Lyme disease is the leading tick-borne illness in the United States, according to the Lyme Disease Association Inc. It is caused by a bacterium called Borelia burgdorfi. It typically presents with a bull's eye rash (though not in all cases), arthritic-like pain, fatigue, headaches and neurological symptoms. If not caught early enough or not treated correctly, the symptoms of the disease can last well beyond the end of treatment.
Lasting Effects
Numerous studies have measured the long-term effects of Lyme disease in humans. One study by the Department of Rheumatology-Immunology at Brigham & Women's Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, compared a group of Lyme patients with a group of non-Lyme patients. The results showed that the Lyme group had more symptoms upwards of six years after diagnosis and treatment.
Statistics
The study showed that 61 percent of Lyme patient experienced more arthritic pain than the control group with 16 percent of Lyme patients experienced more paresthesia, tingling or numbness, of the hands. Also, 16 percent of Lyme patients experienced more concentration difficulties, and 26 percent experienced more fatigue than the control group.
Long term effects on children
A study published in the Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, "A Controlled Study of Cognitive Deficits in Children With Chronic Lyme Disease," concluded that children who were treated earlier enough in the stage of lyme disease (typically within three months of known infection) were less likely to develop last problems with cognition. However, the later the disease was treated, the more cognitive problems each child had.
Considerations
It is important to note that the Lyme patients included in both of the above study had received antibiotics and, despite that, still experienced several symptoms post-treatment.
Prevention/Solution
The key to preventing long term effects is early recognition and treatment of the disease. Unfortunately, this can be a difficult task because the symptoms of lyme can mimic many other ailments. Thus patients are encouraged to limit tick exposure and take necessary precautions when outdoors. Parents should perform regular tick checks on children and adults should perform this on themselves after being outdoors.
Tags: experienced more, Lyme patients, percent Lyme, control group, Lyme patients experienced, patients experienced