Thursday, March 28, 2024

Type Of Doctor For Lyme Disease

Must read

Is The Western Blot Test A Valid Form Of Testing

CDC adds disclaimer allowing doctors to rely on Lyme Disease patients rather than data

The western blot test involves separating blood proteins to find those that suggest an infection is present. The answer to the above question is difficult to answer. Too many false negatives exist. Therefore, the western blot test should not be considered the only indicator of whether someone has Lyme disease. Even with adding theC6 peptide ELISA with the two-tiered western blot, the sensitivity for identifying Lyme improves only slightly.

Tick Season In Eastern Us Brings Risk Of Lyme Disease

Lyme disease is named after a town in Connecticut where a number of people first experienced symptoms caused by a certain bacteria transmitted by way of deer ticks. The condition is most prevalent during the warm weather months in the eastern United States, particularly the mid-Atlantic and New England regions and areas that are heavily wooded.

When a tick bites a human, the tick may or may not transmit disease. Usually the tick must latch on or be embedded in the skin for more than 36 hours in order for the person to contract Lyme disease. Once the tick is removed, the tick bite itself looks like a small red bump. A person may or may not have any symptoms for a few days or even as much as 30 days later.

One of the most obvious signs of Lyme disease is a rash that may start to look like a bulls-eye, with a red blotch in the middle, then a white ring then a red ring.

Other symptoms may include:

  • Facial palsy
  • Flu-like symptoms, such as fever, chills, headache
  • Severe joint pain or swelling, especially in the knees and large joints
  • Swollen lymph nodes

New Tool Emerging In Fight Against Lyme Disease

As black-legged ticks crawl their way across Michigan, scientists hope a new vaccine in development could make their presence less menacing.

The vaccine would rob the ticks of a trait that makes them exceptional vectors for Lyme disease: the ability to bite and suck blood without notice, latching on long enough to pass bacteria to their host human.

“Have you ever heard of anybody swatting at a tick bite?” said Dr. Erol Fikrig, an infectious disease researcher and professor at the Yale School of Medicine who is working on the vaccine development. “No. A tick is silent. It feeds on you for a long period of time.”

Fikrig hopes the vaccine will cause a person to develop a physical reaction to bites from a black-legged tick, also known as a deer tick, the species that carries Lyme disease bacteria.

In a vaccinated person, the skin around a black-legged tick bite would become itchy, visible and inflamed, similar to what happens around a mosquito bite. The reaction would give someone a chance to remove a tick before it has time to transmit Lyme.

“There are very few people who are going to look at a tick bite, find a tick on them and let it remain,” Fikrig said. “They’ll pull it off quite quickly.”

A vaccine that targets tick bites has a benefit over a vaccine that targets Lyme disease, since black-legged ticks can carry more bacterium than the one that causes Lyme disease, said Jean Tsao, a Michigan State University associate professor and tick expert.

Explore further

Read Also: How Does Lyme Disease Spread

What Makes Yale Medicine’s Approach To Lyme Disease Unique

The discovery of Lyme disease is actually credited to two Yale physiciansAllan Steere, MD, and Stephen Malawista, MDwho identified the mysterious inflammatory disease after a rash of illnesses cropped up during the summer of 1975. That year, two mothers living in Old Lyme, Conn., refused to accept the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis among the children living in their town.

The mothers reached out to the Connecticut State Department of Health and the Yale School of Medicine for help, starting an epidemiological study that would ultimately uncover the bacterial infection transmitted by ticks. Today, doctors in Yale Medicines neurology department provide care for patients who have infections that affect the nervous system.

Thanks to a powerful partnership with research programs at Yale Medicine, patients benefit from the most recent advantages in treatment.

Diagnosis And Treatment Of Lyme Disease

Lyme Disease Treatment Options, Causes, How to Prevent ...

To diagnose the condition, your doctor will perform a complete physical exam and review of your medical history while also assessing your risk for Lymes, such as spending a lot of time outdoors in tick-infested areas. He or she may also recommend a blood test for the antibodies of Lyme disease. Because it often takes a few weeks for your body to produce antibodies , your test may come back negative at first.

