Subject: Re: Could I have Lyme disease?
Forum: The Neurology and Neurosurgery Forum

Topic Area: Lyme

Dear Dr.,
I have posted two previous messages which have not been answered. Many
kind people have posted messages back to me with their advice. (previous
messages were on 4/10 and 4/15). A couple of people suggested that I may have
Lyme disease. About 10 years ago I was living in the south and pulled a tick off the
top of my head. Several days later I developed a rash there. I went to a doctor
who prescribed something (I think it was an antibiotic) and said there was no reason
for a return visit. I have now been having neurological problems for the past 5 months
or so. ( I have gone into much detail on my previous posts). Is it possible that I
could have lyme disease from this incedent? I would very much appreciate your
opinion. Thanks, Carolyn.

Dear Carolyn:

Whether your symptoms are related to Lyme disease, they could. Some things however, would point against it. The date of your tick bite, the spread of lyme disease was very limited in the United States. Assuming that you were in the correct location, then it might be lyme disease. During the initial outbreak, the treatment of choice was either tetracycline or pencillan (or analogous antibiotic) which worked very well. Your physician was correct in treating the rash with an antibiotic. The rash of lyme disease is very characteristic being described as erythema chromicum magrans, which your physician should have described it as. The neurological symptoms usually show up a few months after the rash, but they have been known to occur much later. However, there is always the chance that it did not respond to treatment. I would investigate it further by having titers drawn. The test is not that sensitive (meaning that if the test is positive one can be certain they have the disease) but it will tell you if you have been exposed to lyme disease. If you have, then I would think that you would be treated. I hope this helps.

Sincerely,

CCF Neuro[P] MD

Follow Ups:

• Could I have Lyme disease? Thank you doctor for your advice, I will - Carolyn. 4/25/1999 (1)
  • Re: Could I have Lyme disease? CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS 4/25/1999 (0)

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