Lyme Disease: A Case Study

If the disease is diagnosed at an early stage, anti-infections treatment is given for a duration of 14-21 days. Adults and children above 8 are recommended doxycycline, while cefuuroxime and amoxicillin are given to younger children and breast-feeding women. The infection can be totally eliminated if a person is treated at the early stage. If Lyme disease is persistent in a patient, then they will be treated with intravenous antibiotics. When the disease is treated at a later stage, the infection will be stopped, but the curing of the symptoms will happen at a slower rate. A patient left untreated could face problems with the nervous system, muscle and joints and the digestive system.

I chose to do my research paper on Lyme disease. During my research, I found a lot of interesting facts about Lyme disease. The disease is caused by bacteria, called Borrelia burgdorferi, which is only transmitted to humans when they are bitten by an infected tick. Lyme disease was first discovered in 1975, in Lyme, Connecticut, after a group of children were diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. This eventually led them to discover the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi. The disease was given its name in 1982, after the town of Lyme, Connecticut. According to Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Lyme disease is the most commonly reported vectorborne illness in the United States. In 2014, it was the fifth most common Nationally Notifiable disease. Lyme disease is most prevalent in the northeast and upper Midwest.

Lyme disease was discovered in the 1970’s, as any other disease was, by a large number of cases, with patients having the same symptoms. In Lyme, Connecticut, a doctor was having patients who were all suffering from the same symptoms that made patients become debilitated. There were so many cases that the doctor marked it as an unknown disease. It wasn’t until later in the 1980’s that there were more widespread cases throughout the north-east. Lyme disease is becoming a serious problem in the north-east and especially in New York State, given the drastic increase of cases. Without treatment Lyme disease can result in blindness and in severe cases, death.

Lyme disease is a serious infection that comes from a tick bite. Lyme disease is initially treated with antibiotics for 2-4 weeks. If the disease doesn't clear up after this time, it is suggested that these patients have chronic Lyme disease. These patients will still have the symptoms of Lyme disease after treatment is completed. These symptoms include extreme fatigue, pain in your muscles and joints as well as aches in your body.

Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne disease in the United States. The disease was first discovered in 1975 after a group of children were suffering from rheumatoid arthritis like disease. One similarity the children had was playing in wooded areas during the summer in the area of Lyme, Connecticut. However, the bacteria was not isolated until late 1981 by Dr. Willy Burgdorfer. Lyme disease has become an important public health problem in the Midwest and Eastern United States with incidence rates steadily increasing.

Many people look forward to the spring and summer months because they get to go back out into nature. Swimming, hiking, and fishing are just some of the outdoor activities that many people enjoy this time of year. Unfortunately when the weather warms, the deer ticks come out and with them come Lyme disease.

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection caused by a spirochete, a corkscrew-shaped bacterium called Borrelia burgodorferi. Lyme disease is primarily transmitted through tick bites, there has been no reported cases of human to human transfer of Lyme disease. Ixodes ticks, also known as deer ticks are the typical carriers of the Lyme disease. The ticks can most primarily be found in wooded and grassy areas. Due to the fact these ticks are only the size of a poppy seed they usually go undetected when they bite. Once the tick is attached to the skin it can feed for several days; the longer the tick is attached the more likely Lyme disease will be transmitted. Lyme disease can affect any organ of the body including the brain, nervous system, muscles, joints, and even the heart. In some cases, if a pregnant woman develops Lyme disease it can pass on to the unborn child and in some cases stillbirth has occurred due to the disease.

Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne illness in the world. This disease has been reported in all 50 states, mainly the New England states (Khatchikian, 2015). Lyme disease has also been reported in China, parts of the Soviet Union, Europe, Japan, and Australia. In 1957, a group of children and adults in the Lyme, Connecticut area, and surrounding areas had been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (Shiel, William C). Dr. Allen Steere began researching to solve this problem. Steere identified the Lyme disease was transferred by ticks (BayAreaLyme.com).

