NEWARK, Del. - s4story -- Lyme disease is primarily caused by ticks infected with Borrelia Burgdorferi, a spiral-shaped bacteria that undergoes constant mutation, creating new strains. While ticks remain the main vector for transmission, researchers have identified Borrelia in other insects as well. Ticks may carry co-infections such as Bartonella and Babesia, which can be contracted simultaneously with Lyme disease.

According to the information provided by Renew Integrative Health, diagnosing Lyme disease presents significant challenges due to unreliable testing methods. A clinical diagnosis typically includes an evaluation of symptoms, physical findings, exposure risk, and test results to determine the likelihood of disease. No single test can definitively confirm these infections, and various factors can produce both false positive and false negative results.

The symptoms of Lyme disease vary considerably from patient to patient. In early stages, approximately 30-40% of patients develop a characteristic rash, along with joint pain and headaches. When Lyme disease is inadequately treated, patients may experience neurological symptoms, extreme fatigue, and cognitive dysfunction, known as "late-stage" disease.

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Additional symptoms associated with Lyme disease include fatigue, body aches particularly in the head and neck, fever, chills, heart inflammation, and swollen lymph nodes. The membranes surrounding the brain can become inflamed, potentially causing Bell's Palsy—temporary paralysis on one side of the face—and numbness in the limbs.

Renew Integrative Health follows treatment guidelines established by the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS), which emphasizes patient-centered, person-specific care. The practice notes that careful assessment and reassessment of the full clinical picture is essential to guide treatment decisions, both initially and if symptoms persist or return.

Despite epidemiological studies identifying specific tick species consistent with geographical areas, different varieties of ticks are now being found throughout the United States, expanding the potential risk zones for Lyme disease infection.

For more information about Lyme disease diagnosis and treatment approaches, visit Renew Integrative Health's website at https://renewinthealth.org/lyme-disease/