What are the symptoms of Lyme disease?

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What are the symptoms of Lyme disease?
Dr. Peter Dobie
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• Lyme disease is an illness caused by bacteria
  called Borellia that is transmitted to humans by
  tick bites. It is a common illness in Europe and
  the United States.
•  
• It is named after the town of Lyme, in
  Connecticut, USA, where the illness was first
  recognised.
•  
• It has now been shown conclusively that it is
  possible to pick up Lyme disease in Australia.

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Lyme disease can affect multiple body systems
and produce a range of symptoms. Not all patients
with Lyme disease will have all symptoms, and
many of the symptoms are not specific to Lyme
disease, but can occur with other diseases as
well. The incubation period from infection to the
onset of symptoms is usually one to two weeks,
but can be much shorter (days) or much longer
(months to years).
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• What are the symptoms of Lyme disease?
• An expanding circular rash called erythema (may
  look like a red bulls-eye at the site of the tick
  bite)
• Sore throats, clearing throat a lot, phlegm,
  hoarseness, runny nose
• Pain in eyes, or swelling around eyes
• Pain in ears, oversensitivity to sounds
• Diarrhea
• Constipation 
• Bone pain, joint pain or swelling, carpal tunnel
  syndrome

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• Other symptoms include
• Stiffness of joints, back, neck, tennis elbow
• Chest pain or rib soreness
• Fatigue, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, weakness,
  peripheral neuropathy or partial paralysis 
• Too much sleep or insomnia 
• Memory loss (short or long term)
• Difficulty with concentration or reading
• Speech difficulty (slurred or slow) 
• Unexplained breast pain, discharge
• Extreme fatigue
• Continual infections (sinus, kidney, eye, etc.)
• Allergies/Chemical sensitivities

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The main treatment for Lyme is antibiotics.
These are usually given orally, but sometimes
intravenous antibiotics are used.   The duration
of antibiotic of treatment varies according to
the individual case. Someone with recent onset
of Lyme disease, within a few weeks of the tick
bite, will probably need antibiotics for 6-8
weeks. On the other hand, a patient who has been
suffering from this disease for 10 or 20 years,
and has had no prior treatment, may require
antibiotics for 2 or 3 years.   Herbal medicines
can also play a useful role in the treatment of
Lyme, and can enhance the effectiveness of
antibiotics.
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Most Lyme disease doctor considers however that
it cannot be cured by herbal medicines alone, and
that antibiotic must always be used.   A variety
of nutritional supplements are also routinely
recommended for patients.   There is strong
evidence that Lyme can be passed on from mother
to child in utero, and also by sexual
contact.   Many patients with this disease also
have what is commonly known as co-infections.
These are other infections such as which can be
transmitted by the tick bite, such as Babesia,
Bartonella, Ricksettia and Ehrlichia, and which
also require antibiotic treatment.
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Thank You
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Dr. Peter Dobie