Lyme Disease
by Diana Arundell
Lyme disease is an infectious bacterial disease also known as Lyme borreliosis . It is part of the spirochete family of bacteria and it can be transmitted via ticks .
The most common ticks found in Australia are the bush tick , brown dog tick and the paralysis tick with latter being responsible for most tick bites but not all ticks transmit Lyme disease .
Lyme disease is yet to be officially recognised in Australia however as suspected cases are on the rise , there are more physicians beginning to recognise and acknowledge the disease with a few even beginning to specialise in the treatment of Lyme disease . Lyme disease is also believed to be very under-reported as it can be easily mistaken for other illnesses such as flu , fibromyalgia , chronic fatigue and depression just to name a few .
The Australian government is continuing to investigate the increasing incidence of tick borne diseases and associated research .
There are three stages of infection – the acute stage , the early disseminated stage and the chronic stage . The sooner the infection is treated , the better the success rate of resolution . If you experience a tick bite and have a rash or feel in any way unwell , go to a doctor familiar with Lyme disease as soon as possible as early treatment with antibiotics is crucial . Some statistics note that fewer than 50 % of people with Lyme disease even recall a tick bite which makes it even more difficult to diagnose . The signs and symptoms of Lyme disease vary between individuals due to variation in genospecies of borrelia and also possibly to the genetic predisposition , auto immune tendency and detoxification capabilities of the individual contracting the disease . Some individuals may have 1 or 2 symptoms while others may be debilitated with a number of symptoms affecting different body systems . A rash may appear within days , weeks or months and can come and go and for some , may be the only sign of infection . For others not so lucky , the infection can affect their neurological system producing muscle twitches , headaches , dizziness , tingling and numbness . For others it affects their joints causing pain and swelling , for others their gastrointestinal tract is affected resulting in nausea , vomiting and bowel changes or the respiratory system can be affected causing shortness of breath . Reported psychological effects of infection with Lyme disease include disorientation and confusion .
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