Diagnose Lyme Disease
Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. It is known to be spread by deer ticks as they inject the bacterium when they penetrate the skin. Medical conditions, such as joint pain, rash and abnormalities of the heart and nervous system that arise following a tick bite, can alert your physician to diagnose Lyme disease. Read on to learn diagnose Lyme disease.
Instructions
1. Understand the presence of an expanding rash in conjunction with flu-like symptoms is an indication of Lyme disease. These symptoms mimic a long list of other diseases and conditions, so a blood test to identify the Lyme disease antibody will likely be performed.
2. Report any signs of abnormal heart rhythm to your doctor. If you have a history of no cardiac dysfunction, and you have been exposed to the possibility of a tick bite, you should be evaluated by a doctor. He will use your medical history and current symptoms to diagnose Lyme disease.
3. Recognize meningitis as a potential result of Lyme disease. A sample of cerebrospinal fluid will be taken to confirm or rule out the diagnosis.
4. Expect a complete battery of tests to diagnose the cause of joint abnormalities. Symptoms may include swelling, stiffness and pain as a result of inflammation of the joints. This symptom usually doesn't appear until the later stages of Lyme disease. Other possible causes will have to be ruled out, especially if there is no recollection of a tick bite.
5. Plan to be evaluated for a diagnosis of Lyme disease if you have nervous system abnormalities such a Bell's palsy (facial muscle paralysis) or peripheral neuropathy (disease of the peripheral nerves). While there are other causes for these conditions, your doctor may diagnose Lyme disease, if you have experienced a tick bite that was not treated with antibiotics.
6. Understand conditions such as chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia and many multi-system illnesses may be the result of Lyme disease. If no other causes are definable, your doctor may consider the possibility of Lyme disease and follow the treatment protocol.
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