Re: [at-l] lyme disease

[WHHAWKINS@aol.com]

In a message dated 2/4/99 4:50:35 PM EDT, patv@falcon.cc.ukans.edu writes:

<< What are the symptoms?
  >>
Symptoms
The early symptoms of LD can be mild and easily overlooked. People who 
are aware of the risk of LD in their communities and who don't ignore 
the sometimes subtle early symptoms are most likely to seek medical 
attention and treatment early enough to be assured of a full recovery.
The first symptom is usually an expanding rash (called erythema migrans, 
or EM, in medical terms) which is thought to occur in 80% to 90% of all 
LD cases. An EM rash generally has the following characteristics:
•Usually (but not always) radiates from the site of the tickbite •
Appears either as a solid red expanding rash or blotch, OR a central 
spot surrounded by clear skin that is in turn ringed by an expanding red 
rash (appearing like a bull's-eye) •Appears an average of 1 to 2 weeks 
(range = 3 to 30 days) after disease transmission •Has an average 
diameter of 5 to 6 inches (range = 2 inches to 2 feet) •Persists for 
about 3 to 5 weeks •May or may not be warm to the touch •Is usually not 
painful or itchy
EM rashes appearing on brown-skinned or sun-tanned patients may be more 
difficult to identify because of decreased contrast between normal skin 
tones and the red rash. A dark, bruise-like appearance is more common on 
dark-skinned patients.
Ticks will attach anywhere on the body, but prefer body creases such as 
the armpit, groin, back of the knee, and nape of the neck; rashes will 
therefore often appear in (but are not restricted to) these areas. 
Please note that multiple rashes may, in some cases, appear elsewhere on 
the body some time after the intial rash, or, in a few cases, in the 
absence of an initial rash.
Around the time the rash appears, other symptoms such as joint pains, 
chills, fever, and fatigue are common, but they may not seem serious 
enough to require medical attention. These symptoms may be brief, only 
to recur as a broader spectrum of symptoms as the disease progresses.
As the LD spirochete continues disseminating through the body, a number 
of other symptoms including severe fatique, a stiff, aching neck, and 
peripheral nervous system (PNS) involvement such as tingling or numbness 
in the extremities or facial palsy (paralysis) can occur.
The more severe, potentially debilitating symptoms of later-stage LD may 
occur weeks, months, or, in a few cases, years after a tick bite. These 
can include severe headaches, painful arthritis and swelling of joints, 
cardiac abnormalities, and central nervous system (CNS) involvement 
leading to cognitive (mental) disorders. 
The following is a checklist of common symptoms seen in various stages 
of LD: 
Localized Early (Acute) Stage:
•Solid red or bull's-eye rash, usually at site of bite
•Swelling of lymph glands near tick bite
•Generalized achiness
•Headache
Early Disseminated Stage:
•Two or more rashes not at site of bite
•Migrating pains in joints/tendons
•Headache
•Stiff, aching neck
•Facial palsy (facial paralysis similar to Bell's palsy)
•Tingling or numbness in extremities
•Multiple enlarged lymph glands
•Abnormal pulse
•Sore throat
•Changes in vision
•Fever of 100 to 102 F
•Severe fatique
Late Stage:
•Arthritis (pain/swelling) of one or two large joints
•Disabling neurological disorders (disorientation; confusion; dizziness; 
short-term memory loss; inability to concentrate, finish sentences or 
follow conversations; mental "fog") 
•Numbness in arms/hands or legs/feet 

THIS INFORMATION IS FROM:  <A HREF="http://www.aldf.com/templates/Lyme.cfm">
American Lyme Disease Foundation - Lyme Disease</A>  (This is a hot link) URL:
http://www.aldf.com/templates/Lyme.cfm

There are other Lyme Disease Sites. Here are hot links to the other ones.
1. <A HREF="http://www.acponline.org/lyme/patient/">ACP Initiative on Lyme
Disease - Patient's Guide</A> 
2. <A HREF="http://www.x-l.net/Lyme/index.html">Lyme Disease Information
Resource</A> 
3. <A HREF="http://www.utech.net/users/10766/lyme.htm">Lyme Disease Risk
Assessments</A> 
4. <A HREF="http://www.lymenet.org/">Lyme Disease Network</A> 
5. 
<A HREF="http://www.sb.com/prescribing_information/2000.cgi?drug=ly&from=../pr
oducts/usva.html&fromname=Products+and+Services:+United+States+Vaccines">SB
Prescribing Info for LYMErix</A> 
6. <A HREF="http://www2.lymenet.org/domino/file.nsf/UID/VaccinePosition">
LymeNet - LymeNet Vaccine Position Paper</A> 

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