Early disseminated Lyme disease is the second stage in which the bacteria has spread all over the body. This phase can last for days, weeks or months after being bit by an diseased tick.
What are the signs and symptoms?
Early disseminated Lyme disease can start days, weeks or as long as months after an individual was bit by an infected tick. The indications imitate the circumstance that the infection has started to spread from the bite site and spread all over the body.
During this stage, the infection triggers specific symptoms that might be intermittent such as the following:
- Erythema migrans or bull’s eye rash that develops in areas other than the bite site.
- Meningitis or inflammation of the spinal cord
- Bell’s palsy or paralysis or weakening of the muscles on one or both sides of the face
- Severe muscle pain or numbness in the legs or arms
- Swelling or pain in the shoulders, knees, elbows or other large joints
- Heart issues such as dizziness and palpitations
What are the reasons of early disseminated Lyme disease?
The condition is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi which is carried by an infected tick particularly the deer ticks and blacklegged ticks.
An individual can acquire the disease once a tick bites on any part of the body. The ticks prefer certain parts of the body such as the scalp, groin and the armpits. Oftentimes, they are left undetected in these areas.
Individuals who end up with Lyme disease claim that they did not see a tick on their body. It is important to note that the tick transmits the bacteria after being attached for about 36-48 hours.
Treatment
Once an individual has been diagnosed with the disease at the early phase, the usual form of treatment is the 14-21-day course of oral antibiotics. The commonly used antibiotics include cefuroxime, amoxicillin and doxycycline.
In some cases, other antibiotics or intravenous treatment might be required depending on the condition of the individual and other symptoms that might be present. Most can expect a fast and full recovery if antibiotics have been given during the early phases of Lyme disease.