Five Neurological Adverse Effects One Should Be Cautious Of Lyme Disease

Five Neurological Adverse Effects One Should Be Cautious Of Lyme Disease

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Lyme disease is considered to be an infection which is transmitted to humans after being bitten by an infected tick. A characteristic rash around the bite, fever, chills, headaches, muscle and joint pains, and swollen lymph nodes are the early symptoms of Lyme diseas. Because these symptoms resemble those of more common diseases such as flu, people with Lyme disease often use the wrong treatments or simply choose to ignore the symptoms. Regretfully, Lyme disease can lead to life threatening problems if you do not have it treated. In the second stage of Lyme disease, neurological complications like numbness, severe headaches, and visual disturbances may occur. Some possible neurological complications of Lyme disease include:

Radiculitis

Painful radiculitis is one of the first symptoms experienced by those who contract Lyme disease. A radiating pain along the dermatome of a nerve often characterizes radiculitis. This condition usually occurs within the first few weeks to months of the infection. Patients tend to note sensory, motor, or mixed symptoms, as well as conditions like sensory changes, increased reflexes, and weakness. These symptoms, unfortunately, can be wrongly assumed to be nerve-impingement syndrome.

Cranial neuropathies

Cranial neuropathies involve the patient's cranial nerve or the nerves involved in processing sensory perceptions such as sights, smells, sounds and others. Multiple cranial nerves can be affected all at once when a person is fighting Lyme diseas. Symptoms have been reported in all cranial nerves with the exception of the olfactory nerve. About 50 to 70% with neurological symptoms suffer this complication.

Intracranial hypertension

Intracranial hypertension is a rare neurological disorder connected with Lyme disease. Children experience it more often than an adult. Headaches and sometimes papilledema can be caused by intracranial hypertension. Papilledema is the swelling of a patient's optic disc, and this condition may develop within the span of a few hours to weeks. Oddities in Cerebrospinal Fluid might happen in some cases.

Inflammation of the brain and spinal cord

Sometimes resembling ischemic patterns, encephalomyelitis usually includes brainstem abnormalities. It can be medically proofed that the parenchyma is involved. Cerebellar syndromes, hemiparesis, motion disorders and spastic paraparesis is usually presented in this complication. This complication is more common in European nations than in North America.

Swelling in the brain

Encephalopathy is a common complication for someone who has Lyme disease but is currently in the later stages. Those with this problem experience minor or even major cognitive changes and polyradiculoneuropathy. Encephalopathy as well as other late stage infections may be accompanied by severe fatigue, sleeping problems, extreme irritability, mood swings, photophobia, difficulty finding words, and problems in writing or speaking. There have been reports of sensory issues as well. The severity of these symptoms may differ and are considered to be somewhat inconsistent.

To prevent Lyme disease from developing into a more severe neurological disorder, early identification and immediate treatment of the symptoms of the disorder is essential.


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