What happens if you don't treat lyme disease is it fatal?

Answer 1

Yes it can be fatal. Lyme disease (Borreliosis) is a bacterial infection with a spirochete from the species complex Borrelia burgdorferi, which is most often acquired from the bite of an infected Ixodes, or black-legged, tick, also known as a deer tick. Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto is the predominant cause of Lyme disease in the U.S.; Lyme disease in Europe is more often caused by Borrelia afzelii or Borrelia garinii.

The disease varies widely in its presentation, which may include a rash and flu-like symptoms in its initial stage, followed by the possibility of musculoskeletal, arthritic, neurologic, psychiatric and cardiac manifestations. In most cases of Lyme disease, symptoms can be eliminated with antibiotics, especially if treatment is begun early in the course of illness.

A percentage of patients with Lyme disease have symptoms that last months to years after treatment with antibiotics. These symptoms can include muscle and joint pains, arthritis, stiff neck, muscle pains, cognitive defects, neurological complaints or fatigue. The cause of these continuing symptoms is not yet known. There is some evidence that they may result from an autoimmune type of response, in which a person’s immune system continues to respond even after the infection has been cleared, as well as evidence of ongoing infection with the spirochete.

Delayed or inadequate treatment may often lead to late stage Lyme that is disabling and difficult to treat. Amid great controversy over diagnosis, testing and treatment, two different standards of care for Lyme disease have emerged.

Answer 2

Lyme is rarely fatal, but left untreated, if there is cardiac involvement, you may have arrhythmia's which can be life-threatening, or other complications which are life-threatening.

Lyme affects many body systems, but takes a while for those symptoms to show up. If you have been bitten by a tick and start feeling general malaise, have a red bullseye rash at least 6 cm in diameter, etc. see a physician, who can diagnose and treat this disease. It's quite treatable, if detected early, but can cause a large number of chronic conditions if left untreated. It is treated with a cocktail of antiobiotics taken over a period of time.

Answer 3

I concur absolutely with the first answer. I went to about 10 doctors until I found a Lyme Literate Doctor. Depending on your body's response, you can have a wide range of symptoms. My doctor did a genotype test for me, and said that my type was one associated with slow development of symptoms, as opposed to sudden development. Lyme can have a wide range of symptoms, but you really need to get tested because Lyme is a vector for multiple sclerosis, among other things. Please keep in mind that the spirochete embeds itself more and more over time, and it gets more difficult to cure. Here's something I learned from my doctor: Babesia is a common co-infection with borrelia (Lyme). Some research indicates that babesia is responsible for many of the nasty symptoms associated with Lyme disease. Request a babesia test with the Lyme test. It'll cost more, but the babesia tests are *much* more accurate. The CDC recommends *extremely* aggressive treatment for babesia, and it'll kill the borrelia too (hopefully).

Answer 4

can be..emergency room

Answer 5

no