Fruit Explorers <nafex@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: [NAFEX] signs and symptoms of Lyme disease
  • Date: Tue, 27 May 2003 21:56:50 -0500

We sure have a lot of ticks here in Massachusetts. I found my first on
April 1 [April Fool's Day!]. I always hot water wash every bit of
clothing after being in the field, find ticks on myself or my clothing
every week, I would estimate about 24 so far this year, and they're
about equally divided between deer ticks and dog ticks. [The latest
word I heard is it doesn't matter which species of tick, either species
carry Lyme now.]

Having woke up Sunday morning at 4 a.m. with the room spinning, I took
my oral temperature and found it to be less than 96 degrees, I also
notice stiff back and neck today and am entertaining the possibility of
Lyme.

If any of you have experience with Lyme and can comment on which tests
are worth taking, I'd appreciate such input. I went to the CDC site and
copied this info:
Charlie Paradise


Q. What are the signs and symptoms of Lyme disease?
A. Within days to weeks following a tick bite, 80%
of patients will have a red, slowly
expanding "bull's-eye" rash (called erythema
migrans), accompanied by general tiredness,
fever, headache, stiff neck, muscle aches, and
joint pain. If untreated, weeks to months later
some patients may develop arthritis, including
intermittent episodes of swelling and pain in
the large joints; neurologic abnormalities, such
as aseptic meningitis, facial palsy, motor and
sensory nerve inflammation (radiculoneuritis) and
inflammation of the brain (encephalitis);
and, rarely, cardiac problems, such as
atrioventricular block, acute inflammation of the
tissues surrounding the heart (myopericarditis) or
enlarged heart (cardiomegaly).

Q. What is the incubation period for Lyme disease?

A. For the red "bull's-eye" rash (erythema
migrans), usually 7 to 14 days following tick
exposure. Some patients present with later
manifestations without having had early signs of
disease.

Q. What is the mortality rate of Lyme disease?
A. Lyme disease is rarely, if ever, fatal.

Q. Can a person be reinfected with Lyme disease?
A. Yes. Having had Lyme disease doesn't protect
against reinfection. Some persons have
had Lyme disease more than once after re-exposure
to infective tick bites. This stresses the
need for continued tick bite prevention activities
such as wearing appropriate clothing when
in tick-infested areas, daily tick checks, and
quick removal of attached ticks.







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