Borreliosis is a dangerous disease infectious origin. The pathogen is transmitted by ticks. By the way, the disease is rightfully considered dangerous, since the lack of timely assistance leads to the development dangerous complications. At the same time, diagnosing the disease is fraught with a lot of difficulties, because the clinical picture is sometimes blurred and it is difficult for the doctor to connect all the symptoms together.
Many patients are interested in additional information about this disease. How can you catch an infection? What symptoms should you pay attention to? Is treatment of borreliosis with antibiotics effective? Are there effective preventive measures? The answers to these questions are important to many readers.
The causes and treatment of borreliosis with antibiotics is information that many people are interested in. But first, it’s worth understanding what the disease is. Borreliosis is an infectious disease caused by Borrelia, a spirochete.
This bacterium lives in the intestines of ticks - it is through the bite of this insect that pathogenic microorganisms enter the human blood. Typically, symptoms begin to appear 7-14 days after the bite. The disease affects almost the entire body, including the nervous system, skin, musculoskeletal system, heart.
Before considering treatment of borreliosis with antibiotics, it is worth learning more about the ways the infection enters the body. As already mentioned, spirochetes live in the digestive tract of ticks - they enter the human body along with saliva during a bite. But this is not the only route of infection.
The pathogen is released from the insect's grass tube along with feces. It can enter the human body through microtraumas on the skin, which happens when scratching the bite site. If the tick's body is accidentally damaged during removal, borrelia can enter the blood through the skin.
Symptoms and treatment of borreliosis with antibiotics is information that is of interest to many. To begin with, it is worth understanding some features of the clinical picture.
The site of the tick bite usually becomes red and swollen. The formed spot becomes larger, erythema forms on the skin, the diameter of which sometimes reaches 60 cm. The affected area often itches and becomes hot. Patients complain of loss of sensitivity and a feeling of tight skin.
There are also other symptoms of intoxication, in particular, fever, aching joints, headaches, severe weakness, and discomfort in the muscles. Patients also note a sore throat, annoying cough, frequent occurrence nausea. Upon examination, you may notice an increase in lymph nodes.
If the patient has not been provided with adequate treatment, the disease enters the second stage of development. Pathogenic microorganisms enter the bloodstream and settle in various organs. Often the infection affects the nervous system, which is accompanied by impaired sensitivity and coordination, and weakened reflexes. Sometimes patients complain of problems with sleep, impaired perception of sound and light, and decreased concentration.
The disease also negatively affects work cardiovascular system. Patients experience disturbances in heart rhythm and conduction, and patients often suffer from severe chest pain.
Other symptoms are also present. In particular, infected people often complain of pain in the joints and muscles. Red spots (erythema) appear on the skin.
After 3-6 months (sometimes a year), the disease progresses to chronic stage, which is very difficult to treat. Periodically, the disease is activated, after which a stage of remission occurs, but even during periods of relative well-being, problems with the heart, joints, and nervous system are present.
You should consult a doctor as soon as possible if you are bitten by a tick. Borreliosis (antibiotic treatment will be described below) is accompanied by the appearance of some symptoms. To begin with, the doctor, of course, will collect anamnesis, and then examine the bite site for the presence of characteristic erythema (redness).
However, the presence of the disease can only be confirmed in laboratory conditions. That is why, after a bite, experts recommend saving the dead tick - this way doctors will have the opportunity to conduct the necessary tests and identify Borrelia (pathogens do not live in every insect of this species).
What does therapy look like for a disease such as tick-borne borreliosis? Treatment with antibiotics in this case necessary. But this is a serious pathology that requires an integrated approach. Therapy in this case pursues several goals.
You should not ignore such a serious disease as borreliosis. Treatment with antibiotics and other drugs helps cope with the symptoms of the disease. But the treatment regimen is always drawn up individually.
Immediately after a bite you should consult a doctor. If there is reason to suspect the presence of an infection, then it is necessary to immediately begin therapy. Treatment of borreliosis with antibiotics after a tick bite (in this case we are talking about the first 2-3 days) includes the use of drugs such as:
Timely injections of these drugs do not guarantee complete safety of the patient - therapy does not end there. Nevertheless, timely use of these antibiotics halves the likelihood of further development of the disease with all associated complications.
It is worth saying right away that self-medication is strictly prohibited. Only a doctor can diagnose a disease such as borreliosis. Treatment with antibiotics (Doxycycline is often used for this disease) should be supervised by a specialist. Drugs are selected individually depending on the patient’s condition and sensitivity pathogenic bacteria to one means or another.
Therapy should be started as soon as possible after a tick bite. If the patient has no symptoms of damage to the joints, muscles, heart and nervous system, then the doctor prescribes “Tetracycline” or its analogues (with the same active ingredients). This drug reduces the risk of developing complications from the central nervous system.
