Renal Implications of Lyme Disease: An Overview

Introduction

Lyme disease is found to be affecting approximately 300,000 Americans each year who suffer from the crippling tick-borne sickness. The tick usually causes an itchy red bump on the skin, similar to a mosquito bite, with symptoms such as fever, myalgia, joint pain, and stiffness in the neck; when someone has Lyme disease, determining the cause of their symptoms can be difficult. Lyme disease is difficult to diagnose since it presents symptoms similar to those of other disorders, such as multiple sclerosis, arthritis, and fibromyalgia.

Antibiotics are the sole treatment for the Borrelia bacteria that causes Lyme disease. An antibiotic course is started after a positive Lyme disease test is obtained to cure the bacterium and regain general health. However, antibiotics cannot completely treat the sickness because the bacteria can continue to live inside the body and "hide" from the drug and immune cells. This often leads to chronic Lyme disease, which leads to kidney failure.

What Is Lyme Disease and How Is It Communicated?

Lyme disease is commonly caused by a bacterium called Borrelia. This bacteria is primarily carried by a black-legged tick, commonly known as a deer tick. This tick is common in North America. There are other names for these ticks, such as deer, sheep, and castor bean.

These ticks usually cling to their host's skin and feed on their blood. They continue to grow in size as a result of feeding. For several days, deer ticks can survive on the blood of their host. These ticks acquire the bacteria from a host, like a deer or rodent. They are usually not infected. However, they act as a transmitting agent and transfer the bacteria to different hosts. The bacteria enters the individual's bloodstream when the infected tick feeds on them.

If the ticks are removed within 24 hours, the chance of getting infected by bacteria causing Lyme disease decreases. If the ticks are larger, they are easily identified and removed; however, if the tick size is smaller, it becomes difficult to recognize and remove them. These ticks transfer the bacteria into the bloodstream and cause Lyme disease. These bacteria sometimes become immune to antibiotics and remain hidden in the bloodstream, leading to other major systemic complications.

What Are the Renal Complications Caused by Lyme Disease?

Patients with Lyme disease may frequently experience kidney damage. The bacterium can cause renal complications and kidney lesions in persistent Lyme disease-induced kidney disease cases. This may lead to ailments and symptoms resulting from unpurified blood.

Damage to the kidneys from an infection with Lyme disease can include:

• Induce the kidney filtration system to stop working entirely or operate less efficiently.

• Assist in the development of kidney lesions.

• It impairs the kidneys' ability to effectively remove waste from the body and can also lead to the accumulation of certain waste products.

• Red blood cells and proteins can leak into the urinary tract from the body and bloodstream, leading to a condition known as glomerular disease.

• Eventually, this results in renal failure or illness.

What Are the Symptoms of Renal Complications Caused by Lyme Disease?

Patients with glomerular disease brought on by Lyme disease may experience severe and incapacitating symptoms.

Among them are:

• Edema (swelling) in the hands, feet, face, and other body parts.

• Loss of muscle and tissue due to low blood protein levels.

• Kidney illness results in fatigue, sleeplessness, weight loss, and skin irritation.

• Urine containing blood

• These indications and symptoms must be treated right away since they may result in irreversible kidney damage, which may induce convulsions, a coma, or, in the worst situations, death.

Apart from these symptoms, one should also be aware of the following signs if they think chronic renal disease may be developing:

• Gastrointestinal problems, including lack of appetite, vomiting, and nausea

• Lack of sleep.

• Breathlessness or chest discomfort due to fluid accumulation.

• Rashes of the skin cause alterations in pigmentation and mysterious scratches.

• High blood pressure.

• Problems with muscles, like twitching and cramping.

• Cognitive decline, such as reduced mental acuity and fog in the brain.

• Prolonged exhaustion and weakness.

How to Treat Renal Implications of Lyme Disease?

Antibiotics are the primary line of treatment for Lyme disease, as was previously suggested. After that, residual symptoms must be addressed individually according to their severity. If an infection with Lyme disease causes kidney illness, it must be treated independently and in combination with other symptoms and long-term conditions.

Doctors may recommend the necessary drugs to manage symptoms and prevent additional kidney damage. They recommend that, according to renal symptoms, one individual may suffer.

The symptoms include

• Elevated blood pressure.

• High cholesterol.

• Anemia.

• Inflammation.

• Affecting bone health.

Doctors may suggest a diet low in protein and prescribe drugs for particular conditions. All of these drugs are essential to the recovery of the renal system. Still, their effectiveness varies according to the needs of the patient and the severity of their kidney injury. Kidney illness can, in the worst situations, advance to a potentially fatal degree. This is referred to as end-stage kidney disease. Dialysis or a kidney transplant will be used as a form of treatment in such instances. Only the worst situations are treated with these more intensive procedures to prevent total renal failure.

Conclusion

Infection with Lyme disease is rather prevalent in regions of the world where it is endemic. The clinical signs have shown an impact on the kidneys. They have been shown to affect the filtration process, the development of kidney lesions, and, ultimately, kidney failure. Even though antibiotics are the primary treatment option, they provide relief in the initial stages.

During chronic renal failure, the drugs are prescribed according to the individual’s requirements. Proper diagnosis and correct treatment plans are essential to minimizing renal damage. It is essential for individuals not to ignore the renal symptoms such as edema, inflammation, and urine in the blood and to get the proper treatment as soon as possible to prevent the complications caused by Lyme disease.