Lyme disease: A multi-systemic disease

There are many more symptoms for Lyme disease than the ones listed in this link. This is because Lyme is a multi-systemic disease. Aches and pains come and go and move about the body with consistent inconsistency...!!

This information is only meant to help you decide if you need to seek medical treatment to increase the quality of your life.
Just remember tho, a bit bite is not something to be ignored. The sooner you can get treatment, the less chance you have of developing Neuroborreliosis.

http://www.lyme-symptoms.com/1Lyme-Symptoms.html


Lyme is often Misdiagnosed as other Diseases and Disorders.
This is because it tends to mimic about 300 different illnesses which makes it very important to rule them out.
If you have ever experienced bites from ticks, fleas, mosquitoes, lice, biting flys, do not discount them.
You will do so at your peril !

http://www.lyme-symptoms.com/LymeMimics.html


Comparison of Lyme disease and co-infection symptoms.

http://www.lyme-symptoms.com/LymeCoinfectionChart.html

Tick-borne encephalitis or meningoencephalitis: is a bacterial infection of the brain, such as Lyme disease. The symptoms of encephalitis range from mild to severe and can be life threatening. Possible symptoms: Fever, headache, nausea, decreased alertness, malaise, visual disturbances, stiff neck and back decreased consciousness, tremor, seizures. Encephalitis can last from a few days to several months. Permanent neurological consequences may follow recovery in some cases. Consequences may include personality changes, memory loss, language difficulties, seizures, and partial paralysis. Tick-borne meningoencephalitis is caused by a virus and may be a coinfection of lyme.

Lyme Meningitis inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord called the meninges. It often occurs when an infection elsewhere in the body spreads through the blood and into the cerebrospinal fluid (the fluid that circulates in the spaces in and around the brain and spinal cord). One form of bacterial meningitis is related to Lyme disease. Lyme meningitis is generally less severe than other forms of bacterial meningitis and is not fatal. Lyme meningitis may be the first evidence of Lyme disease, occurring without a history of erythema chronicum migrans or flu-like illness. Symptoms in milder cases of encephalitis usually include: headache, fever, stiff neck, sensitivity to light, nausea, sleepiness, confusion.

Chronic meningitis is a slowly developing inflammation of the subarachnoid space (located within the layers of tissues covering the brain and spinal cord) associated neurological involvement affecting the lower extremities. The infection and inflammation develop more slowly, over weeks and months that lasts a month or longer. If symptoms have been present for a month or more, meningitis is described as chronic. People may have a fever, a stiff neck, a headache, double vision, or difficulty walking, or they may become confused. Headache lasting weeks to months persistent/severe/ head pressure /congestion /burning. Burning in the brain and sometimes the neck and spinal cord or parts of the head, forehead or most of the head.

Aseptic meningitis(The space between middle and inner layers of tissues covering the brain and spinal cord (meninges) is inflamed.) Sometimes aseptic meningitis is diagnosed when meningitis is caused by bacteria that are hard to identify, such as the bacteria that cause Lyme disease, syphilis, or tuberculosis. Symptoms Headache, stiff neck, malaise, nausea and muscle aches may develop over days. Usually, aseptic meningitis causes symptoms that are similar to those of bacterial meningitis (fever, headache, vomiting, sluggishness, and a stiff neck). However, people do not become as ill. People may not have a fever, particularly when the cause is not an infection.

http://www.lyme-symptoms.com/2Lyme-Symptoms.html#meningoencephalitis

Comparison Chart of Lyme Disease and Co-infections Symptoms

This is a link to a Comparison Chart of Lyme Disease and Co-infections Symptoms. It lists all the co-infections and provides back links to even more information.

http://www.lyme-symptoms.com/LymeCoinfectionChart.html

Lyme disease is physically, emotionally and financially draining!

"In 1989, a doctor published an article in the Toronto Star saying if we don't deal with Lyme disease now, it is going to become an epidemic."

I am not a doctor, but today 7th July 2011, I am sticking my neck out and saying if South Africa is not careful and does not Face up to and deal with Lyme disease (also known as Lyme Borreliosis / Neuro Borreliosis) and it's co-infections soon,  it is going to become another epidemic, here in SA, much like HIV/Aids!

Most South African doctors don't believe you can get Lyme disease in South Africa.  In 1996 I told my GP I was 100% sure I had Lyme disease based purely on symptoms.  He told me it was IMPOSSIBLE to get Lyme in South Africa.  I recall telling him well if it wasn't called Lyme here, maybe it had another name. He did not listen to me and I just went from specialist to specialist.  I had another bladder opperation, I was hospitalised on traction for a week, four times in 1999.  Underwent a cervical manipulation under anaesthetic due to the sever neck pain in 2000.   I missed a neck fusion as the neurosurgeon felt I was 'too borderline' !! I was treated for 'epilepsy' for 5 or 6 years..., diagnosed as an asthmatic in June 2009...! 

I battled with my health for 16 years until I my final collapse in November 2009.  Thankfully I found a Lyme Literate Medical Doctor (LLMD) who diagnosed me with Rickettsia conorii, Q Fever (coxiella burnetti), Mycoplasma pneumonia and you guessed it !!  Borreliosis (Lyme Disease).  I have lived in South Africa since a baby and was bitten by ticks in my own garden in Johannesburg.

               PLEASE!!  WAKE UP SOUTH AFRICA !! 

LYME DISEASE IS HERE - THE TIME BOMB IS TICKING !!!

Chronic Mycoplasmal Infections

Click this link for more on Chronic Mycoplasmal Infections in Gulf War Veterans' Children and Autism Patients.

The cause of Autism has not been fully established, however many young children with Autism have tested positive with the Lyme bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi.  Some researchers report as many as 7 out of 10 children tested.  That is quite a significant number in my humble opinion.