How long can you have lyme disease?

Answer 1

It is believed by the International Lyme and Associated Disease Society that 1/4 million people each year are getting sick from Lyme Disease and other tick borne diseases, called co-infections. The CDC reports each year Lyme Disease cases in the U.S., but admit their numbers are likely incorrect and the actual numbers are 10 times higher. Lyme disease has been found in all 50 states. Lyme disease is a systemic infection that results from the bite of a tick and the bacteria, borrelia burgdorfi may be carried by other biting insects such as fleas, mosquitoes and more. It is false to believe that only the Deer tick is a carrier of Lyme, all species can be disease carriers. Most people do not recall being bitten, as ticks can be as small as a poppy seed and have a powerful numbing agent that makes it possible for them to burrow into the skin unnoticed. Ticks do not fly or jump, they crawl up the body and burrow into areas such as behind the knees, under the arms, scalp and neckline. Most people never develop or see the "classic" bulls eye rash that Md's are trained to look for. Lyme has many symptoms, at least 75 symptoms and more have been reported ranging from mild to moderate pain to excruciating neuropathy to mental illness Since symptoms are not the same for everyone diagnosis of Lyme Disease is problematic to say the least, as most U.S. Md's including specialists nationwide, incluing neurologist and Infectious disease Md's are not trained to recognize the symptoms of Lyme Disease. It is imperative to find a Lyme Literate Md that are specifically trained to treat these diseases appropriately. Even if you are diagnosed by a Lyme illiterate Md to have Lyme Disease, they do not test for co-infections which is absolutely necessary in eradicating the disease. Treatment protocols in most cases are outdated and many end up under treated and go on suffering. There is no proof Lyme Disease can be cured with a short 2 week course of antibiotics, but there is much evidence long term treatment can result in remission. Ticks carry other diseases called co-infections and all diseases transmitted must be treated. Under treated or untreated Lyme Disease can be complicated to treat, taking months and sometimes years of oral, IM or IV antibiotics. The blood test given across the country at most all labs and hospitals, is a two step process including the ELISA and Western Blot and is considered extremely unreliable. People who suspect Lyme Disease, need to have blood tests sent to Tick borne specialty labs in the U.S. that are highly reliable and should be used to accurately diagnose Lyme Disease. Lyme Disease has been called "the great imitator" as it mimics many, many diseases and illnesses from migraines, irritable bowel to MS, ALS, Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue and many, many more.

Answer 2

Anyone, human or animal, can get Lyme disease, no one is immune on record. People who are bitten by ticks may get Lyme Disease, but not all bitten people will get it.

Answer 3

There are always some people who are (or seem to be) immune to diseases. Sometimes people are exposed to HIV and don't get AIDS. They are natually immune to that particular disease.