If there is erythema or redness on the skin, then Doxycycline is also added to the treatment regimen. This therapy helps to quickly get rid of red spots on the body. If the patient complains of muscle pain and constant weakness, he may additionally be prescribed penicillin-based antibacterial agents.
The dosage depends on the patient’s condition, as well as the form of the drug (tablets, capsules, injection solutions). It is not recommended to reduce the amount of the drug or the number of doses even after the main symptoms have begun to disappear. It is important to maintain the required concentration in the body at all times. antibacterial substances- This is the only way to get rid of the infection.
It is worth noting that in most cases such therapy lasts about 2-3 weeks. Of course, antibiotics have a negative effect on the body, in particular the digestive tract. That is why, during and after treatment, patients are also recommended to take medications to protect liver cells (Essentiale) and products containing live strains of beneficial lacto- and bifidobacteria (Linex, Bifiform). In addition, the patient is required to follow a gentle diet - the diet should be as rich in vitamins as possible and include easily digestible foods.
It makes no sense to prescribe the above-mentioned antibacterial agents at the second or third stage, since there will be no effect from the therapy.
What to do when neglected form such a disease as borreliosis? Antibiotic treatment in adults may include the following drugs:
During the entire period, the patient must remain registered and undergo regular medical examinations and pass necessary tests. This way, the doctor will have the opportunity to detect the presence of complications in time and change the treatment regimen.
What to do if you are diagnosed with borreliosis? Antibiotic treatment in adults gives good results. At home, the effect of therapy can be enhanced by adjusting your diet - you should include citrus fruits, herbs, blueberries, currants, cucumbers and other foods rich in vitamins in your diet. Such food helps strengthen the immune system, and this, in turn, helps the body cope with infection and its consequences.
You can also prepare a healing decoction. To do this, you need to pour boiling water over a teaspoon of wild strawberry leaves, then cover the container and let the liquid brew for four hours. You need to take the strained infusion two tablespoons three times a day before meals.
It is worth understanding that folk remedies can only be used as adjuvant therapy. Herbs help relieve soreness and inflammation. But in no case should you refuse the help of a doctor if you have a disease such as borreliosis. Treatment with antibiotics in this case is necessary. Without treatment, the disease quickly progresses and leads to the development of dangerous, sometimes even fatal, consequences.
In fact, borreliosis (or Lyme disease) in childhood difficult to bear. The danger lies primarily in late diagnosis. The fact is that it is not always possible to tell a child that he has been bitten by a tick - young patients rarely pay attention to this. Moreover, redness on the skin can easily be confused with an allergy, and general weakness with a cold. That is why parents take their child to the doctor at a later stage.
Nevertheless, quite often in modern pediatrics they are faced with such a problem as borreliosis. Treatment with antibiotics in children is associated with some difficulties, because these are quite aggressive drugs that can harm the growing body. Medicines must be selected very carefully.
For example, Doxycycline, which is often used in the treatment of borreliosis, has age restrictions - it cannot be prescribed to children under nine years of age. Instead, the child is prescribed drugs such as Flemoxin or Amoxil.
If a child spends a lot of time in a field, forest or park, then after walks be sure to thoroughly examine the skin for the presence of ticks or traces of their bites. Constantly ask your child how he is feeling. If your baby complains of weakness, dizziness and other symptoms that accompany borreliosis, it is better to get the necessary tests. This disease is indeed much easier to treat at the first stage of development.
Many people faced with a similar problem are interested in questions about what the treatment and consequences of borreliosis look like. Antibiotics can cure the infection. And in most cases the prognosis is good - in 90% of cases antibacterial therapy helps get rid of symptoms and prevent the development of complications.
However, the danger still exists. Many patients complain of constant weakness, lethargy, cough, and severe headaches that occur regularly. The infection sometimes causes complications in the liver (leading to the development of hepatitis), joints (patients develop arthritis) and the heart (there is a risk of myocarditis). The disease can affect the nervous system, in particular the membranes of the brain, which can lead to progressive encephalitis and meningitis.
Experts note that this infection is extremely dangerous during pregnancy. Treatment of borreliosis with antibiotics in this case is associated with some difficulties, because it is important to select the most safe drugs. The infection can affect the fetus - there are known cases of heart defects in the child, cerebral hemorrhages and even intrauterine death. That is why a woman who has suffered from this disease must remain in a hospital until the end of pregnancy under the constant supervision of doctors. Regular ultrasound examinations are indicated, which help to detect danger in time (for example, disturbances in the development of the cardiovascular system).
Treatment of the disease (borreliosis) with antibiotics takes a long time. And even if the patient was provided with full-fledged therapy, there is no guarantee that consequences will be avoided.
Treating borreliosis with antibiotics after a tick bite (within the first few days) is extremely important to help prevent further development diseases. But even despite timely and correctly administered therapy, the patient must remain registered with a doctor for several months.
