| Lyme disease (Lyme borreliosis) is caused by the | | | | common in all stages of the disease. If treatment is |
| bacteria Borrelia Burgdorferi. Ticks can transmit the | | | | not started early enough late persistent Lyme |
| bacteria by biting humans. Deer ticks spread Lyme | | | | disease symptoms may include; chronic fatigue, joint |
| disease in the northeastern and upper Midwestern | | | | problems, heart symptoms and nervous system |
| United States, while western-blacklegged ticks are | | | | problems such as weakness or numbness in the arms |
| responsible for its spread along the Pacific coast. | | | | or legs and difficulties with memory. |
| A deer tick is any of several ticks of the genus | | | | Lyme disease may be diagnosed based on the |
| Exudes that are parasitic on deer and other animals | | | | symptoms, the medical history, and the possibility of |
| and transmit the infectious agents of febrile diseases, | | | | exposure to ticks. Blood tests may confirm the |
| such as Lyme disease. | | | | diagnosis if the disease is suspected, however, blood |
| Lyme disease and its symptoms can occur at any | | | | tests are often not reliable to diagnose this condition. |
| age. It is most common among young children and | | | | Rheumatoid arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome, |
| those who work or reside in wooded areas because | | | | fibromyalgia and multiple sclerosis produce similar |
| they are more likely to be exposed to the ticks. | | | | symptoms and must be considered. |
| Expanding skin rash and flu-like symptoms are the | | | | Conventional medical treatment of Lyme disease |
| earliest symptoms seen. A circular rash may develop | | | | should be prompt to prevent permanent damage. |
| at the bite's site but many individuals do not get the | | | | Antibiotic treatment for 3-4 weeks with doxycycline |
| rash. If Lyme disease goes undetected or is not | | | | or amoxicillin is generally effective in early disease. |
| properly treated, problems involving the skin, joints, | | | | Intravenous ceftriaxone or penicillin for 4 weeks or |
| nervous system, and heart may arise. Symptoms | | | | more may be needed in cases that were not treated |
| may appear weeks after exposure to infection or it | | | | early in the course of the disease. Treatment failures |
| mat take months or even years. Other symptoms | | | | are not uncommon and re-treatment may be |
| may include; fatigue, headache and neck stiffness. | | | | necessary. |
| There may be fever and chills. Swollen lymph nodes | | | | Complementary medical approaches are used at this |
| and muscle and joint pain are common. As many as | | | | center to combat Lyme disease. Auricular Medicine |
| 25% of patients have only flu-like symptoms and no | | | | (advanced ear acupuncture) is used to help evaluate |
| other symptoms. Skin rashes may later appear in | | | | the energetic status of the various body organs. |
| other areas. Pain, weakness, or numbness in the arms | | | | Auricular Medicine can also be used in treating the |
| or legs could appear quickly. Paralysis of the facial | | | | organs affected and to support other vital organs |
| nerves is not uncommon. Other neurological | | | | that may be involved in the disease process. |
| symptoms may include poor memory and difficulty in | | | | Homeopathic remedies may offer an invaluable |
| concentrating. Heart problems may include palpitations | | | | complementary approach to help the body fight the |
| and eye problems usually include conjunctivitis or | | | | involved bacteria and its symptoms. |
| even deep tissue damage. Joint problems are | | | | |