Lyme disease is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected black-legged ticks, which spreads the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. The condition is largely diagnosed on the basis of symptoms (including fever, headache, fatigue, and a characteristic skin rash called “erythema migrans”) and the likelihood of exposure to infected ticks. Once diagnosed, it is important to treat Lyme disease immediately; otherwise, the infection can spread to joints, the heart, and the nervous system. Most cases of Lyme disease can be treated successfully with a few weeks of treatment with oral antibiotics oxycycline, amoxicillin, or cefuroxime axetil. Patients who experience certain neurological or cardiac forms of illness may require intravenous treatment with drugs such as ceftriaxone or penicillin.
For more information about Lyme disease please visit http://www.cdc.gov/lyme/ . For questions about your medications, Med-Fast Pharmacy would be happy to answer them. Call your locally owned Pharmacy for tips today. If you ever have a question about medicine and need a trusted source for answers please come to our pharmacy or call us to speak to a licensed pharmacist. We’re More than a Pharmacy, We’re Family!
Hint: Between 10 and 20% of Lyme disease patients, especially those diagnosed later rather than sooner, may have persistent or recurrent symptoms after appropriate antibiotic treatment.