Lyme disease is a vector-borne disease caused by bacteria of the genus Borrelia. It is difficult to give a comprehensive answer about the prevalence of the disease. Lyme disease in medical literature called the "great imitator". This name is due to the fact that the disease is accompanied by a polymorphism of symptoms, and patients turn to a dermatologist, neurologist, rheumatologist and rarely go to the office of an infectious disease specialist.
Lyme disease is recorded in Europe, North America, Asia, and Australia. There is a trend towards an increase in incidence in Russia and Ukraine. Human susceptibility to Borrelia is high. So, the following people suffered from Lyme disease: famous personalities like Ben Stiller, Christy Turlington, Richard Gere, Avril Lavigne, Ashley Olsen.
Table of contents:The causative agent of the disease is bacteria of the genus Borrelia (B.burgdorferi, B. afzelii, garinii), belonging to the Spirochaetaceae family. The carrier of Borrelia is ixodid ticks (I.ricinus, I.pacificus, I.damini). An infected tick is contagious at any active stage of its life cycle: at the larval, nymph or adult stage.
A person becomes infected with Borrelia through the bite of an infected tick, when the saliva of the arthropod gets into the wound on the skin. There is also a contamination mechanism of transmission when, while scratching the skin, a person rubs the contents of a crushed tick into the wound. In addition, in medical practice precedents for transmission of infection from mother to child through the placenta are described.
An increase in the incidence of Lyme disease is observed in the spring-autumn period, which, of course, is associated with the high activity of ticks during this season. Ixodid ticks live in forests and forested urban areas.
The incubation period averages one to two weeks, but can even extend up to a year. The clinical picture of Lyme disease is usually divided into three stages. But it is worth noting that not in all cases an infected person develops all three stages. Thus, in some patients the disease ends at the first stage, in others it becomes pronounced only at the third stage.
A papule (nodule) appears at the site of the tick bite. Gradually, the area of redness expands along the periphery. The edges of the erythema are intensely red, slightly raised above the skin. In the center of the erythema, the skin is paler. The spot resembles a ring in appearance, which is why it is called migratory ring-shaped erythema. This symptom occurs in approximately 60-80% of infected people.
The dimensions of the erythema in diameter are 10-50 cm. Often the erythema is localized on lower limbs, abdomen, lower back, neck, axillary area and groin. The skin in the area of erythema is warmer compared to healthy areas of the skin. Sometimes there is itching and burning in the bite area. The stain persists for several days, then gradually fades, leaving pigmentation and peeling.
Some patients develop benign lymphocytoma - a moderately painful red lump on swollen skin. Most often, lymphocytoma is localized in the area of the earlobes, nipples, face, and genitals.
Borrelia from the primary site of the lesion spread through the lymphatic vessels to the regional lymph nodes. Thus, lymphadenopathy may be observed.
Besides, infected person may complain of weakness, muscle pain, headaches, and fever.
The duration of the first stage varies from three to thirty days. The outcome of this stage can be either recovery (with timely initiation of therapy) or transition to the next stage.
Borrelia disseminate into organs and tissues. Thus, secondary erythema, roseolous or papular rash, and new lymphocytomas can form on the skin.
Generalization infectious process accompanied by headache, muscle pain, nausea (less often vomiting), and in some cases fever.
This stage is characterized by the following syndromes:
More often, signs of the second stage appear in the fourth or fifth week and persist for several months.
Meningeal syndrome is a consequence of serous meningitis. This condition is characterized by fever, severe headache, pain when looking up, vomiting that does not bring relief, and sensitivity to light and sound stimuli.
Neck stiffness and other typical meningeal signs are recorded.
A person may also develop encephalitis or encephalomyelitis, occurring with paraparesis or tetraparesis. Neuritis of the cranial nerves, most often the auditory and oculomotor nerves, is possible.
Patients may experience sleep disturbances, emotional lability, anxiety, short-term visual and hearing impairment.
Lyme disease is characterized by Bannawart's lymphocytic meningoradiculoneuritis, characterized by the development of cervicothoracic radiculitis, meningitis with lymphocytic pleocytosis.
Cardiac syndrome often develops in the fifth week of the disease and is manifested by impaired atrioventricular conduction, slowing or increasing heart rate, and signs of myocarditis or pericarditis. It is worth noting that damage to the heart is less common than to the nervous system. In addition, iritis, tonsillitis, and splenitis may be observed.
At this stage of the disease, patients may notice joint and muscle pain, but there are still no signs of inflammation in the joints. Symptoms of the second stage of Lyme disease can occur without previous annular erythema, which makes diagnosing the disease much more difficult.
Symptoms of this stage appear quite late: several months and sometimes years after infection. The most common lesions are the joints (in 60% of patients), skin, heart and nervous system.
Lyme disease primarily affects large joints (elbows, knees). The affected joints are swollen and painful, and movement is limited. The damage to the joints is characterized by symmetry, the process is recurrent in nature. A long-term inflammatory process in joints and cartilage leads to destructive changes in them.
