Tuesday, March 12, 2024

Can Lyme Disease Cause Liver Damage

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Can Lyme Disease Cause Low Platelets In Dogs

Understanding the Persistent Symptoms in Lyme Disease | Johns Hopkins Medicine

Many essential oils, such as eucalyptus oil, tea tree oil, cinnamon, citrus, peppermint, pine, wintergreen, and ylang ylang are straight up toxic to pets. These are toxic whether they are applied to the skin, used in diffusers or licked up in the case of a spill. Can lyme disease in dogs cause low platelets?

Can Lyme Disease Be Prevented

There’s no sure way to avoid getting Lyme disease. But you can minimize your risk. Be aware of ticks when you’re in high-risk areas. If you work outdoors or spend time gardening, fishing, hunting, or camping, take precautions:

  • Wear closed shoes or boots, long-sleeved shirts, and long pants. Tuck your pant legs into your shoes or boots to prevent ticks from crawling up your legs.
  • Use an insect repellent containing 10% to 30% DEET .
  • Wear light-colored clothing to help you see ticks more easily.
  • Keep long hair pulled back or wear a hat for protection.
  • Don’t sit on the ground outside.
  • Check yourself for ticks regularly both indoors and outdoors. Wash your clothes and hair after leaving tick-infested areas.

If you use an insect repellent containing DEET, follow the directions on the product’s label and don’t overapply it. Place DEET on shirt collars and sleeves and pant cuffs, and only use it directly on exposed areas of skin. Be sure to wash it off when you go back indoors.

No vaccine for Lyme disease is currently on the market in the United States.

What Are The Side Effects Of Artemisinin In Humans

It can also interact with antacids, sucralfate, proton pump inhibitors, and histamine-receptor antagonists. It may also decrease the effectiveness of anti-seizure medications. Artemisinin has many applications as a supplement from global conditions of malaria and parasite treatment, to treating pain and inflammation.

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Can Lyme Disease Affect Kidney Function

Kidney disease can be a prevalent problem in patients who suffer from Lyme disease. In cases of chronic Lyme disease-induced kidney disease, the bacteria causes lesions on the kidneys, and can also cause glomerular disease.

Glomerular disease is a condition that causes red blood cells and proteins to leak out of the bloodstream and body and into the urinary tract. The condition can also cause the build-up of certain wastes because it damages the kidneys ability to rid the body properly of that waste.

Image by on The urinary system is designed to rid the body of waste, but what happens when its not doing its job?

Strategies For Managing Nerve Pain

Why Do Old Dogs Have Seizures?

1. Reduce Your Microbial Burden

When youre dealing with Lyme disease and co-infections, its not always easy to pinpoint which stealth pathogen is affecting your nervous system. In fact, its most reasonable to recognize that all sneaky microbes are capable of disrupting immune function and causing it to go awry.

When your bodys microbial burden becomes too great, your microbiome becomes imbalanced, driving inflammation and aggravating neuropathy. Thus, at the top of the priority list is decreasing the infectious load to normalize and calm the immune system.

When youre looking for natural solutions to lessen the impact of stealth pathogens, herbal therapy can play a critical role. Not only do herbs have antimicrobial properties, but they are anti-inflammatory and contain antioxidants as well.

Moreover, herbs dont disrupt the delicate balance of the microbiome like synthetics medications do. Some of my favorite herbs with antimicrobial and immunomodulating properties to keep in mind include:

2. Use Medications Cautiously

When it comes to neuropathy, the reality is that sometimes you need some extra support to get your pain levels to a tolerable level. There are a variety of over-the-counter and prescription medications that may be useful from time to time.

However, the value of medications is limited to short term management of symptoms because of cumulative side effects. The list of medications commonly recommended by healthcare providers includes:

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What Happens After A Tick Bite

Ticks can attach and feed in any part of the human body. The bite is painless. Because they are very tiny nymph bites are often overlooked. Borrelia are transmitted from the midgut of the infected tick to the attached skin when attachment lasts for 3648 hours.

Several things can happen after being bitten by an infected tick.

  • The body’s defence mechanisms can overwhelm and eliminate the infecting bacteria.
  • The bacteria can remain localised at the site of the bite and cause a localised skin infection.
  • The bacteria may disseminate via the blood and lymphatic system to other organs and cause a multisysteminflammatory disease.

