Lyme Disease Presentation

Lyme Disease : 

Lyme Disease Brett Sagan G Block

Introduction to Lyme Disease : 

Introduction to Lyme Disease http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxWgS0XLVqw

Cause : 

Cause Infection bacteria (Borrelia) from common deer tick insects

Initial Symptoms : 

Before bacteria spreads through blood stream: Bullseye rash Purplish lumps on ears, nipples, and/or scrotum Fever Headache Nausea Initial Symptoms

Later Symptoms : 

Later Symptoms Facial/Bell’s palsy dysfunction of nerves that control facial movements Radiculopathy dysfunction of nerve’s root pain

Later Symptoms (continued) : 

Later Symptoms (continued) Meningitis inflammation of membranes surrounding spinal cord and brain Results in fever, pain, disorientation Encephalitis inflammation of brain Memory loss, mood changes

Long Term Symptoms : 

Long Term Symptoms Lyme encephalopathy Weakens memory and concentration Polyneuropathy Peripheral nerves dysfunction Disables motor functions Dulls senses Paraplegia No movement of extremities Rare, only in prolonged case

Long Term Symptoms (continued) : 

Long Term Symptoms (continued) Encephalomyelitis Inflammation of spinal cord/brain Cognitive dysfunction Vertigo pain Depression Arthritis Fibromyalgia Widespread, chronic pain in muscles and connective tissues Fatigue Cognitive dysfunction

Treatment : 

Treatment Antibiotics Many patients still experience symptoms such as muscle/joint pain and fatigue for years after treatment Ineffective in later stages “Chronic Lyme Disease”

Controversy : 

Controversy “Chronic Lyme Disease” Centers for Disease Control, National Institutes of Health tells doctors not to treat due to potential danger of antibiotics and lack of evidence, insurance companies refuse to pay for long term treatments International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society advocates for insurance coverage of long term antibiotic treatment, argue that wide range of symptoms makes diagnosis difficult

Class Debate : 

Class Debate Questions to Lead Debate: Should patients be allowed to even have access to antibiotic treatments due to the potential danger and questionable effectiveness of these treatments in excess? Should those suffering from long term Lyme Disease be denied treatments, from both doctors and insurance companies, due to a disease that is difficult to diagnose? How can the needs of suffering patients and the skepticism of medical institutions be resolved?

Sources : 

Sources Texts: Insights into Lyme Disease Treatment by Connie Strasheim Everything You Need to Know About Lyme Disease by Pamela Weintraub "Neopterin production and tryptophan degradation in acute Lyme neuroborreliosis versus late Lyme encephalopathy” by Murr T. Gasse http://www.canlyme.com/fibrocfslyme.html http://www.diagnose-me.com/cond/C351933.html http://www.jstor.org/stable/30109386 Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxWgS0XLVqw Photos: http://microbewiki.kenyon.edu/images/9/90/14_ticBit_lg.jpg http://www.modernguidetohealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/bacterial-meningitis.jpg http://www.ihnigmuh.com/peeps/babywebsite/Facial.gif http://www.mtnislandchiro.com/local/6107/fibromyalgia_02.jpg http://www.john-libbey-eurotext.fr/e-docs/00/04/05/60/texte_alt_jleejd00009_gr4.jpg http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/images/ency/fullsize/17249.jpg http://bioweb.uwlax.edu/bio203/s2008/clarin_bria/Images/deer-tick.jpg