Lyme Disease Treatment Online

Lyme Disease - Overview

Lyme disease is a type of bacterial infection that can cause a variety of symptoms and chronic health problems. Difficult to diagnose, Lyme disease is generally treatable in people having Lyme disease symptoms. People who might need Lyme disease treatment can use Push Health to connect with a local medical provider who can prescribe antibiotics and treatment for Lyme disease symptoms when appropriate to do so.

What Is Lyme Disease?

Lyme disease is a type of bacterial infection that is transmitted to humans from animals typically through an insect vector like a tick. Caused by Borrelia bacteria such as Borrelia burgdorferi, Lyme disease is thought to affect tens of thousands of people in the United States every year, more commonly in the warmer months. Lyme disease is generally diagnosed through a combination of medical history, characteristic physical exam findings and Lyme disease testing. While past effort was made into a Lyme disease vaccine, no vaccine is approved at present.

Lyme Disease - Symptoms

While some people with Lyme disease experience no symptoms, most people who are infected with Lyme disease do. When present, Lyme disease symptoms can start within days to a few weeks after the infection. Classically, Lyme disease symptoms start with an erythema migrans rash that looks like a bull's eye or target near or at the site of the bite. From there, Lyme disease can cause symptoms that mimic a viral infection. Longer term, Lyme disease can cause chronic neurological, musculoskeletal, cardiac, and psychological symptoms and problems with a wide spectrum of presentation.

Lyme Disease - Treatment

Lyme disease treatment involves the prescription of antibiotics. Most medication regimens are prescribed for multiple weeks, depending on the symptoms and stage of Lyme disease. In severe cases, Lyme disease treatment may require hospitalization, intravenous medications and close monitoring.

Lyme Disease Medications

When choosing the type of antibiotic to be prescribed to treat Lyme disease, consideration must be placed on the age and underlying health of the patient, the stage of Lyme disease and the expected duration of treatment. Antibiotics that might be selected in the treatment of Lyme disease symptoms include the following:

• Amoxicillin
• Augmentin
• Azithromycin
• Ceftriaxone
• Cefuroxime
• Doxycycline

Other prescription medications for Lyme disease treatment may be utilized to help manage complications that occur from a Lyme disease infection. In addition to medication therapy, lifestyle or diet modifications may also be recommended to improve the Lyme disease treatment success rate.

Lyme Disease Antibiotics - Side Effects

Lyme disease medication treatments can cause side effects, including nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, headache, photosensitivity and rash. Prior to taking medications used in treating Lyme disease, it is important to discuss side effects and other concerns with a qualified medical practitioner. In general, alcohol use should be avoided while taking medications for Lyme disease treatment.

More Lyme Disease Resources

• Medline - Lyme Disease
• Mayo Clinic - Lyme Disease