Many different types of ticks cause Lyme Disease. More and more research studies are concluding that the deer tick that is the vector for spreading Lyme disease is only one of a dozen of ticks that can infect humans. In addition, one tick may carry more than one disease, and therefore those infected with the bacteria that causes Lyme disease are at risk to develop other co-infections as well. Although many of these infections cause non-specific symptoms such as headaches and flu-like symptoms, it is important to get the correct diagnosis, since the treatment of Lyme disease co-infections may require different medications.
The suspicion of co-infections occurs when an individual does not respond optimally to the antibiotics used to treat Lyme disease, or in the cases of severe forms of Lyme which require longer recovery periods. The following are considered the major Lyme disease co-infections:
Babesiosis is caused by the bacteria Babesia microti, and the same ticks that cause Lyme disease, Deer Tick Pacific and Black-legged Ticks, are the vectors. Signs and symptoms include fever and chills, fatigue, digestive symptoms such as nausea or vomiting, and hemolytic anemia. In severe cases, if left untreated, the infection can lead to death.
Ehrlichiosis is caused by Ehrlichia phagocytohphila which is carried by theDeer Tick Pacific, Black-legged tick, American Dog Tick and Long Star Tick. Symptoms include fever, headache, chills, malaise, muscle pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, confusion, conjunctival injection (red eyes), and rash (particularly in children). This disease can be fatal if left untreated, too.
Q Fever is caused by Coxiella burnetii caused by the bite of the Brown Dog Tick, Rocky Mountain Wood Tick and the Lone Star Tick. Typical symptoms include acute fever, chills and abundant sweats, muscle pains, dry cough, abdominal pain or chest pain.
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever is caused by Rickettsia caused by the bite of the American Dog Tick and Rocky Mountain Wood Tick. Typical symptoms include sudden fever, a characteristic rash on soles of hands and feet that spreads over the entire body as well as general symptoms such as malaise and chills. There is a 3%-5% fatality rate if left untreated.
Tularemia is a disease caused by Francisella tularensis and rabbits, hares, and rodents are especially susceptible when bitten by tick and often die in large numbers during outbreaks. Deaths can occur in humans as well, but commonly this disease is associated with indolent ulcers, swollen lymph nodes and flu-like symptoms.
- Bartonellais caused by 2 species of bacteria from a genus with the same name, Bartonella Quintana and Bartonella henselea. Cats, ticks and fleas are the vectors of this infection. Beside fever and flu-like symptoms, Bartonella disease can cause neurological symptoms, enlarged lymph nodes and skin lesions.
Powassan viral encephalitis is a serious Lyme disease co-infections, with a 10% fatality rate and significant neurological symptoms occurring in half of those developing the disease. Fever and signs/symptoms of meningoencephalitis (severe headache, stiff neck, vomiting or nausea, confusion or difficulty concentrating, seizures, sleepiness and sensitivity to light) occur.
Thus, if you have been diagnosed with Lyme, it is important to get tested for any of the above Lyme disease co-infections that have been linked with Lyme disease and promptly start the proper treatment protocols.
References:
http://www.cdc.gov/ehrlichiosis/symptoms/
http://www.cdc.gov/qfever/symptoms/index.html
http://www.lymedisease.org/lyme101/coinfections/tick_chart1.html
in 1988 I had the first dog diagnosed with erlichiosis in my southern california county. it took 10 days with my vet and my family doctor and a lab in Washington dc to diagnose it. in the meantime he had been put on tetracycline immediately. the synptoms subsided immediately. it took 7 long months to get rid of it permanently. every time the symptoms disappeared he was taken off the tetracycline 2 weeks later only to have the symptoms reappear, at first immediately, and then over time it took more time for the symptoms to return until finally after 7 months we took him off the tetracycline and it never returned. yet in 1991 when I got tick bit and got the flu from hell and all the horrible symptoms hit me and I was never the same, I was not allowed the dignity of being taken seriously enough to be tested for one single thing tick borne because the cdc said there was no tick borne illness in California. i was told that I was getting old and these were old age symptoms and get used to it… I was 41 years old and the symptoms came on within one week of being tick bit and so very sick I came close to dying..my family doctor who had helped with the dog 3 years before had died and I had no one to help me. many docs and 22 years later I still have no diagnosis and no help. I treat myself and take nothing but flack about how my health will suffer because I do treat myself from every doctor I have ever seen.my health? they are concerned about my health? yeah… sure… concerned..are they taught that kind of “concern” in medical school or is it a prerequisite to getting in? I wonder..