What is Lyme Disease? Symptoms & Treatment

Lyme disease is an infectious disease that is usually transmitted by the bite of ticks and can cause various health problems in humans. The disease is more common in people who spend a lot of time hiking and in rural areas. Symptoms and treatment of Lyme disease may vary depending on whether the disease is diagnosed early. In this article we have written for you, you can find all the answers you need to know about Lyme disease.

What is Lyme Disease?

Lyme disease is an infectious disease caused by a bacterium called Borrelia burgdorferi. This bacterium is usually transmitted to humans through tick bites. Lyme disease can occur worldwide, mainly in the USA, Europe, and Asia. Symptoms vary from person to person but usually include flu-like symptoms such as fever, fatigue, headache, muscle aches and joint pains. In addition, after a tick bite, redness and a ring-shaped rash around the bite are also common symptoms.

What Causes Lyme Disease?

The main cause of Lyme disease is the bite of ticks that are carriers of the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. These ticks live mainly in forested and bushy areas and are usually more active in the warmer months. After a tick bite, the bacteria enter the human body and cause infection. A tick bite is usually unnoticeable and painless, so people may not realize they have been bitten. The ticks that cause Lyme disease can also be carriers of other infections, so it is important to be careful in nature and protect yourself from tick bites.

To prevent Lyme disease, it is useful to wear long-sleeved and long-legged clothing, prefer light-colored clothes and use insect repellent while walking in nature. It is also important to check the body for ticks after returning from nature and remove them immediately if present. Early diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease can prevent the disease from leading to more serious health problems. If one or more of the above symptoms occur after a tick bite, it is important to contact a healthcare provider as soon as possible.

What Are The Symptoms of Lyme Disease?

Lyme disease is an infection caused by a bacterium called Borrelia burgdorferi. This bacterium is transmitted to humans through infected tick bites. Symptoms of Lyme disease can vary depending on the stage of infection and the state of a person’s immune system. Common symptoms of Lyme disease are as follows;

Early Localized Infection Symptoms;

• Redness and swelling at the site of the tick bite,
• Widespread rash and redness (erythema migrans),
• Fever, chills and weakness,
• Headaches and muscle aches,
• Swelling of the lymph nodes,

Early Signs of Disseminated Infection;

• Multiple erythema migrans lesions,
• Facial paralysis (Bell’s palsy),
• Joint pain and swelling,
• Heart rhythm disorders,
• Neurological symptoms (meningitis, encephalitis, neuropathies),

Symptoms of Late Disseminated Infection;

• Chronic joint pain and arthritis,
• Chronic neurological problems (memory and concentration difficulties, numbness and tingling),
• Fatigue and sleep disorders,
• Eye problems (conjunctivitis, optic neuritis),
• Enlargement of the liver and spleen,

What Are The Stages of Lyme Disease?

Lyme disease usually progresses in three stages and each stage is characterised by different symptoms. These stages are as follows;

Early Localized Infection (Stage 1)

The first stage of Lyme disease begins 3 to 30 days after the tick bite. At this stage, the infection has not yet spread to other parts of the body and symptoms are usually mild. The most common symptom is a rash around the tick bite called erythema migrans.

Early Disseminated Infection (Stage 2)

The second stage of Lyme disease begins a few weeks to a few months after the tick bite. In this stage, the bacteria begin to spread to other parts of the body and more serious symptoms appear. These symptoms include neurological problems, heart rhythm disorders and joint pain.

Late Disseminated Infection (Stage 3)

The third stage of Lyme disease occurs when early disseminated infection is left untreated. This stage includes the most serious and long-lasting complications of the disease. Chronic joint pain, neurological problems and fatigue are typical symptoms of this stage.

Early diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease is important to prevent the disease from progressing. If symptoms are observed after a tick bite, a healthcare professional should be consulted as soon as possible.

Is Lyme Disease Transmitted From Person To Person?

It is highly unlikely that Lyme disease can be transmitted from person to person. This is because the disease spreads directly through ticks, which are carriers of the bacteria. This means that contact with a sick person does not increase the risk of contracting Lyme disease. However, some situations can lead to human-to-human transmission of Lyme disease;

• Lyme disease can be transmitted by transferring infected blood to the recipient. However, this is extremely rare and blood banks follow strict screening procedures for Lyme disease.

• Lyme disease can be passed from a pregnant woman to her baby. Therefore, it is important for women diagnosed with Lyme disease during pregnancy to stay in close contact with their doctor. The risk of Lyme disease transmission during breastfeeding is considered low, but breastfeeding mothers are also advised to talk to their doctor.

• Although there is some discussion that Lyme disease can be sexually transmitted, there is currently no conclusive evidence of this.

Lyme disease is not usually transmitted from person to person and the risk of transmission is very low. The most effective way to protect against the disease is to take measures to prevent contact with ticks.

Who Is At Risk of Lyme Disease?

Lyme disease can affect any age group and gender. However, certain factors and lifestyle choices can increase an individual’s risk of developing Lyme disease;

• Lyme disease is particularly common in parts of North America and Europe. People living or traveling in these areas are at higher risk.

• Outdoor activities in forested areas, areas with high grasses and areas with dense tick populations increase the risk of tick bites. Therefore, people who participate in such activities should be alert to Lyme disease.

• Having ticks on your pets or having a dense tick population in your garden can increase your risk of contracting Lyme disease.

• Taking protective measures against tick bites can reduce the risk of contracting Lyme disease. These measures include wearing appropriate clothing for outdoor activities, using insect repellent and checking for ticks.

It is important to consider these factors and take appropriate precautions to reduce the risk of Lyme disease.

Lyme Disease Treatment Prices in Turkey

Turkey has managed to announce its name to the world with its investments and studies in the field of health. Especially the latest technological devices used in diagnosis and treatment procedures have been a beacon of hope for many diseases. However, there has been an increase in health tourism in Türkiye.

• Hospitals are large, clean, spacious and fully equipped in terms of technological equipment.
• Turkish doctors are specialized, successful, and skilled in their fields.
• Nurses and carers are friendly and compassionate.
• Finding answers to the questions asked quickly and accurately.
• Patience and understanding of all staff, including the intermediary company dealing with the patient.
• Turkey offers holiday opportunities with its natural and historical beauties.
• Easy transportation.
• Diagnosis, treatment, accommodation, eating, drinking, dressing, and holiday needs can be met at affordable prices.

Such situations are shown among the reasons for preference. Regarding Lyme Disease Treatment Prices in Turkey, we can see that patients and relatives of patients who want to come to Turkey are doing research. However, it would not be right to give clear price information at this stage.Türkiye’de Klinefelter Sendromu Tedavi Fiyatları Many factors such as the type of disease, stage, diagnosis process, treatment process, and stay in Türkiye affect the price issue. If you want to get more detailed price information, you can contact us. In addition, if you come to Turkey for treatment through us, we can facilitate your visa application process with the invitation letter sent by us to the consulate.