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection (spirochetal bacterium) which is spread to humans by ticks. (1) “Most humans are infected through the bites of immature ticks called nymphs. Nymphs are tiny (less than 2 mm) and difficult to see; they feed during the spring and summer months. Adult ticks can also transmit Lyme disease bacteria, but they are much larger and are more likely to be discovered and removed before they have had time to transmit the bacteria. The tick must be attached for 36 to 48 hours or more before the Lyme disease bacterium can be transmitted.” Ticks are most commonly found in hard to reach, see or discover areas on the body like warm creases and crevices or on the scalp and hair.

What we eat affects how our body works. When it comes to diet, there is no specific diet that has been scientifically proven to completely diminish the symptoms of Lyme disease. However, there are a few dietary restrictions that have been known to reduce severity or prevent certain symptoms. These dietary restrictions include avoiding sugar, gluten, and dairy. Sugar weakens the immune system, and those who have Lyme disease are not strong enough to handle this weakness which leads to new symptoms such as shakiness. “Gluten is the protein found in wheat and is directly responsible for causing inflammation in the body...Dairy contains a protein known as casein which is also responsible for causing inflammation in the body”(Lyme Disease Diet). Gluten and dairy induce inflammation which will add to the aches and pains already associated with Lyme

Earl turned onto Main Street of his new home, Lyme Connecticut and was immediately struck with a child-like sense of wonder. The cobblestone road was lined with white shops packed side to side; everything from toys to mannequins stare back at him from the windows. As he, his mother, and his father continued down the road, a beautiful shimmering bay could be seen from the distance, the August sun reflecting brilliantly off the ocean water, seemingly calling for him to jump in. They continued, taking many turns and different road for about 15 minutes until they arrived at their new home in a small neighborhood of about 20 houses. Earl exited the car and took his suit case out of his family's black hatchback Volvo and walked towards the house,

Lyme disease is an illness caused by bites from infected deer ticks. Specifically deer ticks infected by the bacterium called Borrelia Burgdorferi. This disease is usually only contracted on the west coast, in wooded areas where ticks could easily drop on you and attach. Although, it can be found in other parts of the United States as well. It is also found in more than sixty other countries worldwide. More than 300,000 people are infected by this disease per year. Lyme disease's symptoms mimic those of other diseases which is why it is called the “The Great imitator.” It can affect any  organ, including heart, lungs, and our nervous systems. This disease can be misdiagnosed with fibromyalgia and depression. Overall, Lyme Disease is a dangerous

“Chronic or persistent Lyme disease occurs if a patient who is treated with antibiotic therapy for the disease continues to experience symptoms” (Giorgi, “Chronic (Persistent) Lyme Disease”). However, according to the Infectious Disease Society of America 's, (IDSA),1 guidelines, “no convincing biologic evidence” exists that chronic Lyme infections can remain in patients ' bodies after standard treatment (Wormser, et al., “The Clinical Assessment, Treatment, and Prevention of Lyme Disease, Human Granulocytic Anaplasmosis, and Babesiosis: Clinical Practice Guidelines by the Infectious Diseases Society of America,”). Whether or not one subscribes to either of these views, both sides of the argument stand firm in their opinion,

was not classified and identified as the putative source for Lyme Disease until the early 1980’s.

For Lyme disease to be successfully transmitted the tick must be attached for 36 to 48 hours. Because the tick must be attached for 36 to 48 hours, typically the disease is spread through immature ticks called nymphs. Nymphs are less that 2 mm and no larger than a pinhead. These ticks are often found in discreet areas of the body such as the scalp, armpits, and groin. As the infection spreads and develops throughout the body. Large joints, such as the knees, begin to swell and experience spells of pains indicating arthritis. In some instances, irregular heart rhythms may develop. In more severe instances, damage of the nervous system occurs resulting in nerve paralysis (facial muscles), symptoms of meningitis (stiff neck, fever, relentless