How to Detect Lyme Disease in Time

Lyme disease is a bacterial disease transmitted by ticks. A typical symptom is a circular reddening of the skin, which may appear at the site of the bite for a few days to a few weeks after the tick bite. In later stages, other symptoms such as paralysis and sensory disturbances may become apparent. If Lyme disease is diagnosed, treatment with antibiotics usually follows. In most cases, the disease can be cured. However, if Lyme disease remains undetected for a long time, secondary damage is possible.

Tick bite as the cause

Lyme disease (Lyme borreliosis) is the most common tick-borne disease in Germany. It is caused by spiral-shaped bacteria called Borrelia. The bacteria can be transmitted by various tick species, the most common carrier in Europe being the common wood tick. However, only about every fifth tick carries Borrelia. In addition to ticks, flying insects, such as mosquitoes, also act as carriers in rare cases. Borrelia live in the intestines of ticks, which is why it takes a certain amount of time after a tick bite for the bacteria to enter the victim’s blood. The transmission of the bacteria is estimated to begin approximately 12 to 24 hours after the bite. Therefore, a quick removal of the tick is particularly important – because often this can prevent an infection.

Lyme disease and TBE

Lyme disease and TBE (early summer meningoencephalitis) are both diseases transmitted by ticks. However, while vaccination is available against TBE, there is no such protection for Lyme disease. TBE vaccination makes sense especially for people who live or vacation in a tick risk area. The vaccination is the only way to prevent the disease. This is because the transmission of the TBE viruses begins immediately after the tick bite. Thus, quick removal of the tick can prevent Lyme disease, but not TBE.

Migratory redness as a symptom

Characteristically, Lyme disease progresses in three stages. However, all three stages do not always occur. A typical symptom of the first Lyme disease stage is redness around the site of the bite, known as wandering redness. The redness spreads in a circular pattern over time, with the center slowly fading (wandering redness). This symptom can occur anywhere from a few days to a few weeks after the tick bite. In some patients, however, the wandering redness is completely absent. If there is no wandering redness, Lyme disease is often difficult to diagnose. This is because the disease is then usually only noticeable through non-specific symptoms such as fatigue, fever or headache. If you suffer from such non-specific symptoms after a tick bite, you should always think of Lyme disease.

Other symptoms of Lyme disease

In the second stage, symptoms such as pain, paralysis and sensory disturbances may occur. Paralysis symptoms particularly often affect the face. In rare cases, the bacteria can also cause meningitis or encephalitis. Typical symptoms of this are headache, fever and neck stiffness. If the heart is attacked by the pathogens, cardiac arrhythmias may occur. Finally, inflammation of the joints is typical of the chronic late stage, which can occur after many months or years. The knees are particularly frequently affected. In addition to the joints, the skin and nerves may also show damage. If the central or peripheral nervous system is affected, the disease is called neuroborreliosis.

Diagnosis is not always easy

If a patient has the typical migratory redness around the sting site, this one symptom is usually sufficient to begin Lyme disease therapy. If the circular redness is absent, a blood test is first performed. However, this is not always conclusive. Because even if specific antibodies against Borrelia are present, this does not mean that Lyme disease is the cause of the acute symptoms. Other procedures that may be used as part of the diagnosis of Lyme disease are an examination of the cerebrospinal fluid and an examination of the synovial fluid.

Treatment of Lyme disease

Because Lyme disease is caused by bacteria, it can generally be treated well by administering antibiotics. This is especially true when the disease is still in its early stages.The earlier therapy takes place, the greater the likelihood that consequential damage can be prevented. If the disease remains undetected over a long period of time, this usually makes treatment much more difficult. Often, several weeks of antibiotics – sometimes also as infusions – are necessary to achieve a successful treatment. Even with successful treatment, the disease can leave damage. Attention: A single infection with Borrelia does not make you immune to the bacteria. Therefore, new infections can occur again and again!

Prevent Lyme disease

To effectively prevent Lyme disease, you should protect yourself from tick bites. Ticks live primarily in grass and in bushes and forests. Therefore, infection usually occurs during outdoor activities, such as running, hiking or gardening. You can protect yourself from a tick bite with the following tips:

  • Cover your skin with clothing as much as possible. Ideally, wear light, long tops and pants. Tuck pant legs into your shoes when walking through grass.
  • Wear light-colored, smooth clothing if possible.
  • Wear sturdy shoes for outdoor excursions and avoid flip-flops, sandals and other open shoes.
  • Spray yourself with a tick repellent when you go out in nature. The agent can not prevent a tick bite 100 percent, but provides some protection for about two to three hours.

Special care in the tick season

Despite all protective measures, it can happen that a tick bites you. That is why you should thoroughly scan your body following outdoor activities. You should be especially mindful during the tick season from March to October. But you should also be careful during the rest of the year, because tick bites can occasionally occur even in the cold season. If you have discovered a tick on you, remove it as quickly as possible to keep the risk of infection low. Tips on how to remove ticks properly can be found here.