Chronic Lyme disease is the term used for Lyme disease symptoms that are present after the time in which the illness normally resolves. Confusion about the criteria for diagnosing this disorder has led experts in the field to rename it post-Lyme disease syndrome (PLDS). There is serious doubt in the medical community about whether PLDS is a distinct or treatable disorder.
Understanding Lyme Disease and Standard Treatment
Lyme disease is a bacterial infection caused by the organism Borrelia burgdorferi. It is most commonly transferred to humans by bites from the black-legged deer tick. If you are infected by Lyme disease, you may experience symptoms including chills, rash, fever, swelling of the joints, body ache and weakness, and temporary paralysis. Once you are diagnosed with the disorder, you will likely be treated with one of two forms of antibiotics. If your Lyme disease is caught in its early stages, you will receive a 10- to 21-day course of an oral antibiotic such as amoxicillin, doxycycline or cefuroxime. If your disease is more advanced, a 14- to 28-day course of intravenous antibiotics may be used instead.
The Problem of Continuing Symptoms
This initial course of antibiotics is effective in roughly 95 percent of all Lyme disease cases. However, a small number of individuals experience a long-term continuation of symptoms that appear related to the original infection. If this is true for you, these difficulties may include headaches, fatigue and muscle aches, as well as some disturbances to normal mental processes. Taken together, these symptoms were originally classified as chronic Lyme disease. Researchers have discovered, however, that many people who are diagnosed or self-diagnosed with this disorder have never been infected with Borrelia burgdorferi. Even in those individuals with confirmed previous exposure to B. burgdorferi, there is typically no active infection left in the body.
Seeking Accurate Treatment
If you are suffering from symptoms that appear related to Lyme disease, but received antibiotic treatment more than six months in the past or have never been properly diagnosed, clarify your situation by visiting your doctor for further examination. If you are not infected with B. burgdorferi, it is possible you have another infection or illness that is responsible for your condition. A host of other unknown factors may also play a part in your symptoms. Work with your doctor to uncover a cause, and be as patient as possible if proper diagnosis takes some time.
Treatment Options to Avoid
In addition, be aware of a couple of treatment options that may actually worsen your condition or cause serious physical harm. If you have already received antibiotic treatment, do not attempt to find a source for a second course of treatment. In addition to proving ineffective in addressing your continuing symptoms, it may also increase your resistance to future antibiotic treatment and put you at risk for serious infection. Additionally, avoid alternative medical practitioners who want to treat you with an injectable compound called bismacine or chromacine. While this medication is suitable for oral treatment of stomach ulcers, use of such injections can cause metal poisoning with potential complications of kidney or heart failure.
Tags: Lyme disease, antibiotic treatment, symptoms that, appear related, Borrelia burgdorferi