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Chronic persistent Lyme disease is a late stage of an inflammatory disease caused by Borrelia burgdorferibacteria. It is also called Stage 3, or tertiary, Lyme disease.
See also:
Alternative NamesTertiary Lyme disease; Stage 3 Lyme disease; Late persistent Lyme disease; Lyme Arthritis
Causes, incidence, and risk factorsLyme disease is transmitted by the bite of a deer tick.
Some people may not be treated for Lyme disease because they do not have any symptoms or their symptoms are mild. Chronic persistent Lyme disease may develop months or even years after the Lyme disease infection.
Even people who were treated may develop chronic persistent Lyme disease.
SymptomsChronic persistent Lyme disease can affect the skin, brain, and nervous system, and muscles, bones, and cartilage.
Symptoms include:
- Chronic arthritis
- Fatigue
- Headaches
- Joint inflammation in the knees and other large joints
- Memory loss
- Mood changes
- Sleep disorders
Other symptoms that may occur with this disease:
Signs and testsA blood test can be done to check for antibodies to the bacteria that cause Lyme disease. The most common one used is the ELISA for Lyme diseasetest. A Western blot test is done to confirm ELISA results.
A spinal tapwill be abnormal if you have central nervous system symptoms from the disease.
TreatmentAntibiotics are given to fight the infection. Medications sometimes need to be given through a vein (intravenously).
Chronic persistent Lyme disease is treated for up to 28 days with antibiotics. If arthritis symptoms do not go away, a second 2 - 4 week course of antibiotics may sometimes be used. Antibiotics given by mouth (doxycycline, amoxicillin, or cefuroxime) are used most of the time.
People with severe Lyme disease that affects the nervous system may receive 2 - 4 weeks of the antibiotic ceftriaxone through a vein (by IV).
Treating patients for longer periods of time is generally not thought to be helpful, even if symptoms do not go away.
Expectations (prognosis)Arthritis symptoms may not get better with treatment. Other symptoms should improve with treatment.
Rarely, a person will continue to have symptoms that can sometimes interfere with daily life or activities. Some people call this post-Lyme disease syndrome. There is no effective treatment for people with these symptoms.
Complications- Arthritis symptoms may continue
- Heart problems (slow heart rate, and effects on the electrical system of the heart)
Call your health care provider if you develop symptoms, especially if you have had Lyme disease before, or live or travel in high-risk areas.
PreventionEarly diagnosis and appropriate antibiotic treatment for primary Lyme disease is the most effective way to prevent tertiary Lyme disease.
Here are some tips for preventing primary Lyme disease:
When walking or hiking in wooded or grassy areas:
- Spray all exposed skin and your clothing with insect repellent (spray outdoors only, do not use on face, use just enough to cover all other exposed skin, don't spray under clothing, don't apply over wounds or irritated skin, wash skin after going inside)
- Wear light-colored clothing to make it easier to spot ticks
- Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants with the cuffs tucked into shoes or socks
- Wear high boots, preferably rubber
Check yourself and your pets frequently during and after your walk or hike.
Ticks that carry Lyme disease are so small that they are very hard to see. After returning home, remove your clothes and thoroughly inspect all skin surface areas, including your scalp.
If possible, ask someone to help you examine your body for ticks. Adults should carefully examine children.
ReferencesBratton RL, Whiteside JW, Hoyan MJ, Engle RL, Edwards FD. Diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease. Mayo Clin Proc. 2008;83:566-571.
Steere AC. Borrelia burgdorferi (lyme disease, lyme borreliosis). In: Mandell GL, Bennett JE, Dolin R, eds. Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 7th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone; 2009:chap 242.
What else can I help you with?
Is Lyme's disease chronic?
yes
What is chronic Lyme disease caused by?
borrelia burgdorferi
Where can I get information on chronic lyme disease?
One can get information on chronic lyme disease by seeing their family doctor. He or she will know all the details and can also recommend one all possible treatments. One can also find information on chronic lyme disease on sites like web MD.
What is persistent Lyme disease?
Lyme disease is a systemic infection that can affect all systems of the human body. This disease is a bacterial infection transmitted by the spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi. ------------------------------------------------------- Lyme disease is a bacterial infection spread to humans by infected ticks.
What is a nickname for Lyme disease?
The medical profession's nickname for chronic Lyme disease is the Great Imitator
Is lyme disease acute or chronic?
While most infections in humans result in an asymptomatic latent infection, about one in ten latent infections eventually progresses to active disease, which, if left untreated, is a chronic disease which kills more than half of its victims.
What are some remedies for chronic lyme disease?
Many doctors will treat the issues caused by chronic lyme disease rather than the disease itself. Antibiotics are the main treatment of lyme disease however they are not always 100% effective. Arthritis that continues after antibiotic treatment can be treated with hydroxychloroquine and methotrexate. Neuropathic pain is treated with Gabapentin.
Have you ever had chronic Lyme disease How did you treat it?
While acute/early Lyme disease can be sucessfully treated with antibiotics such as doxycycline, amoxicillin, or cefuroxime, in terms of chronic Lyme disease, an extended or repeated courses of antibiotics might be prescribed. Another aspect is to cure the symptoms with pain relief and anti-inflammation medicine. However, there is no cure for chronic Lyme disease, but alternative treatment approaches, including immunotherapies and combination therapies, are currently being investigated by biomedical researchers. If you need more information about Lyme disease, check out our websiter where we gathered the most important questions and answers: centralbiohub.de/blogs/order-lyme-disease-specimens-instantly
What are the symptoms of chronic lyme disease?
There are many chronic lyme diseases, which also means there are alot of symptoms. The most common sign is the bullseye rash pattern associated with Lyme disease, raised red borders around indurated central portion is also a commonly known symptom.
Can lyme disease cause dementia?
Lyme disease itself does not directly cause dementia, but it can lead to neurological complications if left untreated, including Lyme neuroborreliosis, which may result in cognitive impairment or memory issues. These neurological effects are generally reversible with appropriate antibiotic treatment. However, chronic cases or co-infections might contribute to long-term cognitive difficulties in some individuals. It's important to seek medical attention for persistent symptoms after a Lyme disease diagnosis.
If Dr Dre really did have a chronic disease how would you describe it?
Persistent
Lyme disease connections to chronic fatigue syndrome?
Lyme Disease Often Missed as a Cause of Chronic Fatigue SyndromeLyme disease is caused by a spiral shaped bacteria (spirochete) called Borrelia burgdorferi. They can be transmitted by tics, but also by mosquitoes. The spirochets have been called "the great imitators" because they can mimic virtually any disease, which is why they are often misdiagnosed. Anyone with chronic illness and especially those with chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia need to consider Lyme disease as the cause.Patients with chronic Lyme disease most commonly have fatigue, joint and muscle pain, sleep disorders and cognitive problems (brain fog). In addition, infection with Borrelia often results in a low grade encephalopathy (infection of the brain) that can result in depression, bipolar disorder, panic attacks, numbness, tingling, burning, weakness, twitching and is associated with neurological disorders such as multiple sclerosis, dementia such as Alzheimer's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease). In addition, this infection often results in hormonal deficiencies, abnormal activation of coagulation and immune dysfunction, which potentiate the symptoms. Patients with chronic Lyme disease often complain of "strange" or "weird" symptoms that cannot be explained even after going to numerous doctors and often results in the patient being told that it must be psychological.