Chronic neurological lesions occur in the form of:
Skin manifestations are characterized by the development of acrodermatitis. This is skin atrophy with local hyperpigmentation, often the process is localized on the extremities. 
The diagnosis of Lyme disease is made taking into account the epidemic history (visit to the forest, tick bite), as well as the clinical picture. It is worth noting that many people do not even notice a tick bite at the time.
To confirm Lyme disease, specific diagnostics. For example, serological methods such as ELISA and ELISA can detect specific antibodies of the IgG and IgM classes in the blood. But in the first stage, in approximately half of the cases serological test turns out to be uninformative. That is why paired sera should be studied with an interval of twenty to thirty days.
Using PCR, laboratory doctors are able to determine Borrelia DNA in biopsies of the skin, spinal cord and synovial fluids, blood. PCR allows you to avoid false results.
In the treatment of patients with Lyme disease, etiotropic and pathogenetic therapy. It is also important to take into account the stage of the disease.
Etiotropic treatment is carried out using various antibiotics. Thus, at the first stage of the disease, in the presence of erythema and without lesions internal organs tetracyclines and aminopenicillins are prescribed orally. , started in the first stage of the disease, will prevent further progression of Lyme disease.
If internal organs are damaged, patients are prescribed parenteral penicillins and cephalosporins (second or third generation). For chronic forms of infection, third generation cephalosporins and penicillins are prescribed.
Pathogenetic therapy is based on existing concomitant lesions of internal organs. So, in case of heart damage, with disorders that are not eliminated by taking antibiotics, prolonged meningitis, meningoencephalitis, corticosteroids are prescribed. For arthritis, corticosteroids are prescribed not only intramuscularly or orally, but also intra-articularly. In case of monoarthritis and lack of effect from drug treatment, synovectomy is indicated.
In case of high fever and severe intoxication, detoxification agents are administered parenterally.
When visiting a forest area (park area) general prevention comes down to using repellents and wearing clothing that covers the body as much as possible. If you are bitten by a tick, you should immediately contact the clinic, where it will be correctly removed, the bite site will be examined and further monitoring of your health will be provided. If a person is often at his own summer cottage, it would not be superfluous to carry out acaricidal measures. After walking your dog, you should carefully examine your pet for ticks on its body. 
After a tick bite in an endemic region, long-acting antibiotics are prescribed as emergency prophylaxis (for example, bicillin-5 once intramuscularly at a dosage of 1,500 thousand units).
Grigorova Valeria, medical observer
Tick-borne borreliosis, or Lyme disease, is an infectious, in the vast majority of cases, vector-borne disease. The symptoms of the pathology depend on the severity and nature of the response immune system to the penetration of pathogenic bacteria. To the main features tick-borne borreliosis include hyperthermia, headaches and various allergic reactions. In the absence medical care the disease rapidly progresses, disrupting the functioning of the cardiovascular and nervous systems, as well as the musculoskeletal system. With timely treatment at a hospital, Lyme disease can be completely cured. Therapy carried out at the last stage often does not help prevent the development of irreversible complications.
The clinical picture of tick-borne borreliosis appears in a person 1-2 weeks after being infected with gram-negative spirochete bacteria. The severity of symptoms depends on many factors, one of which is the type of infection carrier. The pathology is spread by ticks of the genus Ixodes, and their degree of infection can vary at different times of the year. Lyme borreliosis is one of the most common diseases transmitted to humans through the bites of infected arthropods. What ticks that carry borreliosis are found in our country:
In South and North America, another species often carries borreliosis - Borrelia burgdorferi. Ticks, distributors of pathogenic bacteria, become infected from domestic or wild birds, rodents, and animals. Goats, cats, and rats do not always get sick after infection. Their body is at the stage of bacterial carriage, so it is impossible to determine by appearance whether an animal is a carrier of spirochetes.
Warning: Neglect medical care after being bitten by a tick infected with spirochetes, it is highly likely to cause disability. Doctors often have to declare the death of a person in the final stages of Lyme disease.
Ticks become more active with the onset of warm weather. Their numbers increase in spring and summer, when people begin to visit forests and the banks of water bodies in large numbers - habitats of infection carriers. IN lately cases of infection became more frequent even in early March and late October. Scientists attribute this not only to global warming, but also to the ability of arthropods to adapt to unfavorable conditions.
The main route of transmission of borreliosis is the bite of a tick infected with spirochetes. But there are other methods of transmission:
Despite the fact that Lyme disease is an infectious disease, immunity to it is practically not developed or does not have any resistance. A person who has recently recovered from borreliosis may become ill a few days after being bitten again.
