Lyme
Lyme disease is a vector-borne infection caused by a bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi. Lyme disease is most often transmitted by black-legged tick bites and in recent studies has also been found in mosquitos. Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacteria that causes Lyme disease, is a corkscrew or helix-shaped organism called a spirochete. These spirochetes are known for being serious pathogens with Lyme disease’s cellular make-up being close to that of syphilis. Borrelia burgdorferi can attack any organ in the body, including the central nervous system, the brain, the muscles, joints, the heart, and more.
History
In an article from 1638, written by John Josselyn, you can read: “there be infinite numbers of ticks hanging upon the bushes in summertime that will cleave to man´s garments and creep into his breaches eating themselves in a short time into the very flesh of a man. I have seen the stockings of those that have gone through the woods covered with them”.
Lyme disease is not new, it’s been around for as long as mankind and infects aprroximately 400,000 people per year reported in the U.S. alone. In 1977 three Connecticut communities reported an epidemic of oligoarticular arthritis. But it was not until several years later, in 1982, Dr. Willy Burgdorfer discovered there was a spirochete bacteria in the tick causing a large amount of un-diagnosed deseases, which was named after him — Borrelia Burgdorferi.
The spirochete can be transmitted through the bite of an infected black-legged tick. The longer a tick is attached the greater the chances are of it transmitting a disease. As the tick feeds on the blood of its host it releases the Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria, as well as other co-infections, into the bloodstream. Anyone can become infected with Lyme disease.
Identifying Lyme disease is not so easy for a number of reasons. Laboratory tests are often unreliable and the number of infectious diseases carried by ticks has grown significantly. Also, hallmark signs of Lyme disease aren’t always present and many of the symptoms vary greatly from patient to patient and are similar to other medical conditions. There have been many cases where patients with Lyme disease have been incorrectly diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, thyroid disease, psychiatric disorders, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, autoimmune diseases: including lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and polymyalgia rheumatica among others.
Ötzi – The pre-historic Case of Lyme Disease
Named after the Ötzal Alps where he was discovered, Ötzi, the oldest known European mummy. He lived and died 5300 years ago in the Eastern Alps near the modern-day border of Austria and Italy. His frozen remains were discovered accidentally by German hikers in 1991. Now, his mummified body rests at the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology in Bolzano, Italy. And scientists from all over the world have been studying him, inside and out, learning amazing information about what life was like back then.
Mitochondrial DNA analysis has shown that the bacteria responsible for Lyme disease, Borrelia burgdorferi, resided deep in Ötzi’s bones. Though he didn’t die from complications of the disease, work from a team of scientists at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Dentistry now suggests that the 5,000-year-old man might have suffered from bone loss as a result of his infection. The fact that Borrelia was found in Ötzi, tells ut that this bacteria has been around ever since mankind, and by infecting mankind, making it possible for us to build a certain immuno resistence to this low grade pathogen.
Diagnosing Lyme Disease
Lyme Disease is known as the “great imitator” as Lyme disease symptoms have a widespread list of symptoms that mimic many other diseases causing it to be misdiagnosed for fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, chronic fatigue syndrome, and various psychiatric illnesses such as depression. Lyme disease can be difficult to diagnose. Sadly, recent data shows more than 85% of Lyme disease patients were not diagnosed until after four months of illness, and over 70% saw four or more doctors before receiving a correct diagnosis.
The CDC estimates cases in the United States at more than 400,000 people infected annually while acknowledging that Lyme disease can be difficult to diagnose. A respected University Medical Center, Drexel University College of Medicine, has proven that standard Lyme Disease testing fails to diagnose 60- to 70 percent of patients who are truly affected with Lyme Disease. For this reason, nearly all of the Lyme Disease patients at IAH Wellness have been infected for several years. Because these patients went undiagnosed for so long, they have become “Chronic Lyme Disease” patients, and a majority are suffering from brain infections and therefore have Neurological Lyme Symptoms.
