Title: What is LYME DISEASE
1What is LYME DISEASE
Dr. Peter Dobie
2- Lyme disease is an illness caused by bacteria
called Borellia that is transmitted to humans by
tick bites. It is a common illness in Europe and
the United States. -
- It is named after the town of Lyme, in
Connecticut, USA, where the illness was first
recognised. -
- It has now been shown conclusively that it is
possible to pick up Lyme disease in Australia.
3 It is very much under diagnosed in Australia.
There are possibly many thousands of people in
Australia suffering from this disease, but who
have not had the diagnosis made and who have not
been offered treatment. Not many Australian
doctors are experienced in the diagnosis and
treatment of this disease. Lyme disease can
cause a very wide range of symptoms and can be
difficult to diagnose. Not everyone with Lyme
can remember being bitten by a tick.
4 The early symptoms of disease, occurring in the
first two or three weeks after the tick bite, can
include a skin rash (called a bulls- eye
rash), flu-like symptoms, joint pains, swollen
lymph nodes, fever and headache. If left
untreated it can develop into a chronic infection
with a wide variety of symptoms, affecting many
organ systems, including the heart and brain.
Chronic Lyme disease can mimic the symptoms of
many other illnesses.
5- Symptoms of chronic Lyme can include headaches,
joint pains, neck stiffness, photophobia
(sensitivity to light), stomach problems,
tinnitus (ringing in the ears), visual
disturbances, palpitations, dizziness, impaired
memory and concentration, seizures, severe
fatigue, mood disturbances, and pins and needles
in the hands and feet. -
- It can cause meningitis and encephalitis, and
severe longstanding cases can have symptoms
similar to neurological illnesses such a multiple
sclerosis and motor neurone disease.
6- Lyme can be difficult to diagnose. The diagnosis
is made primarily on the basis of the patients
clinical history and symptoms, and physical
examination. Laboratory tests can be used to
confirm the diagnosis, but Lyme does not always
show up on routine laboratory tests. -
- The main treatment for Lyme is antibiotics. These
are usually given orally, but sometimes
intravenous antibiotics are used.
7- The duration of antibiotic of treatment varies
according to the individual case. Someone with
recent onset of Lyme disease, within a few weeks
of the tick bite, will probably need antibiotics
for 6-8 weeks. On the other hand, a patient who
has been suffering from this disease for 10 or 20
years, and has had no prior treatment, may
require antibiotics for 2 or 3 years. -
- Herbal medicines can also play a useful role in
the treatment of Lyme, and can enhance the
effectiveness of antibiotics.
8- Most Lyme experts consider however that it cannot
be cured by herbal medicines alone, and that
antibiotic must always be used. -
- A variety of nutritional supplements are also
routinely recommended for patients. -
- There is strong evidence that Lyme can be passed
on from mother to child in utero, and also by
sexual contact.
9- Many patients with this disease also have what is
commonly known as co-infections. These are
other infections such as which can be transmitted
by the tick bite, such as Babesia, Bartonella,
Ricksettia and Ehrlichia, and which also require
antibiotic treatment. -
Dr. Peter Dobie
10Thank You
Dr. Peter Dobie