About this topic
Lyme disease is an infection caused by a tick bite. Ticks carry germs. The germs cause an infection in your body. You may start to have signs within a few days to a few weeks after the tick bite. You may have signs like the flu, such as fever, headache, and feeling very tired. You may also have a rash that looks like a bulls eye or red with a skin colored center. If you are not treated, you can have problems with your joints, heart, or nervous system. ‚
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What care is needed at home?
- Ask your doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the doctor says. This way you will know what you need to do.
- Take all drugs as directed by your doctor. Be sure to take them on time and take all of them, even if you start to feel better before you are finished taking them.
- Get lots of rest. Slowly increase your activities as directed by your doctor.
What follow-up care is needed?
- Your doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your progress. Be sure to keep these visits.
- Your doctor may send you to a specialist if you need more care for your heart or joints.
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Fight an infection
- Help with pain
- Ease joint stiffness and swelling
Will physical activity be limited?
You may have to limit your activity. Talk to your doctor about the right amount of activity for you. ‚
What problems could happen?
- Swelling and pain of the joints
- Unable to move parts of your face
- Very bad headache
- Changes in eyesight
- Unable to remember things
- Feeling very tired
What can be done to prevent this health problem?
- If you see a tick on your skin, remove the tick right away. Use tweezers and carefully remove the tick. Save the tick in alcohol. Do not squeeze it.
- Protect yourself from ticks.
- Wear long pants and shirts or jackets with long sleeves when outside in wooded areas.
- Tuck pants into socks or boots.
- Use an insect repellent when going outside.
- Protect your pets from ticks by using anti-tick drugs or shampoos.
- Spray insect repellent to get rid of ticks around your home.
When do I need to call the doctor?
- Signs of post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS). These include weakness, body pain, and joint or muscle pain.
- Signs of infection. These include a fever of 100.4 ‚ °F (38 ‚ °C) or higher, chills.
- Signs of wound infection. These include swelling, redness, warmth around the wound; too much pain when touched; yellowish, greenish, or bloody discharge; foul smell coming from the wound.
- You are not feeling better in 2 to 3 days or you are feeling worse
Teach Back: Helping You Understand
The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚
- I can tell you about my condition.
- I can tell you what changes I need to make with my drugs or activities.
- I can tell you ways to help prevent this infection.
- I can tell you what I will do if I have weakness or body, joint, or muscle pain.
Where can I learn more?
Arthritis Foundation ‚
http://www.arthritis.org/conditions-treatments/disease-center/lyme-disease/ ‚
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ‚
http://www.cdc.gov/lyme/ ‚
FamilyDoctor.org ‚
http://familydoctor.org/familydoctor/en/diseases-conditions/lyme-disease.printerview.all.html ‚
National Organization for Rare Disorders ‚
http://www.rarediseases.org/rare-disease-information/rare-diseases/byID/238/viewAbstract ‚
NHS Choices ‚
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/lyme-disease/pages/introduction.aspx ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
Copyright
Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