Lyme disease in women symptoms

Lyme disease occurs due to infection from a tick bite. It produces several different symptoms which can affect the skin, joints, heart and nervous system. The infection occurs due to a microorganism known as borrelia burghdor feri which is transmitted through a tick bite.

Ticks are parasites which feed on blood and usually live on the bodies of deer. They are mostly found in wooded areas such as forests. Ticks can infest any area of the human body but tend to settle on moist parts such as beneath the arms or the groin.
Once the tick settles on the body, it inserts its probe into the skin and starts drawing blood. The infection can get transmitted in this manner. The first symptoms of lyme disease include fatigue, fever, chills and headache. There is also likely to be pain in the muscles and joints and swelling of the lymph nodes. The skin rash known as erythema migrans is also a prominent sign of lyme disease. The rash appears as circular patch around the area of the tick bite and often takes on a ‘bulls-eye’ appearance. The area may be warm to the touch, but itching and pain does not usually occur. In some cases, the infected individual may not even be aware of the symptoms and the disease is diagnosed after complications start taking place.

The causes of lyme disease are tick bites. The infecting bacteria enter the skin when the bite occurs and then moves through the bloodstream. Before the bacteria are passed on, the tick must first feed on blood and this can take up to 48 hours. The bacteria are transmitted only after the tick attaches itself to the skin. If the tick is removed before it has a blood meal, the infection may be prevented.

It is often difficult to recognize symptoms of lyme disease in women because the symptoms tend to be aggravated during hormonal fluctuations that occur at the end of the menstrual cycle. Therefore some doctors may attribute the symptoms to pre-menstrual stress. Not all infected individuals develop the ‘bulls-eye’ appearance of the skin rash and this too makes diagnosis difficult.

Treatment of Lyme Disease

Extra precaution must be taken when dealing with pregnancy and lyme disease. The first choice antibiotic medication is the most effective in treating the disease, but it cannot be administered to pregnant women because of possible damage to the fetus. Oral antibiotics are given in case the condition is detected early. Lyme disease is not known to enter the placenta, but some doctors still administer antibiotics intravenously for added safety.

Chronic lyme disease treatment is treated with months or even years of antibiotic therapy. In some cases, the patient is not treated for long enough and a relapse occurs. The relapse may also not be recognized as lyme disease and may be diagnosed as another disorder. To prevent such occurrences, complete treatment is a must.

Lyme disease prevention may be done in a variety of ways. The most important step is to prevent exposure to deer ticks. Those who know they will be outdoors in tick-infested regions or places where lyme disease is prevalent should practice certain safety measures. It is important to wear protective clothing such as long trousers and long sleeved shirts. Wearing light colors is also helpful as the ticks can be detected easily. It is also a good idea to use tick repellents before entering forested or wooded areas. After leaving the area, it is advisable to check the body and clothes for ticks. Areas such as the armpits, scalp and groin should be inspected carefully as they are more prone to tick bites.