Unlocking Telehealth Solutions for Lyme Disease: Get Diagnosed and Treated with Umedoc

Unlocking Telehealth Solutions for Lyme Disease: Get Diagnosed and Treated with Umedoc


What is Lyme Disease?

Lyme Disease is an infection caused by the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi. The bacterium is transmitted from ticks to humans.

Symptoms

You may expect symptoms such as: 

  • Fever
  • Chills
  • Headache
  • Fatigue
  • Muscle and joint aches
  • Swollen lymph nodes
  • Rash known as erythema migrans

The rash may look similar to the image below. This rash can appear 3 to 30 days after a tick bite. If a person is infected, the rash will develop in 70-80 percent of cases. The rash is typically not itchy or painful. It could be warm to the touch. Erythema migrans can show up anywhere on the body.

How is Lyme disease diagnosed?

Lyme disease can be suspected by symptoms and activities in which a person might encounter a tick. Lyme disease can be confirmed with laboratory testing.

What happens if Lyme Disease is not treated in early stages?

Persons infected can develop more severe symptoms such as:

  • Facial Palsy
  • Arthritis in knees that is painful and swollen
  • Dizziness
  • Shortness of breath
  • Nerve pain
  • Irregular heart beat (Lyme Carditis)
  • Inflammation of the brain
  • Inflammation of the spinal cord

Treatment

Lyme disease can be treated with antibiotics if there is early diagnosis. It can prevent the development of late Lyme disease.

Prevention

The best way to reduce the risk of obtaining a tick bite is by proper prevention. 

  • Wear long sleeved clothing that is tightly woven to prevent ticks from crawling through the clothes. 
  • Wear light colors to visualize the tick in case of a bite. 
  • Tuck pants into the socks so that the tick cannot crawl on the leg. 
  • If there is exposed skin, wear insect repellent that has 20% or more of DEET. 
  • After returning from outdoors, check the skin for ticks. Seek treatment from a medical professional if you suspect a tick bite.

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Summary:

  • Lyme Disease is caused by Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria transmitted through tick bites, with symptoms including fever, chills, fatigue, and a characteristic rash called erythema migrans.
  • Early diagnosis of Lyme disease is based on symptoms and activities that may expose an individual to ticks, and it can be confirmed through laboratory testing.
  • If left untreated in its early stages, Lyme Disease can lead to more severe symptoms, including facial palsy, arthritis, and inflammation of the brain and spinal cord.
  • Lyme disease can be effectively treated with antibiotics when diagnosed early, preventing the progression to late-stage Lyme disease.
  • To reduce the risk of tick bites, preventive measures like wearing protective clothing, using insect repellent, and checking for ticks after outdoor activities are recommended. Telehealth solutions, such as Umedoc, can be a valuable resource in the diagnosis and treatment of Lyme Disease.

This article reviewed by Dr. Jim Liu, MD and Ms. Deb Dooley, APRN.

There’s nothing more important than our good health – that’s our principal capital asset.

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