Lyme disease can progress and be very difficult to treat, sometimes causing chronic symptoms. If diagnosed and treated early, however, treatment is generally successful with antibiotics.

Prevention remains the best cure so its important to practice safe habits when working or playing in areas where Lyme disease is common. This includes wearing DEET skin and clothing protection, checking for ticks after being outdoors, showering within a few hours of being out in tick areas, and washing any clothing or bags that may have brought ticks in from outdoors. Be sure to check your outdoor animals for ticks as well.

To schedule an appointment with a specialist at Main Line Health, or use our secure online appointment request form.

Don’t Miss: What Are The Effects Of Lyme Disease In Dogs

> > > Best Hair Loss Solution Available

Another way to treat hair loss is to undergo a surgical procedure. This is a surgery that uses a small piece of scalp, which contains hair follicles. The procedure is expensive and is not covered by insurance. If the balding area is large, it may not be possible to find sufficient hair for transplant. This method requires two surgeries, so the cost can vary from person to person. The surgery can be covered by your insurance provider, but it is not cheap.

Surgical procedures to correct the underlying problem are available as well. In some cases, doctors may use birth control pills, hormone replacement therapy, or antiandrogen medications to correct the hormonal imbalances. If the cause of your hair loss is a psychiatric disorder, you will need to consult with a doctor to determine the best treatment options for you. Sometimes, you may need to undergo more than one surgery, so it is best to seek help from a dermatologist.

The first step in treating hair loss is to see a doctor. Your physician will run a blood test to determine the cause of your hair loss. This will help you choose the most effective treatment. Your doctor may prescribe a medication to stop your hair growth. Patients with psychiatric problems may also require special consultations and treatments. A therapist will be able to help you deal with your underlying psychiatric condition.

Symptoms Of Lyme Disease

There are some clear signs that you may notice if your pet has been affected by Lyme disease. Clear symptoms include:

  • fever
  • lack of appetite

If you notice that your pet is exhibiting any of the symptoms of Lyme disease, take a visit to our Chandler vet right away. Fast action can make a huge difference when it comes to your pets health. Lyme disease is typically treatable using antibiotics, but additional treatment may be necessary depending on your pets unique health needs. Lameness may also be recurring, and joint pain can persist indefinitely. Talk to our Chandler vet to find out how you can help ease your pets discomfort after being diagnosed and treated for Lyme disease.

Horses with Lyme disease may also experience additional symptoms, including:

  • persistent lameness
  • eye problems
  • dermatitis

To properly diagnose an animal with Lyme disease, a blood test will need to be administered. Talk to our Chandler vet about confirming your pets Lyme disease diagnosis. Follow up care will be determined after your pets condition has been properly evaluated.

Also Check: Best Infrared Sauna For Lyme Disease

Strategies For Finding A Good Lyme Doctor

The first thing I did after my Lyme diagnosis was spend as much time and mental energy as I could researching Lyme disease. I needed to understand a little more what treatment options were available and how they compared.

I had a general idea that I wanted to find a good integrative LLMD to help guide me through the treatment process. I wanted a doctor who would take the best that modern medicine has to offer while also understanding what other alternative treatment modalities could bring to the table.

  • Determine what kind of treatment you want to pursue. Are you looking for a doctor who leans primarily on antibiotics and prescription medications? One who primarily uses alternative treatments? Or a doctor who uses both?
  • Collect names of potential doctors using reputable websites. There are several websites that will give you referrals for LLMDs. Some of my favorites are the following:
  • Lyme Disease Associate Doctor Referral
  • State-Specific Lyme Facebook Groups
  • Check the doctors out. Dont just go with the first Lyme doctor you find. Since most good LLMDs dont accept insurance, youll want to make sure youre not wasting your money or time on a dud.
  • Look for doctor reviews online or in online forums.
  • Join Lyme groups on Facebook and ask about the doctors youre considering.
  • Find local Lyme support groups to attend where youll be able to ask about the doctors people are seeing and learn what their track record is.
  • Good luck on your doctor search!

    A Pioneer In Lyme Disease

    How Do Doctors Treat Lyme Disease?

    Our program is led by Allen Steere, MD, one of the world’s foremost experts on Lyme disease. Dr. Steere discovered the illness in 1976 and laid the foundation for understanding the many manifestations of the disease, including Lyme arthritis .