Infectious pathogens enter the human body through the tick saliva released during a bite. Once in the systemic bloodstream, pathogenic bacteria spread throughout all internal organs, lymph nodes, bone and joint tissues. IN pathological process involved:
After the death of pathogenic microorganisms, endotoxins are released. The immune system responds to foreign proteins by producing antibodies from different classes of immunoglobulins. After some time, the flagellar antigen of bacteria appears in the body. This causes a significant increase in the antibodies produced. Immune complexes become larger and begin to circulate in damaged tissues, triggering inflammatory processes. Lymphoplasmacytic infiltrates are formed, affecting peripheral ganglia, spleen, skin, subcutaneous tissue and lymph nodes. At this stage, all the signs of borreliosis appear after a tick bite.
As tick-borne borreliosis progresses, the internal organs and musculoskeletal system of a person, especially the joints, are gradually affected. The danger of the disease lies in the disappearance of symptoms at a certain stage. Until recently, a person suffered from unbearable headaches and skin itching, but suddenly all the negative signs disappear without a trace. A visit to the doctor is canceled, and at this time pathogenic bacteria actively multiply in the body. Not surprisingly, the severity of new symptoms is significantly higher.
If a person is not provided with timely medical care, then there is a high probability that the disease will become sluggish. chronic form. At this stage, tick-borne borreliosis has already provoked numerous complications. The pathology is characterized by the development of the following consequences of lack of treatment:
Warning: Gradually spreading in the body, endotoxins contribute to the formation of infectious foci in all internal organs and joint tissues. Even the destruction of pathogenic bacteria does not guarantee complete and rapid recovery of the body.
Symptoms of tick-borne borreliosis vary significantly depending on different stages diseases. The severity of the symptoms also depends on the person’s age, state of health and presence chronic pathologies in the anamnesis. For example, Lyme disease is much more severe in children than in adults due to immature immunity and high permeability blood vessels. Since the disease is constantly progressing, symptoms appear as certain tissues or organs are affected:
The first signs of infection often resemble the clinical picture of any respiratory disease, which can significantly complicate diagnosis.
Recommendation: A person feels virtually no pain when bitten by a tick. This causes late detection of infection. A definite clue may be severe redness of the skin at the site of the bite, which occurs over the course of several days.
In the first stage of Lyme disease, symptoms are quite vague or may not appear at all. At the site of the bite, the skin turns red and a ring-shaped erythema forms, gradually increasing in size. Over time, its color loses intensity. At the site of the bite, the skin begins to thin, and extensive swelling occurs. In an effort to remove foreign proteins, the immune system responds with the following symptoms:
If antibiotic therapy is carried out at the first stage, the symptoms disappear without additional use of any medications.
This is interesting: The disease is characterized by the appearance of secondary erythema during the spread infectious agents in the body. Round spots are found in areas with thin skin - near the nipples and earlobes.
At this stage, pathogenic bacteria have already spread throughout the body, forming inflammatory foci in soft and joint tissues. The infection affects the nervous and cardiovascular systems, and the gastrointestinal tract. The roots are also damaged spinal nerves, providing negative influence on the condition of the spinal column. A person experiences the following symptoms:
The infection also affects liver cells, causing their death and disrupting metabolic processes. And damage to joint tissues causes arthritis, arthrosis, and polyarthralgia. Treatment of borreliosis after a tick bite at this stage is impossible without taking medications to relieve symptoms and eliminate the consequences of the pathology.
At this point, the long-term negative impact of infectious agents disrupted the functioning of all human life systems. Irreversible damage to internal organs and all parts of the spinal column developed, and the functioning of the autonomic and central nervous systems was disrupted. Factors that provoke this condition include:
If a person is bitten by a tick suffering from borreliosis, then an incorrectly drawn up therapeutic regimen or a complete lack of treatment contributes to the chronicity of the disease. This type of pathology is characterized by frequent alternating relapses and remissions, gradually leading to the following conditions:
At this stage of Lyme disease great importance has correctly carried out pathogenetic therapy. But in the vast majority of cases, the consequences are irreversible.
At the first stage of the examination, the doctor examines the patient and examines the medical history. The initial diagnosis will be speeded up by confirmation of the tick attack by the patient. A sign of the development of Lyme disease will be the presence of characteristic erythemas on the skin. The absence of any clinical picture on the initial stage infection.
The doctor must prescribe laboratory tests of blood and urine. If the patient has managed to remove the carrier of the infection, then the tick is analyzed for borreliosis. But even the most modern diagnostic techniques sometimes they cannot detect the presence of pathogenic bacteria in the systemic bloodstream or lymphatic fluid. In some cases, a biopsy of a piece of soft tissue is performed. Also, when diagnosing Lyme disease, the following instrumental studies are indicated:
Using serological methods for studying biological samples, it is possible to indirectly confirm the development of tick-borne borreliosis. To do this, polymerase chain reaction is analyzed to detect pathogenic bacteria related to spirochetes.
If it turns out to be positive, the doctor draws up a therapeutic regimen, including taking pharmacological drugs and performing physical procedures. An integrated approach is used to treat Lyme disease, combining the diverse effects of medications on the patient’s body:
Single and daily dosages of drugs, as well as the duration of their use, are determined by the attending physician. It takes into account the stage of the disease, health status and age of the patient.
