About Bulls Eye Lyme Disease

Lyme disease is caused by a deer tick. The disease has serious health consequences. If you suspect you have Lyme disease, consult with your physician to determine the plan of treatment.

Early Symptoms

It sometimes appears as a "bulls eye" rash or forms a circle around the tick bite for 80 percent of individuals. This rash can vary in size and appearance and sometimes is not located at the site of the tick bite. Some individuals may have flu-like symptoms with the rash, while others may have a fever,fatigue, stiff neck or a general feeling of being ill. Early symptoms can last for four to six months.

Later Symptoms

If early symptoms listed above are missed, later symptoms might include dizziness, joint pain, nervous system disorders or chronic memory loss. Later symptoms can appear on and off for years. Treatment could last for one to four years and clear. Then a relapse could appear again years later.

Prevention/Solution

For prevention, avoid heavily wooded areas. Wear long sleeved shirts and long pants. Apply tick repellent. Remove brush, wood and leaf piles on your property and surrounding your home, so ticks cannot find a place to live. Also a Lyme disease vaccine is available.

Testing

There are blood tests available for diagnosis, also a spinal tap can reveal the disease. SPECT (single photo emission tomography, a 2-D or 3-D image) reveals patterns in the brain that could indicate if Lyme disease is affecting the central nervous system.

Misconceptions

Sometimes a circle type rash is easy to confuse with ringworm. Consulting your physician will help to pinpoint your symptoms and obtain a proper diagnosis. Some individuals may think it is not Lyme disease because they are one of the 20 percent of individuals who do not have a rash. Consult a physician if you are experiencing other symptoms.

Treatment

With early detection, a few weeks of antibiotic would be the treatment. Later stage Lyme disease can be disabling and difficult to treat. Corticosterol or minocycline injections have been helpful. Alternative medicines include bee venom.