What is LYME DISEASE

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What is LYME DISEASE
Dr. Peter Dobie
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• Lyme disease is an illness caused by bacteria
  called Borellia that is transmitted to humans by
  tick bites. It is a common illness in Europe and
  the United States.
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• It is named after the town of Lyme, in
  Connecticut, USA, where the illness was first
  recognised.
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• It has now been shown conclusively that it is
  possible to pick up Lyme disease in Australia.

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It is very much under diagnosed in Australia.
There are possibly many thousands of people in
Australia suffering from this disease, but who
have not had the diagnosis made and who have not
been offered treatment.   Not many Australian
doctors are experienced in the diagnosis and
treatment of this disease.   Lyme disease can
cause a very wide range of symptoms and can be
difficult to diagnose. Not everyone with Lyme
can remember being bitten by a tick.
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The early symptoms of disease, occurring in the
first two or three weeks after the tick bite, can
include a skin rash (called a bulls- eye
rash), flu-like symptoms, joint pains, swollen
lymph nodes, fever and headache.   If left
untreated it can develop into a chronic infection
with a wide variety of symptoms, affecting many
organ systems, including the heart and brain.
Chronic Lyme disease can mimic the symptoms of
many other illnesses.
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• Symptoms of chronic Lyme can include headaches,
  joint pains, neck stiffness, photophobia
  (sensitivity to light), stomach problems,
  tinnitus (ringing in the ears), visual
  disturbances, palpitations, dizziness, impaired
  memory and concentration, seizures, severe
  fatigue, mood disturbances, and pins and needles
  in the hands and feet.
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• It can cause meningitis and encephalitis, and
  severe longstanding cases can have symptoms
  similar to neurological illnesses such a multiple
  sclerosis and motor neurone disease.

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• Lyme can be difficult to diagnose. The diagnosis
  is made primarily on the basis of the patients
  clinical history and symptoms, and physical
  examination. Laboratory tests can be used to
  confirm the diagnosis, but Lyme does not always
  show up on routine laboratory tests.
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• The main treatment for Lyme is antibiotics. These
  are usually given orally, but sometimes
  intravenous antibiotics are used.

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• The duration of antibiotic of treatment varies
  according to the individual case. Someone with
  recent onset of Lyme disease, within a few weeks
  of the tick bite, will probably need antibiotics
  for 6-8 weeks. On the other hand, a patient who
  has been suffering from this disease for 10 or 20
  years, and has had no prior treatment, may
  require antibiotics for 2 or 3 years.
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• Herbal medicines can also play a useful role in
  the treatment of Lyme, and can enhance the
  effectiveness of antibiotics.

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• Most Lyme experts consider however that it cannot
  be cured by herbal medicines alone, and that
  antibiotic must always be used.
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• A variety of nutritional supplements are also
  routinely recommended for patients.
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• There is strong evidence that Lyme can be passed
  on from mother to child in utero, and also by
  sexual contact.

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• Many patients with this disease also have what is
  commonly known as co-infections. These are
  other infections such as which can be transmitted
  by the tick bite, such as Babesia, Bartonella,
  Ricksettia and Ehrlichia, and which also require
  antibiotic treatment.
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Dr. Peter Dobie
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Thank You
Dr. Peter Dobie