Usage antibacterial agents on initial stage pathology promotes rapid and complete recovery. If the disease is accompanied by skin rashes, then it is advisable to use antibiotics from the group of penicillins or tetracyclines:
Since the causative agents of tick-borne borreliosis are capable of developing resistance to such antibiotics, the use of combination drugs has recently been practiced:
The disadvantage of these antibacterial drugs is a significant amount side effects. Long-term use These drugs can provoke the development of sensitization reactions, nausea, vomiting, and impaired peristalsis.
Since tick-borne borreliosis almost always occurs against the background of general intoxication of the body, doctors prescribe the following drugs to eliminate symptoms:
Before treating borreliosis after a tick bite, the general health of the patient is assessed. If it is severe, then detoxification therapy is carried out to remove toxic compounds from the body using intravenous infusions of Ringer's solution, sodium chloride, Trisol.
Recommendation: To improve the patient’s well-being and speed up recovery, a course of balanced vitamin complexes with microelements is practiced - Supradin, Complivita, Vitrum, Centrum, Macrovit.
Prevention of borreliosis after a tick bite consists, first of all, in correctly selected clothing for walks in the forest, square, or park. It should be light in color and fit snugly to the body, protecting the neck, chest, wrists and ankles. Ticks often fall on people from tree branches, so a headdress, preferably a headscarf, is a must. Also to preventive measures The following activities include:
You cannot bring flowers, branches or medicinal plants, because they may contain arthropods. It is advisable to choose places for relaxation or walks in the fresh air where the grass is constantly mowed and treated with special anti-tick agents.
Advice: An excellent way to prevent the development of severe stages of Lyme disease is to go to a hospital in a timely manner. Preserving the detected tick will help speed up diagnosis and start of treatment.
Berliosis disease is an infectious disease transmitted through insect bites, in particular ixodid ticks. It is caused by bacteria of the genus Borrelia, and their type may differ depending on the continent.
The first records of this disease appeared in 1975 in the United States. The first case was reported in the small town of Lyme, Connecticut. Hence the name. The reason for starting the study was an appeal to the CDC (Center for Disease Control) by parents whose children were diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis" (JRA). Later it turned out that several adults had similar symptoms. Thus, by chance, Berliosis (Lyme disease) was discovered.
The carrier of the causative agent of this pathological condition is a tick from the genus Ixodidae. Spirochetes of the genus Borrelia live and reproduce in their bodies. When they enter the human body after an insect bite, they spread through the circulatory system and pass the blood-brain barrier, entering the cerebrospinal fluid and causing neurological symptoms.
This genus of ticks lives everywhere. It is especially common in the Northern Hemisphere. But its types may vary, depending on the continent and part of the world.
There are several characteristics that determine the type and type of clinical course of the disease. For each of them there is a corresponding branch.
Each of these points is indicated in the clinical diagnosis and is reflected in the treatment and course of the disease. Therefore, it is important to decide what we are dealing with in order to be able to choose the right tactics.
Berliosis disease is caused by a bacterium from the genus of spirochetes - Borrelia burgdorferi. It is a gram-negative microorganism with flagella. It grows well on liquid nutrient media with a complex protein composition. It is shaped like a twisted spiral that rotates slowly. On their surface, bacteria have antigens that determine their specificity among subpopulations and also ensure the narrow targeting of the immune response.
About a dozen variants of this microorganism have already been identified, which are found in all corners of the globe. It has been clinically proven that the clinical picture of the disease depends on the borrelia serotype. Therefore, Lyme disease does not mean one disease, but a whole group of nosologies that are homogeneous but different in etiology.
Afterwards his saliva enters circulatory system, and at the site of penetration, redness appears in the form of a ring with a more blurred inner edge and a clear outer edge. The pathogen spreads throughout the body through the bloodstream, colonizing organs and tissues, and penetrates the lymph and cerebrospinal fluid.
The immune system begins to actively respond to the invasion, sending inflammatory cells (macrophages, neutrophils) to the affected areas, producing cytokines, leukotrienes, prostaglandins and immunoglobulins of classes M and G. Borrelia die, but when decomposed, they release toxins that negatively affect the human body. In addition, the body, attacking infected tissues, destroys not only the pathogen, but also the cells of the body. In addition, in places where bacteria actively multiply, infiltrates of inflammatory cells and exudate are formed, disrupting the functioning of organs.
As the disease progresses, the number of immunoglobulins and immune complexes increases, and cross antigens and antibodies against them. Substances that make up the bacteria provoke production in the joints that destroy hyaline cartilage and provoke the formation of pannus. This leads to clinical symptoms according to the JRA type.
After recovery, the bacteria can remain in the body for up to ten years. Scientists cannot yet find a reasonable explanation for this. A person develops non-sterile temporary immunity, and the disease can recur after a few years.
