Lyme disease is carried primarily by the deer tick. To obtain the best possible outcome, a treatment protocol should begin immediately upon discovery of a or experiencing associated symptoms.
Time Frame
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that the National Institutes of Health have conducted studies showing that antibiotics taken for a few weeks can cure most patients of Lyme disease. Oral antibiotics include amoxicillin and doxycycline. To prevent long-term effects of Lyme, the treatment protocol should be initiated as soon as the bite is discovered.
Symptoms
The deer tick is so tiny that many do not realize they have been bitten until symptoms of infection occur. According to the CDC, the first sign may be a circular rash around the area of the tick bite.
Treatment
The Mayo Clinic recommends a treatment protocol involving oral antibiotics for 14 to 21 days for early-stage Lyme disease. Intravenous antibiotics may be required for more advanced stages of disease.
Stages of Lyme Disease
According to the Merck Online Medical Library, the three stages of Lyme disease each have specific treatment protocols. The three stages are: early localized (involving a rash); early disseminated (with symptoms of fatigue, headache, myalgias and stiff neck); and late onset (arthritis symptoms, fatigue and fever). Late-onset Lyme disease can occur years after the initial bite.
Warning
See your doctor at the first sign of a tick bite or if symptoms such as fatigue, fever, joint pain or any musculoskeletal abnormalities occur with no other medical association.
Tags: Lyme disease, tick bite, deer tick, , first sign