Can Lyme Disease Cause Liver Problems In Dogs

In rare cases, the disease can progress to the point of attacking the dogs liver and kidneys, which can be fatal. This is why it is so important to be aware of your dogs behavior and get them tested for Lyme if you suspect they may have been exposed.

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What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Lyme Disease

The disease can be divided into three stages according to the extent of the infection.

Stage
333 days after a tick bite
  • Erythema migrans
  • ‘Flu-like illness with low-grade fever, chills, fatigue and joint pain
  • Borelial lymphocytoma red to blue patch on the earlobe, nipple or scrotum,
Early disseminated Lyme diseaseDays to weeks after a tick bite
  • Multiple eythema migrans, smaller than initial patch
  • Early neuroborreliosis
  • Facial or Bell palsy one sided paralysis of the facial muscles
  • Aseptic meningitis fever, severe headaches and neck stiffness
  • Polyradiculitis numbness and pain in arms or legs
  • Other cranial nerve palsies, mild encephalitis, peripheral neuritis
  • Arthritis painful and swollen large joints
  • Carditis abnormal heart rate
  • Progression is gradual over months to years
  • Progression is gradual over months to years
  • Late Lyme disease
    • Chronic Lyme arthritis in one or more large joints, mostly knee
    • Chronic neurological disorders such as:
    • Disorientation, confusion, dizziness, lack of concentration, short-term memory loss
    • Shooting pain, numbness extending to hands/arms and feet/legs.

    Can Lyme Disease Affect The Liver

    Think the Lyme Disease Rash is Always a Bull’s-eye? Think Again! | Johns Hopkins Rheumatology

    Lyme disease can affect many organs, and the liver is one of them. However, it is uncommon for Lyme disease to cause liver issues. Because different people will have varied immune responses to the borrelia bacteria infiltrating the body, there are many different health outcomes possible if someone has the infection. Research has found that as many as 40% of people with Lyme disease may have abnormal liver enzymes i.e. a potentially elevated level of enzymes to indicate inflammation or liver cell damage.

    One study found that the specific enzymes that were found to be abnormal in tests with people with Lyme disease were gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase and alanine aminotransferase. Gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase is a transport molecule, which means it is tasked with moving other molecules around the body. It helps the liver metabolize toxins and medications. Alanine aminotransferase helps the liver convert proteins into energy for liver cells. When the levels of these enzymes are affected because of the borrelia bacteria, the liver does not function as it should.

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    What Are The Symptoms Of Chronic Lyme Disease

    Home » Tick Talk » What Are the Symptoms of Chronic Lyme Disease?

    Despite some skepticism in the medical community, chronic Lyme disease is a growing epidemic in the U.S. This stems partly from the shortcomings of many of the officially recommended Lyme disease tests, which leave too many patients with untreated infections that then become persistent and debilitating.

    The following article will cover what you should know about chronic Lyme and provide an introductory but non-exhaustive chronic Lyme disease symptoms checklist.

    The Effects Of Lyme Disease On The Liver

    Lyme Disease

    • Lyme disease is caused by a bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi that ticks carry. Called deer ticks , the arachnids that carry the bacteria are very small and can often escape notice. When the ticks bite mice that have Lyme disease and then bite a human, the disease is transmitted. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , someone who has been bitten by a tick may not notice for a week or two that he has symptoms, which can include a flu-like feeling, a bulls-eye rash at the site of the tick bite and widespread joint pain. The disease is named for its 1975 discovery in children living in and around Lyme, Connecticut.

    Abnormal Liver Function

    • In an article published in 2003 in Hepatology Journal , 115 people were studied who presented with the tell-tale rash from a tick bite. More than 40 percent of the patients exhibited at least one liver abnormality, and 27 percent of patients had tests that returned more than one liver abnormality. Of those patients who contracted the secondary stage of Lyme disease , 66 percent had elevated liver function results. When the disease moves from the first stage to the second, the spirochetes that were restricted to the blood pass into the tissues, and the disease becomes chronic.

