Lyme disease

There are 3 different stages in the course of the disease: Stage 1 (local early manifestation with an incubation period of 5-29 days) Stage 2 (early disseminated infection with an incubation period of weeks to months) Stage 3 (late disseminated infection with an incubation period of months to years) Only 50% of the affected persons show an erythema migrans at the beginning (clear indication of Lyme disease) Not every stage must be passed through, stages can be skipped.

Erythema migrans
Discomfort
Lassitude
Fever
Headaches
Joint and muscle pain
Lymph node swelling
Acute neuroborreliosis (infestation of the nervous system with paresis of various muscles, e.g. facial paresis and meningitis signs)
Heart muscle inflammation
Joint inflammation with joint swelling
Skin changes, especially on the extensor sides of the extremities (acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans)
Chronic neuroborreliosis with advancing encephalitis/encephalomyelitis

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection and can therefore be treated well with antibiotics. The antibiotic of choice is doxycycline, which must be taken for two weeks.

The earlier the therapy is administered, the better the prognosis. Frequently, there is a complete regression of the symptoms. If neurological deficits are already present, pareses can remain despite therapy.

The erythema migrans can either disappear on its own or as part of an antibacterial therapy. The disappearance of the rash does not have to be a sign of healing. The infection may nevertheless have spread in the body (disseminated form of Lyme disease), but this is very rarely the case.

A therapy at the beginning of an infection often leads to healing of the Lyme disease. The prognosis is therefore good. If the Lyme disease has already spread unnoticed to the nervous system, the therapy may be more difficult and a complete cure may not always be achieved

TBE

When infected with the TBE virus, 90% of people show no symptoms. In only 10% of cases, flu-like symptoms occur after an incubation period of about 7-14 days. After a subsequent fever-free interval, there is usually a renewed rise in fever with signs of inflammation of the brain and meninges (meningoencephalitis).

You can find more about the course of the disease here: TBEEAn infection with the TBE virus can only be treated symptomatically with painkillers and antipyretic drugs (ibuprofen or paracetamol). In contrast to Lyme disease, however, TBE vaccination can be used to protect against the disease. In most cases, the disease progresses without complications and heals without consequences.

Depending on the severity of the symptoms and especially if all brain structures are involved (meninges, brain matter and possibly spinal cord), symptoms such as headaches, paralysis, etc. may last longer or persist for a long time. In very rare cases, TBE can be fatal (in about 1% of cases).