How does Berliosis manifest itself? The disease is quiet at first. Must go through the so-called incubation period. It lasts up to two weeks, but reactive options are also possible. Then the whole process is reduced to a few days. Or, on the contrary, sluggish flow when the first symptoms may appear several years after the bite. Infection is most typical from May to September, when ticks actively feed and reproduce.
There are two types: early and late.
The first stage of the early period can be acute or subacute. General intoxication symptoms are typical, such as fever, chills, muscle pain, headache, nausea, vomiting. Sometimes cold symptoms are present - coughing, runny nose, sore throat. A ring-shaped erythema appears at the site of the bite. Patients say that in this place they feel a burning sensation, itching or even pain. The insect's favorite localization is the armpits, groin area and scalp. Allergic reactions to the bite such as urticaria, conjunctivitis or rash are also possible.
A small percentage of patients may experience symptoms of irritation of the meninges. They complain of nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light and sound, increased sensitivity, headache. They have an increased intracranial pressure, But cerebrospinal fluid may remain sterile.
The second stage occurs in every tenth patient. It usually begins a month after infection. During this period, inflammation of the meninges progresses, manifested by symptoms of meningitis, meningoencephalitis with damage cranial nerves and peripheral nervous system. A characteristic feature is bilateral facial paralysis. A few months after the manifestation of the disease, patients begin to experience complaints from the cardiovascular system. There are rhythm and cardiac conduction disturbances similar to blockade. Sometimes myocarditis or pericarditis occurs as a consequence of cross-reacting antigens.
A relatively small number of patients reach the third stage. How does Berliosis manifest itself? The disease has lasted for more than six months and progresses to chronic course, which is characterized by damage to the skin such as atrophic dermatitis, and joints. Neurological symptoms somewhat subside and become similar to tertiary neurosyphilis. Patients complain of intermittent pain in muscles and joints.
Tick-borne borreliosis (Lyme disease) can also occur in pregnant women. This has no effect on the course of the antenatal period and childbirth. pathological condition may not have any effect, but there is a risk of intrauterine infection or the formation of congenital malformations of the heart muscle. It is known that children of infected mothers died from hemorrhage in life important organs or were stillborn.
Through empirical observations, it was revealed how multifaceted Berliosis is - a disease whose symptoms mimic severe infections of the nervous system.
As usual, the doctor first conducts a survey of the patient, compares the data received from him with the time of year and the diseases characteristic of him. Examines the patient for insect bite marks, erythema annulare, or urticaria. Checks and also prescribes an ECG. If there is a suspicion that it may be tick-borne borreliosis (Lyme disease), the description is recorded in the medical history, and the patient is asked to take a blood test and perform a puncture of fluid from the edge of the erythema to identify the pathogen.
It is necessary to determine the type and type of borrelia, as well as to determine the stage of the disease in a particular patient. The diagnostic titer for verifying the diagnosis is considered to be 1 in 64. Since early stages the study may give a false negative result, it is recommended to repeat it after twenty days or a month, when the amount of immunoglobulins is greater and there will be enough of them to stage a reaction. False-positive reactions are also possible. They are found in patients with syphilis, relapsing fever, and rheumatic diseases.
It is necessary to distinguish between Berliosis disease and tick-borne encephalitis, erysipelas, and even cellulite. This is at the first stage. At the height of the disease, rheumatic lesions of the heart and joints and cardiomyopathies come to the fore. By the third stage, Reiter's disease and neurosyphilis are added to this list.
It is extremely important to diagnose berliosis in time - a disease whose treatment can take several months, or even years (due to non-sterile immunity). When prescribing therapy, the stage of the process, etiology and main pathogenetic manifestations are taken into account.
Antibacterial therapy should be present from the first stage, the sooner the better. Then there is a chance that the disease will not have time to reach organs and tissues, which means complications will be avoided. The drugs chosen for treatment are “Tetracycline”, “Doxycycline”, “Amoxicillin” and others. They have a bacteriostatic effect on Borrelia, so their concentration in the blood must be constantly maintained.
If organ damage is nevertheless detected, then it is dangerous to prescribe tetracyclines; infectious disease specialists recommend opting for penicillins or cephalosporins.
Simultaneously with antibiotics, symptomatic and pathogenetic therapy is prescribed in order to affect all links of the pathological chain. To do this, the patient’s body is detoxified, dehydrated to relieve increased intracranial pressure, and physiotherapeutic procedures are performed to mitigate the manifestations of damage to the cranial nerves and arthralgia. NSAIDs or analgesics are used for pain relief.
Often during treatment, after a short clear interval, sharp deterioration condition. This is due to the mass death of spirochetes and their poisonous effect. Modern doctors know very well that this is how borreliosis manifests itself. Symptoms and treatment of tick-borne borreliosis are classified as health education, since in this case the promptness of starting medication is important.