    Hepatitis

    Treatments

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    What Are The Symptoms Of Renal Problems Caused By Lyme Disease

    When Lyme disease causes glomerular disease in patients, the symptoms can be serious and debilitating. They include:

    • Edema in the face, hands, feet, and other parts of the body
    • Muscle and tissue loss caused by low amounts of protein in the blood
    • Kidney disease leading to tiredness, insomnia, weight loss, itchy skin
    • Blood in the urine

    These signs and symptoms need to be addressed immediately as they can lead to permanent damage to kidney function, which can cause seizures, coma, or in the worst cases, death.

    Other symptoms to look out for if you suspect the development of chronic kidney disease include:

    • Gastrointestinal issues such as nausea, vomiting, and appetite loss
    • Insomnia
    • Chest pain or shortness of breath from the build-up of fluids
    • Skin irritations such as pigmentation changes and unexplainable scratch marks
    • Hypertension
    • Muscle issues such as twitching and cramping
    • Cognitive decline
    • Chronic fatigue and widespread weakness

    How To Diagnose Neuropathy

    Lyme Disease and Co

    For most people, a diagnosis of neuropathy may be based upon a persons medical history, physical exam, lab work, and neurologic evaluation. The following tests can be useful to identify the condition, as well as rule out potential causes and contributing factors.

    • Neurologic Exam: During a neurologic exam, your doctorusually a neurologistassesses reflexes ability to feel sensations like hot, cold, and pain coordination balance muscle strength and muscle tone.
    • Blood Tests: Blood tests are run to assess nutritional deficiencies, organ function, toxins, and the presence of an atypical immune response.
    • Electrodiagnostic Tests : EDX testing checks how well the muscles and nerves are functioning by measuring their electrical activity, which assists in determining the extent of nerve damage. Two commonly used procedures are electromyography and nerve conduction velocity . During an EMG, small needle electrodes are inserted through the skin into the muscle to measure the electrical activity while the muscle is at rest, during a mild contraction, and during a powerful contraction. Frequently, the NVC will be completed at the same time as the EMG, which helps further assess the amount and speed with which an electrical impulse moves through a nerve.
    • Other Tests: The need for other testing will depend on the severity of your symptoms and could include specialized sensory testing, genetic testing, or a biopsy with tissue samples from a nerve, muscle, or skin.

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    Racial Differences In Incidence

    Lyme disease is reported primarily in whites, although it occurs in individuals of all races. No genetic explanation is known for this the disparity most likely stems from social or environmental factors and possibly to the fact that erythema migrans is more difficult to diagnose in dark-skinned individuals.

    Treatment For Chronic Lyme Disease

    Sometimes, people go through treatment for Lyme disease but their symptoms donât go away. If this lasts over 6 months, itâs known as chronic Lyme disease or âpost-treatment Lyme disease syndromeâ .

    Doctors still arenât sure why some people get PTLDS. Some believe that getting Lyme disease may cause damage to your tissues or immune system. Others believe itâs because the bacteria that causes Lyme hasnât completely gone away.

    There is little evidence that taking more antibiotics at this stage will help. They may actually be harmful. Instead, your doctor will focus on treating the symptoms youâre still having. This will be different for everyone. Some people could benefit from a medicine that relieves fatigue, while others may need a drug that can help with headaches or very sensitive skin.

    Your doctor could also have you try a treatment that helps people with chronic fatigue syndrome or fibromyalgia.

    More research is needed to figure out how best to treat PTLDS. Itâs something that can be frustrating. Just remember: Many people who have this condition do start feeling like their old selves after a few months.

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    Symptoms Of Late Stage Lyme Disease

    The CDC reports that late stage Lyme disease may appear days to months after the initial tick bite and may include but are not limited to:

    • Severe headaches and neck stiffness
    • Additional EM rashes in new places on the body
    • Facial palsy, also known as Bells palsy paralysis of one side of the face
    • Arthritis or joint pain and swelling, especially of large joints
    • Intermittent tendon, muscle, joint, nerve, or bone pain
    • Heart palpitations or arrhythmia
    • Dizziness or shortness of breath
    • Inflammation of the brain or spinal cord
    • Shooting pains, numbness, or tingling in the hands or feet

    As mentioned above, late stage Lyme may also be characterized by the recurrence of early stage symptoms, such as fatigue.

    Symptoms Check Out? Get Tested. Get Answers.

    Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

    Lyme Nephritis/Kidney Failure Secondary to Lyme Disease in a Dog

    This bacterial infection hits fewer than 3,000 people a year — and if itâs not found early, it can cause serious illness and long-term health problems. Symptoms usually show up 2 days to 2 weeks after a tick bite. It causes fever, headaches, vomiting, stomach pain, red eyes, and sore muscles. Most people also get a red splotchy rash that starts on their ankles or wrists. It usually shows up several days after other symptoms.

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    Herpes Simplex Virus And Other Herpes Viruses

    The pathogenesis of HSV hepatitis remains speculative and proposed mechanisms include a large inoculum of HSV, an impaired immune response including possible hypersensitivity reactions, enhanced virulence of certain HSV strains and directly viral cytopathy.

    Early treatment with acyclovir appears to be associated with improved survival, reinforcing the need to establish the diagnosis promptly. In one review of treated cases, 13 of 21 patients survived. Given the severity of this syndrome, some authors recommend treatment with acyclovir at a dose of 10mg/kg IV every 8 hours.

    How Do I Remove A Tick

    You should know how to remove a tick just in case one lands on you or a friend. To be safe, remove the tick as soon as possible.

    If you find a tick:

    • Use tweezers to grasp the tick firmly at its head or mouth, next to your skin.
    • Pull firmly and steadily on the tick until it lets go of the skin. If part of the tick stays in your skin, don’t worry. It will eventually come out. But call your doctor if you notice any irritation in the area or symptoms of Lyme disease.
    • Swab the bite site with alcohol.

    Note: Don’t use petroleum jelly or a lit match to kill a tick. They won’t get the tick off your skin quickly enough, and may just cause it to burrow deeper into your skin.

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    Severe Hyperbilirubinemia: A Rare Complication Of Lyme Disease

    Lin Zheng

    1Internal Medicine Residency Program, Inspira Medical Center in Vineland, Vineland, NJ 08360, USA

    2Division of Hospital Medicine, Department of Medicine, Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, Camden, NJ 08103, USA

    Abstract

    Gastrointestinal signs and symptoms are common in the early stages of Lyme disease. However, hyperbilirubinemia from Lyme disease is extremely uncommon. There are only two case reports in literature attributing Lyme disease to hyperbilirubinemia. Here we report a case of severe hyperbilirubinemia as the presenting symptom of Lyme disease. Other plausible etiologies have been ruled out after extensive workups, including liver biopsy. His hyperbilirubinemia gradually resolved after being started on doxycycline. With high incidence of Lyme disease, it should be considered for patients who present with hyperbilirubinemia in endemic areas with possible tick exposure.

    1. Introduction

    Lyme disease is a multisystemic infection caused by the tick-borne spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi. Gastrointestinal involvement, such as acute hepatitis, could present in the early stages of Lyme disease . However, hyperbilirubinemia secondary to Lyme disease is extremely uncommon. There are only two case reports in literature attributing Lyme disease to hyperbilirubinemia one of which was in a pediatric patient . Here we present a rare case of hyperbilirubinemia secondary to Lyme disease.

    2. Case Presentation

    3. Discussion

    Conflicts of Interest

    Inspection And Tick Removal

    Does Liver Disease Affect Memory

    Because recommendations for avoidance are not always practical, particularly for children and during the summer, daily close inspection for ticks should be performed each time one has been outdoors. Parents of children in endemic areas must be vigilant to check for ticksespecially the nymphs, because of their smaller size from the spring to the fall. Checking inside skin folds, behind ears, the umbilicus, groin, axilla, hairline, and scalp must be routine. If one tick is found, search thoroughly for others.

    See the image below for a tick removal diagram and instructions.

    While these instructions may represent the optimal method for removing the tick, it is more important to remove it promptly than to delay removing it while obtaining forceps or gloves.

    A common misperception is that pressing a hot match to the tick or trying to smother it with petroleum jelly, gasoline, nail polish, or other noxious substances is beneficial. This only prolongs exposure time and may cause the tick to eject infectious organisms into the body. Finally, do not squeeze, crush, or puncture the body of the tick because its fluids may contain infectious organisms.

    Once the tick is removed, wash the bite area with soap and water or with an antiseptic to destroy any contaminating microorganisms. Additionally, the person who removed the tick should wash his or her hands. The removed tick should be submitted for species identification.

    • N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide
    • 2-Undecanone
    • Permethrin

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