Tick -borne diseases can be associated with unusual symptoms in some patients, “WHO warned. This is shown by the story of a 43-year-old Belgian who noticed sudden exhaustion at home. Determining that he suffers from Lyme disease required consultation with various doctors. Eltinating erythema did not appear on her skin, she did not even notice the bite.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported that diseases transmitted by ticks, including Lyme disease, pose a growing threat to public health in Europe. The reason is climate change, which increases both the arachnids' range and their number – without cold winter, the population of ticks develops faster. In addition, in some cases, tick -borne diseases are accompanied by an unusual set of symptoms that are easy to miss.
“I was a shadow of my old myself”
WHO cited the story of 43-year-old Belgian Catherine, who got Lyme disease. The first symptoms did not indicate a bite of a tick – erythema did not appear on the body, and did not notice the arachnid himself either. The woman noticed sudden, overwhelming exhaustion and frequent emotional breakdowns.
“I cried for a reason, feeling completely exhausted,” Catherine said. – I knew something was wrong, but I couldn't explain it.
The first contact doctor did not recognize Lyme disease, instead prescribing antidepressants to the patient. Catherine consulted this diagnosis with a psychologist who stated that she did not see her clinical depression. Only a visit to a specialist recommended by a friend of a specialist dispelled her doubts – already during blood tests commissioned by a first contact doctor, a positive result was determined by a positive result for the presence of spirochetes of the genus Borrelia. It turned out that Lyme disease was early.
– Diagnosis brought a strange relief. The reason finally appeared. I knew I wasn't myself. I have always been healthy and physically active, energetic and in good shape. Being a shadow of ancient self did not make sense – explained Catherine.
Adverse reactions
The woman said that receiving the right diagnosis did not end all the problems. Treatment of antibiotics caused her hypersensitivity to sunlight and skin problems, and one of the drugs caused a severe side effect affecting her mental health. In the fight against Lyme disease, a mixture of conventional medicine, proper diet and light physical exercises finally helped her.
– In a few weeks I started to feel myself again. The difference was quite significant. Blood studies have not shown any signs of the disease – said Catherine. She added that to this day she must follow some dietary recommendations, including avoiding sweet drinks and alcohol, but she is happy that she managed to discover the cause of sudden exhaustion and find effective therapy.
Reasons why you should get vaccinated against tick -borne encephalitispzh.gov.pl
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