What is Lyme disease?
Lyme disease is an infectious disease that is caused by the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi. This bacteria is transferred to humans through a bite of an infected deer tick. The tick bears infection from feeding on deer, birds, and mice that are infected.
To transmit the infection, the tick has to remain on the skin for 36 hours at least. Numerous people having Lyme disease do not remember getting a tick bite.
People living in wooded areas recognized for transmission of Lyme disease are more vulnerable to this illness. People having domestic animals that graze in wooded areas are also at a higher risk of getting the disease.
Lyme disease stages
Lyme disease occurs in three stages:
- early localized
- early disseminated
- late disseminated
The manifestations that appear will depend on the stage of the disease. The progress of Lyme disease can differ from individual to individual. Some people might have it and not go through any symptoms in all three stages.
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Stage 1: Early localized disease
Symptoms of Lyme normally appear 1st two weeks following the tick bite. The bulls-eye rash is one of the earliest manifestations of the disease.
Usually, the rash appears at the location of the tick bite, as a red spot in the center encircled by a clear spot having a red area at the edge. It may feel warm when touched, but it doesn’t cause pain and itch. This rash slowly fades in most individuals.
The formal name for bulls-eye rash is erythema migrans. Erythema migrans are referred to as the main symptom of Lyme disease. But, most people don’t exhibit it. The occurs with or without flu-like or systemic viral symptoms.
Other symptoms usually observed in stage 1 of Lyme disease involve:
- chills
- fever
- enlarged lymph nodes
- sore throat
- vision changes
- fatigue
- muscle aches
- headaches
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Stage 2: Early disseminated Lyme disease
Early disseminated disease occurs after multiple weeks or months following the tick bite.
You’ll experience an overall feeling of being sick, and a rash might develop in areas different from the ones bitten by the tick.
This stage of Lyme disease is mainly characterized by confirmation of systemic infection, which indicates the infection has reached the whole body, including different organs.
Symptoms can involve:
- multiple erythema multiforme (EM) lesions
- disturbances in heart rhythm
- neurologic conditions
- cranial nerve palsies
- meningitis
The manifestations of stages 1 and 2 of Lyme disease can overlap.
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Stage 3: Late disseminated Lyme disease
Late disseminated disease occurs if the infection is left untreated in stages 1 and 2. This stage occurs months to years following the tick bite.
This stage is defined by:
- arthritis affecting large joints
- brain disorders, like encephalopathy, which causes short-term memory loss, difficulty concentrating, mental fogginess, difficulties with understanding conversations, and sleep disorder
- numbness of the limbs
Lyme disease symptoms
People who get Lyme react differently to it, and their symptoms usually differ in severity.
Although the disease is generally divided into 3 stages
- early localized
- early disseminated
- late disseminated
Symptoms of these stages can overlap. Some individuals might present symptoms in a later stage of disease without experiencing those of an earlier stage.
Following are some of the symptoms that commonly occur in Lyme disease:
- a flat, round rash that appears like a bull’s-eye and red oval anywhere on the body
- anderal fatage
- muscle aches
- joint pain and swelling
- headache
- fever
- sleep disturbances
- swollen lymph nodes
- difficulty concentrating
Communicate with your doctor immediately in case you observe any of these symptoms.
Lyme disease symptoms in children
Children usually experience Lyme disease symptoms that are identical to adults.
Which usually include:
- fatigue
- fever
- joint and muscle pain
- other flu-like symptoms
These manifestations might appear soon after the transmission of infection, or they can months or even years.
Your kid might have the disease, but not the bulls-eye rash. As confirmed by an early study, outcomes revealed that roughly 89% of children exhibited the rash.
Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN) for Lyme Disease
Naltrexone is a medicine, which was discovered in 1963 to inhibit opioid receptors. In 1984 naltrexone get was approved by the FDA for the treatment of alcohol and opiate dependence. At a 50-100mg dose, it obstructs opiate receptors and blocks the euphoric feeling of alcohol or narcotic drug misuse.
Low-dose naltrexone (LDN) has been utilized in various conditions linked with dysregulation of the immune system since the 1980s. Doctors who have specialized in chronic Lyme disease found out that low-dose naltrexone (LDN) is efficient at enhancing the immune response related to Lyme disease.
Low-dose naltrexone (LDN) is extremely helpful in disease. This cost-friendly drug can:
- Improve pain,
- Reduce autoimmune ailment induced by Lyme,
- Decrease cytokine inflammation, and
- Make the immune system better in function.
There are 3 processes by which low-dose naltrexone helps with pain in Lyme disease.
- One way LDN might ease the pain is by making the increased endorphins attach to a vaster number of more sensitive endorphin receptors. In simple words, an individual’s natural narcotics start working fine.
- LDN reduces cytokine inflammation,
- Low dose naltrexone inhibits Toll-like receptors to improve pain generated by nerves, which comprises fibromyalgia kind of pain.
Causes of CREST syndrome
The exact cause of CREST syndrome is still unknown, but it is considered to be an autoimmune disorder in which the healthy cells of your body are destroyed by your immune system. As a result, too much collagen starts to produce. Collagen is basically responsible for binding in the connective tissues. The excessive production of collagen results in the thickening of the skin and internal organs due to which they have problems in functioning. The following factors may increase your risk of developing CREST syndrome:
Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN) has been seen to improve the symptoms of autoimmune disorders, including CREST syndrome or limited scleroderma in people. It is better than the other medications as it is not steroid-based, and it does not have side effects. It can help to manage pain and inflammation caused due to CREST syndrome.
LDN is available in all forms at the Harbor compounding pharmacy. For more information regarding the drug, you may visit their website.
Reference article link:
https://vocal.media/longevity/lyme-disease-and-its-potential-treatment-option-naltrexone