There are several reasons for this difficulty, including the fact that many people don’t remember a tick bite, EM rash isn’t always present, Lyme symptoms mimic so many other conditions, and current EMA and FDA-approved/CDC-recommended testing fails to accurately diagnose in 60-70% of cases.
Lyme Disease Symptoms
Known as the “Great Imitator”, Lyme Disease Can Mimic Symptoms of 100+ Conditions. So what Are the symptoms of “Chronic” Lyme Disease? Vastly misunderstood, Lyme Disease symptoms mimic those of other diseases making it commonly misdiagnosed as something else. Lyme disease can be broken down into 3 stages.
Stage 1 - Detection
Time Span: Days – Couple of Weeks
Often called the “early localized” stage of Lyme disease, symptoms start a few days to a few weeks after contraction. The symptoms of stage 1 Lyme disease mimic those of the flu making them difficult to link to a bite, especially if the sufferer does not remember being bitten.
- Erythema Migrans or bull’s-eye rash
- Severe headaches
- Neck stiffness
- Joint pain
- Muscle pain
- Dizziness
- Shortness of breath
- Nerve pain or numbness
- Tingling pain
- Shooting pain
- Memory loss
- Swelling
Stage 2 - Early Disseminated
Time Span: Weeks – Months
Stage 2 of Lyme disease can start weeks to months after the Borrelia burgdorferi enters the system. This phase is known as the “early disseminated stage” of Lyme disease and the symptoms often overlap with those of stage 1. Stage 2 occurs when Lyme disease is not detected immediately or initial antibiotic treatment does not kill the bacteria in its entirety. In this stage, the Borrelia burgdorferi has started to invade and multiply within the body. The early disseminated stage of Lyme disease symptoms includes:
- Rash
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Chills
- Stiffness
- Facial palsy
- Headaches
- Muscle aches
- Confusion or memory loss
- Pain
- Vertigo
- Nausea
- Cough
- All of the stated in Stage 1
Stage 3 - Late Chronic
Time Span: Months – Years
Chronic Lyme disease, or stage 3, can affect patients months to years after initial contraction. By this point, the Borrelia burgdorferi has multiplied and infected tissues or organs within the body. It often creates a biofilm, or protective barrier, around itself making it difficult to penetrate and kill. When multiplying, many patients experience little or no symptoms, leading them to believe the bacteria is no longer within their system.
When symptoms reappear, they often mimic that of other illnesses like arthritis, multiple sclerosis, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, depression, insomnia, and other autoimmune disorders. It is important to mention that patients who have received treatment for Lyme disease may still be at risk. Post-treatment Lyme disease (PTLD) may affect up to 50% of people who receive treatment at stage 1. Stage 3 symptoms are severe and debilitating and can include:
- Extreme Fatigue
- Chronic Pain and Soreness
- Depression, Anxiety, Stress
- Cognitive Impairment
- Migraines and Headaches
- Arthritis
- Insomnia
- Bell’s Palsy
- Loss of Vision
- Hearing Impairment
- Irregular Heartbeat
- All of the stated in Stage 1 and 2
What is a Spirochete?
A spirochete is a type of bacterium characterized by its unique corkscrew or spiral shape. This shape allows the spirochete to move effectively through various environments, including human tissues. Spirochetes are responsible for causing several diseases, including syphilis and, most notably, Lyme disease. The term “spirochete” is derived from the Greek words “speira,” meaning coil, and “chaite,” meaning hair, in other word, “coiled hair”.
Characteristics of Spirochetes
Spirochetes are highly adaptable and can change their shape and behavior to survive in different environments. They can also avoid detection by the immune system, allowing them to persist and cause chronic infections in their host. Some of the key characteristics of spirochetes include:
- Corkscrew or spiral shape
- Ability to move through tissues and fluids
- Can evade the host’s immune system
- Capable of causing chronic infections
