Introduction
Lyme disease is an infection that is caused by tick bites. The bacteria that causes Lyme disease is Borrelia burgdorferi. After the bite by the bacteria, the Borrelia starts to wriggle in the skin away from the bite site. This causes red rashes called erythema migrans. In the more severe form, erythema migraine will have a bullseye appearance. Most affected people are not aware of the occurrence of this rash as it is painless, and usually, the location is not visible. When this condition is not treated, it can result in joint pain. This condition is usually treated using antibiotics, but the symptoms may sometimes persist. Read the article to know more.
What Is Lyme Arthritis?
Lyme disease can affect different organs like the heart and nervous system, but the joint is the most commonly affected. Lyme arthritis occurs when the bacteria causing Lyme disease enters the joint tissue and results in inflammation. This condition can cause swelling and pain. Most people will be affected by arthritis who have Lyme disease if they are not treated using antibiotics.
Lyme arthritis can be treated in 30 days by using proper antibiotics. Those people who do not respond to oral antibiotics will be treated using intravenous antibiotics. In very few cases, the arthritis will not respond to any mode of antibiotics. If this condition is left untreated, there may be permanent damage to the joint tissues.
What Is the Causative Factor of Lyme Arthritis?
Usually, lyme arthritis is caused by a bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi. It is transmitted through the bite of the tick Ixodes ricinus. Not all ticks are infected and cause this condition.
Lyme arthritis is an infectious condition that is not inherited. Lyme arthritis, which is resistant to antibiotic treatment methods, is related to genetic markers, but its complete mechanism is not very clear.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms Related to Lyme Arthritis?
One common symptom of Lyme arthritis is swelling of the affected joints. Usually, the knee joint is the most affected, and other joints where Lyme arthritis can occur are the shoulder, ankle, elbow, jaw, hip, and wrist. Those joints that are affected can feel warm to the touch and result in pain during movements. Joint swelling can be on and off. Joint swelling will be challenging to detect in the shoulder, jaw, or hip. Usually, Lyme arthritis occurs a few months post-infection caused by the bacteria.
How Common Is Lyme Arthritis?
This condition is seen in some children with arthritis. Lyme arthritis is prevalent in children and adults present in Europe. Even though Lyme arthritis is infectious, it is not contagious as the bacterium should be transported through ticks.
How Is Lyme Arthritis Condition Diagnosed?
When there is an occurrence of arthritis without any specific cause, Lyme arthritis is considered a differential diagnosis. Lyme arthritis is confirmed only through specific laboratory tests such as blood tests and tests of synovial fluid.
In the case of the blood test, antibodies against the bacteria are seen using an enzyme immunoassay. If these antibodies are present, the doctor will recommend a confirmatory test called Western blot.
The diagnosis can be confirmed by testing the synovial fluid. In this, the bacterium's gene will be present in the case of Lyme arthritis, where it can be found using a polymerase chain reaction.
How Is Lyme Arthritis Managed?
Initially, Lyme arthritis should be treated using a four-week course of oral antibiotics. Those patients who continue to have inflammation and joint pain even after completing the first course of antibiotics will be prescribed the second course of antibiotics. In some cases, joint pain and inflammation can recur even after two courses of antibiotics. In such cases, the reason for persistent arthritis is not known but is considered to be caused due to some immunological factors. Even more courses of antibiotics do not do any good, so the patient should be referred to a rheumatologist.
In some cases, non-steroidal antirheumatic medications and corticosteroid injections are given to the affected joint. If this condition is not treated on time, it can result in permanent joint damage. Most cases are treated post one or two courses of antibiotics, but some cases will take months to years to disappear. Some additional treatments are:
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Physical Therapy: Some special exercises can help to strengthen the muscles and joints and can help to relieve pain in the joints.
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Steroid Injection: Steroidal injections are used to manage pain and swelling. Ultrasound is used to properly place the needle at the spot so the medication is injected into the joint.
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Arthroscopy: If all the treatment does not improve the condition, then the joint tissue is examined using an invasive procedure called the arthroscopy. In this procedure, a thin flexible is used to test the tissue and required repair is done at the spot.
How to Prevent Tick-Borne Conditions?
If the person lives in an area that is very common for Lyme disease, then these steps can help to prevent tick infections, these are:
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Avoid scrubby regions with bushes, long leaves, and high grass where ticks will be present.
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While walking through the woods, stay in the center of the trails.
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Tick repellents can provide long hours of protection.
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Clothing and camping can be managed using 0.5 percent Permethrin.
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When checking for tics in children, special attention should be given to the shoulder, scalp, ear, belly button, legs, and behind the knees.
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Ticks are very reactive to heat and dehydration, so washing the clothes in hot water and drying them at a higher temperature will kill the ticks.
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Petroleum jelly or nail polish should not be applied over the ticks.
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The bite site should be cleaned using soap, water, rubbing alcohol, or iodine.
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The person should consult the doctor if rashes develop at the bite site.
Conclusion
Lyme arthritis is an arthritis condition that affects joint tissue caused by an infection caused by a tick bite. This condition causes inflammation, pain, and swelling of the infected joint. This can be managed with one or two courses of antibiotics, but the symptoms may persist in some cases. If this condition is not treated, it can result in permanent joint damage.
