Brain Lesions & Lymes Disease

Lyme disease is a tick-borne illness that can affect everyone from the very young to the elderly. Even animals can carry it. A spiral-shaped bacterium called a spirochete is the cause of Lyme disease. Spirochetes are known for being difficult to detect and for their ability to imitate other illnesses. These factors cause great difficulty in getting a diagnosis for Lyme disease.

History

• The cause of Lyme disease is the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi, and was first isolated from a deer tick in 1981. Cases have been recorded since sometime in the 1880s. The disease has been reported in all 50 states, China, Europe, Japan and many other countries. In the United States, it is most common in the Northeast, from Maine to Maryland.

Causes

• Certain kinds of ticks associated with deer house the bacteria in their stomach and spread the disease when they bite skin. The bite is the source of infection, and permits the bacteria to infect the rest of the body. Lyme disease is not contagious, as it is the result of an infected bite.

Symptoms

• Every aspect of the body can be affected by Lyme disease. Abnormalities in the skin, joints, circulatory system and nervous system are most common. As the bacteria spread from the bite, a rash and flu-like symptoms may develop. Later stages of the disease bring localized skin infection and increasingly serious side effects. The bite is often surrounded by a red ring, referred to as a "bull's-eye." Patients often won't remember a tick bite, and as many as one in four will not experience the rash, making diagnosis more difficult.

Lyme Disease and Brain Lesions

• A brain lesion is an area of injury or disease in the brain. The lesion can be caused by a range or sources, including injury, infection and immune problems. The cause is not always known. Brain lesions can be associated with Lyme disease, but are not always present. Some people experience mild lesions while others are more severe.

Three Phases

• 1. Early localized disease: Occurs early on, presents with skin inflammation.
  2. Early disseminated disease: Heart and nervous system become affected. Can include palsies and meningitis.
  3. Late disease: Motor and sensory nerve damage, brain inflammation and arthritis. Some sufferers begin to develop brain lesions.

Treatment

• An antibiotic such as doxycycline or amoxicillin can be prescribed by a physician once a diagnosis has been reached. For early stages, treatment is effective, and symptoms will subside within two or three weeks. Time is important. The earlier the treatment is started after infection, the quicker and more completely a patient will recover. If treatment is not begun until later symptoms begin, prolonged recovery time and additional treatment may be necessary.