Is lyme disease fatal?

Answer 1

Though rare, Lyme disease can be fatal.

Answer 2

Having suffered from a late stage neurological Lyme infection for 8 months before I managed to recover, I can tell you that although it is rare, it's WHERE the Lyme triggers problems that best indicates if there is a possibility of death.
Some Lyme infections only affect the person's joints. And although the discomfort & disability it can cause can be devastating, the more dangerous scenarios involve inflammation around the heart &/or involvement of the central nervous system. This CAN prove fatal, if not promptly attended to.
Unfortunately, the biggest killer when it comes to 'chronic' Lyme is suicide, usually over despair & hopelesness over one's situation. But if one is under proper treatment for this disseminated or "late-stage" Lyme, nearly all make a total or nearly total recovery. It just takes TIME (6 -12 mo.s, on average, of hi-level abx for an "uncomplicated" case of the disease, acc to ILADS). Emotional & nutritive support are very helpful here.
As for early stage (localized) Lyme, just 4-6 weeks of a medium level abx & one can be essentially cured & never have to be concerned about it again. Hence the importance in diagnosing it early.

Answer 3

If not treated in a certain period of time, but usually that time is fairly lengthy. Many people/pets don't get the classic bulls eye rash around the tick bite and don't notice anything out of the norm until they get symptoms which are often flu like, with aches and pains, diagnosed properly in time to treat. If you think you have been bitten by a deer tick and show any symptoms, advocate for your own health and tell your doctor you want the test. Better safe than sorry.

Answer 4

It can be. It certainly causes years of pain, suffering and treatment for someone infected with lyme disease. I have friends who moved back to my home town to get away from Connecticut after their teenage son was bitten by an infected tick. It cost the boy two years of pain, almost cost his life and cost the family thousands of dollars in medical treatment.
Read more about it:
http://www.lymenet.org/

Answer 5

Yes, if left untreated. The bacteria may lay dormant in the body but when it 'returns' you can end up with joint,neurological issues, heart damage......

....treatment/cure is easy but you must get diagnosed and treated as soon as possible....I was one of the lucky ones.....I developed the 'bull's eye rash approx 1-2 weeks after exposure while the bacteria was still in my bloodstream and hadn't had time to settle anywhere...a three week course of antibiotics (oral) and I was cured......
..but since I wasn't aware I had been bitten by a tick, the rash was a life-saver..I had a co-worker who didn't know she had been exposed and never developed any tell-tale symptoms until many years later when she developed facial palsy among other medical issues....

Answer 6

not if you catch it early. if you catch it early then you just take an antibiotic. but if you wait tooo long then you can become paralyzed. i dont mean to scare you if you have lymes disease, but even if you take medication, lymes disease is with you forever. like you could have flare ups and feel achy for a day.

Answer 7

hmmmm not sure dont think so but it can be quite disruptive - remember that case some time ago on the news? the girl was bitten on her leg and didnt go to the doc for many months and it did get very nasty, though not fatal - best check it out with gp

Answer 8

Good sources of info about Lyme disease:
http://www.canlyme.com
http://www.lymenet.com
http://www.lymeinfo.net
http://www.lymediseaseassociation.org
http://www.ilads.org
http://www.betterhealthguy.com
http://www.publichealthalert.com
http://www.freewebs.com/teenswithlyme

Answer 9

Sometimes it is, treated or not! That is why it is a good idea for people with compromised immune systems to stay indoors at certain times and also, to wear long sleeve shirts and pants when they do go out! Wearing insect repellent is also a good idea, try to buy it from a health store.

Answer 10

No! No one here knows the disease. There are three stages. If you have all the symptoms by that time you'll see a clinician and it'll get diagnosed. You won't die.