    Today, Dr. Steere is researching why some patients with Lyme arthritis have persistent joint inflammation after using antibiotic therapy to eliminate the Lyme disease bacterium. This research is leading to improved diagnostic and treatment capabilities for such patients.

    Read Also: Monastery Of Herbs Lyme Disease

    What Is The Treatment

    Most cases of Lyme disease can be effectively treated with 2 to 4 weeks of antibiotics. Depending on the symptoms and when you were diagnosed, you may require a longer course or repeat treatment with antibiotics.

    Some people experience symptoms that continue more than 6 months after treatment. Research continues into the causes of these persistent symptoms and possible treatment methods.

    Be Prepared For Your Doctor Visit

    You can improve your chances of having an accurate diagnosis and effective treatment by providing your doctor with as much information as you can from the very start. The following checklist can be a good reminder of what to bring and discuss with your physician at your first visit:

    • Have the tick tested and/or identified:If you were able to remove or find the tick that bit you, seal it in a glass or plastic container and consider sending it to IGeneX for testing. Additionally, photograph the tick and/or have the species identified ahead of time if possible. Knowing what kind of tick bit you and, in particular, whether it has tested positive for a tick-borne disease can be extremely helpful for your doctors diagnostic process. If the tick is still being tested when you see your doctor, you still may be able to start treatment based on the severity of your symptoms.
    • Note possible exposure: Write down the places and dates that you believe you were exposed to ticksand the possible date and time of day when the engorged tick attached and fell off or was removed.
    • Track your symptoms: Keep a running log of all symptoms youve noticed since the tick bite, even if youre no longer experiencing them. Be sure to include the days/times when symptoms appeared . For additional help, you can use IGeneXs Symptom Checker.
    • Take pictures: Take pictures of any rashes or blisters that you may have noticed at the site of the tick bite or elsewhere on your body.

    Read Also: Lyme Disease Specialist Raleigh Nc

    Is There Such A Thing As Chronic Lyme Disease

    Chronic Lyme disease is considered controversial. Patients who are finally diagnosed with CLD are often discouraged, to say the least, with the medical community. It often takes years to be diagnosed, and that is if they run across a Lyme-literate doctor. With Google at peoples fingertips, more patients are being diagnosed and treated than ever before. But the controversy keeps escalating. Many traditional doctors do not believe in CLD. And, if they do, they frown upon long-term antibiotic therapy. This is where Dr. Dane agrees with the more widespread medical community.

    Knowing that spirochete populations can cause nerve damage in the body, the question that must be asked is, Can Lyme disease lead to brain disorders? The simple answer is a resounding yes. Some research suggests links between Lyme disease and Parkinsons, multiple sclerosis, autism, dementia, and a range of other psychiatric conditions.

    Lyme Disease In An African American Child With Downs Syndrome

    The Different Types of Doctors Who Can Test for Lyme ...

    Welcome to another Inside Lyme Podcast with your host Dr. Daniel Cameron. In this episode, Dr. Cameron discusses the case of a 3-year-old African American child with Downs syndrome, developmental delays and disseminated Lyme disease. By Dr. Daniel Cameron “A case of disseminated Lyme disease in a child with skin of color” was published by Bax and colleagues in the journal Pediatric Dermatology.¹ The child, who had trisomy 21 (Downs

    Don’t Miss: Where Can You Get A Lyme Disease Test

    How Lyme Disease Is Spread

    Lyme disease is spread through a bite from a blacklegged tick that is infected with Borrelia burgdorferi. This type of tick is specifically found in the following areas:

    • Northeast and mid-Atlantic, from Virginia to Maine
    • North central states, mostly Wisconsin and Minnesota
    • West Coast, particularly in northern California

    These types of ticks are found most often in wooded and grassy areas. Staying away from these areas can help keep your pet safe from harm, but there are other ways to prevent Lyme disease in your pet. Vaccinations are available to help build your pets immunity, and some flea & tick treatments can protect them from infections. There are various species-specific tick treatments, and they may also vary in how they are administered. Our team can help you identify which option would be right for your pet.