The nature of the prognosis depends on how quickly a person realizes the problem and seeks medical help. Berliosis disease can be cured at an early stage and prevent it from becoming chronic, but the pathogen is not large quantities will still circulate in the body, as well as the formed immune complexes.
Dispensary observation is indicated in the conditions of the CIZ (infectious diseases office) for a year after clinical recovery. Patients are tested for the pathogen three weeks after discharge, then three months, six months and finally a year later.
There is no specific prevention, but during the tick breeding season it is recommended to wear clothes with long sleeves and trousers when outdoors and use repellent to prevent bites. After a walk, you should definitely check yourself and your pets for the presence of ticks, as they are quite small and their bites are almost painless.
This is how it turned out brief overview about borreliosis, causes, symptoms, its treatment in an infectious diseases hospital. Remember about the danger of infection in the spring and summer, and do not be afraid to go to the doctor.
Baraliosis is considered infectious disease which is caused by spirochetes. The causative agents of the disease are wild animals and rodents. After biting an animal with baraliosis, the tick becomes infected and becomes a carrier of infection. Oral cavity the insect is less infected with borreliosis than the body. The insect intestine contains the maximum number of microbes.
A person becomes infected infectious disease in case of scratching the bite and violating the integrity of the tick’s body.
The incubation period from the moment of the bite to the appearance of the first symptoms of the disease is about two weeks. The early and late periods of borreliosis are classified:
In some cases of borreliosis, the symptoms are episodic and it is very difficult for a person to determine what exactly is bothering him if he does not go to the hospital immediately after a tick bite.
This complicates the recovery process, in which case there is a high probability of an incorrect diagnosis and incorrect treatment.
If a tick bite was noticed by a person immediately, it is necessary to go to the hospital as quickly as possible, because borreliosis is a very dangerous disease that is fatal if diagnosed late. When going to the hospital after a tick bite, first of all, the tick is removed from skin special devices: tongs, clamps, nippers. After this, the bite site is disinfected. Tests are prescribed: complete blood count, enzyme immunoassay blood, PCR, which can be used to detect the presence of Borrelia protein in the blood and tissues of the body.
These methods are used both for early diagnosis patient (immediately after a tick bite), and in the later stages of treatment. Diagnosis is mandatory in order to correctly determine the degree of the disease and select effective drugs for treatment.
After diagnosing and examining the patient after a tick bite, treatment methods are determined and medications are selected. As a rule, treatment is carried out using antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, immunostimulating drugs:
Along with antibacterial and anti-inflammatory drugs that purify the blood and destroy microbes, the patient must be prescribed drugs to treat concomitant diseases that appeared after the bite of the barial tick. These are drugs to normalize the emotional background: antidepressants, sleeping pills. Drugs for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, to support liver function and cleanse the blood and skin. Preparations for strengthening and normalizing the functions of the musculoskeletal system.
Drugs for treatment neurological diseases. It is necessary to say about the role of vitamins in the treatment of borreliosis, which affect the process of restoring the functioning of organs and systems and improve the patient’s condition. To treat bariasis after a tick bite, it is best to take multivitamins and vitamin complexes. This will help restore the functioning of organs and systems, have an immunostimulating effect on the human body and help ease the rehabilitation period for the patient after a tick bite. Only in integrated approach By treating borreliosis, one can hope for a complete recovery of the patient.
The spring period is characterized by the awakening of living organisms in nature; it is during this period that maximum quantity cases of barial tick bites. Summer period also has high performance diseases. Cases are more common in rural areas and private areas than in the city. This is due to the fact that in private areas and in rural areas there is more landscaping and vegetation, pets and livestock live on which ticks live and breed. Borreliosis infection is very difficult for the human body and never goes away without a trace; it has a particularly negative effect on the body of a pregnant woman and threatens the life of the unborn child. A woman may not suspect the presence of the disease, because sometimes there are no symptoms, so pregnant women need to be tested to detect borreliosis infection in the blood.
The consequences that occur in the human body after an illness provoke stages 2 and 3, while stage 1 passes without visible symptoms and appropriate treatment. Symptoms become chronic, disrupt the functioning of the body, reduce the level of performance and shorten life expectancy. The disease borreliosis is quite new; medicine is currently studying it. A vaccine has not yet been invented that would 100% destroy borreliosis infection. It is called Lyme disease because the first clinical case The disease was recorded in the city of Lyme (Connecticut, USA), and was described by scientists from the same city.
In order to protect yourself from a tick bite and to prevent the disease, you must take precautions. Prevention of borreliosis includes the following rules:
It's hard to imagine that a person can endure a series of serious illnesses due to an infection that entered his body from a tick, and not know about it. The disease is insidious because it can “sit” in the human body for several years without manifesting itself. That is why doctors around the world are calling for timely treatment of a tick bite victim to the hospital. Timely examination of the patient will prevent the development of serious consequences of the disease.