    Infectious Disease Specialist & Internist Located In Hoboken Nj

    According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, studies suggest that the number of people diagnosed with Lyme disease each year in the United States is around 300,000. If youre bitten and experience unexplained joint pain and fatigue, schedule an evaluation at Advanced Infectious Disease Medical in Hoboken, New Jersey. Avisheh Forouzesh, MD, specializes in diagnosing and treating Lyme disease. Her office is well-equipped to remove ticks, test for Lyme disease, and treat existing infections. Learn more about treatment options for Lyme disease by calling the Hoboken office or using the online booking feature.

    You May Like: Where Can I Go To Get Tested For Lyme Disease

    What Are Complications Of Lyme Disease

    Lyme disease can be complicated by permanent damage to joints, the heart, the brain, and the nervous system. There is recent research that demonstrates an increased risk for autoimmune forms of arthritis, including

    Medically Reviewed on 12/22/2021N Engl J MedPrimer on the Rheumatic DiseasesN Engl J MedAmerican Academy of Family Physicians

    Request Your Consultation Today

    Lyme Disease Testing What Your Doctor is Missing

    If you or someone you know is suffering from any of the aforementioned symptoms, and have been unsuccessful in finding effective treatment or lasting relief, Dr. Heyman treats patients at his integrative medicine practice: the Virginia Center for Health and Wellness in Aldie, Virginia. For an appointment with Dr. Heyman, please call & phone , or contact us online today.

    Read Also: How Do They Treat Lyme Disease

    Misdiagnosis Of Lyme Disease Chest Pain

    When doctors examine a person with heart-related symptoms, their first thought is not often Lyme disease. If they do not test for Lyme disease, symptoms are often misdiagnosed. Chest pain is associated with many other medication conditions, like strained chest muscles, broken ribs, ulcers, and heartburn.

    Other conditions with Lyme disease chest pain symptoms include:

    • Asthmas
    • Angina
    • High blood pressure

    The list doesnt end there. Doctors may misdiagnose Lyme disease chest pain for symptoms related to diabetes, gastritis, hyperthyroid, lupus, shingles, scleroderma, aortic dissection or stenosis, and pulmonary embolism.

    What Kind Of Doctor Tests For Lyme Disease

    In fact, any kind of doctor can test you for Lyme disease. However, that doesnt mean its a good idea to have your dermatologist or podiatrist order the diagnostic tests. Many people simply see their family physician or primary care doctor to get diagnosed and treated for Lyme.

    There are also doctors who specialize in Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses, called Lyme-literate doctors, who you may want to consult instead more on that a little later in this article.

    Finally, there are other types of specialists you may or may not need to consult with depending on the duration and severity of your symptoms.

    For example, many patients wonder if they need to see an infectious disease specialist.

    Also Check: What To Do If You Have Lyme Disease

    Lyme Disease Frequently Asked Questions

    If you have not done so already, remove the tick with fine-tipped tweezers.

    The chances that you might get Lyme disease from a single tick bite depend on the type of tick, where you acquired it, and how long it was attached to you. Many types of ticks bite people in the U.S., but only blacklegged ticks transmit the bacteria that cause Lyme disease. Furthermore, only blacklegged ticks in the highly endemic areas of the northeastern and north central U.S. are commonly infected. Finally, blacklegged ticks need to be attached for at least 24 hours before they can transmit Lyme disease. This is why its so important to remove them promptly and to check your body daily for ticks if you live in an endemic area.

    If you develop illness within a few weeks of a tick bite, see your health care provider right away. Common symptoms of Lyme disease include a rash, fever, body aches, facial paralysis, and arthritis. Ticks can also transmit other diseases, so its important to be alert for any illness that follows a tick bite.

    References:

    Moody KD, Barthold SW, 1991. Relative infectivity of Borrelia burgdorferi in Lewis rats by various routes of inoculation.external iconAm J Trop Med Hyg 44: 135-9.

    There are no reports of Lyme disease being spread to infants through breast milk. If you are diagnosed with Lyme disease and are also breastfeeding, make sure that your doctor knows this so that he or she can prescribe an antibiotic thats safe for use when breastfeeding.

    More articles

    Popular Articles