Lyme disease is increasingly more common among Canadians, with 1,343 more cases in 2018 than in 2009, as recorded by the government of Canada’s Lyme disease surveillance report. This May, we acknowledge Lyme Disease Awareness Month as a tool to educate our communities about Lyme disease and encourage Canadians to be tested for it before serious disease occurs. While early diagnosis and intervention can prevent serious infection and severe symptoms, if Lyme disease is not detected it can have a large impact on both the body and mind and can immensely impact a person’s quality of life. This is why testing for Lyme disease is so important and why every Canadian needs to know the risks and symptoms of this disease.
Lyme Disease: Causes, Symptoms, And Treatment
What Causes Lyme Disease
Commonly caused by a bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi and sometimes caused by Borrelia mayonii, Lyme disease is often caused by the bite of a tick that has previously bitten an infected animal. The infection does not happen instantaneously since the tick must be on the skin for approximately 36 to 42 hours before the infection begins. Because of this, if a tick is removed shortly after getting on the skin, Lyme disease may be avoided. Those most likely to become infected with Lyme disease are people who spend a lot of time in the woods or live in a heavily wooded area, as well as those whose pets spend lots of time in wooded areas and tall grasses.
Lyme Disease Symptoms
The symptoms of Lyme disease can vary greatly in their severity, and a person can experience any combination of symptoms. Some common initial symptoms of Lyme disease include:
- Fever
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Neck stiffness
- Swollen lymph nodes
- A skin rash called erythema migrans. This rash typically presents as a red circle with a white area in the center, resembling a bulls-eye
If left untreated, Lyme disease can spread to the joints, heart, and nervous system. The neurological symptoms can develop months or even years after infection and can cause inflammation of the membrane surrounding your brain, called meningitis, as well as the temporary paralysis of one side of the face, called Bell’s palsy. Neurological symptoms can also include numbness or weakness of the limbs and impaired muscle movement.
Treatment
Lyme disease may be diagnosed based on a physical examination and the presentation of symptoms, but a blood test can confirm it. Blood tests are often most effective a few weeks after infection when antibodies have had time to develop. If you suspect you have Lyme disease, you should contact a medical professional as soon as possible. Most forms of Lyme disease can be treated with the use of oral antibiotics but intravenous (IV) antibiotics treatments are sometimes used for those who with cardiac or central nervous system symptoms.
Health Today Health Lyme Disease Testing And Blood Services
Lyme disease detection can inform treatment and aid in a faster, more effective recovery. Health Today Health facilitates the early detection of Lyme Disease by offering Lyme Ab Modified 2-Tier w/ Reflex, S through our private lab services. Our blood services are offered both in-clinic and through our mobile lab testing so that we can come to you at your convenience and collect your sample in the comfort of your own home. Health Today Health private blood services screens for any Lyme disease infection in the blood and this test is recommended for anyone who is exhibiting the symptoms listed above and/or who has recently had a tick removed. If you have recently had a tick but exhibit no symptoms, a Lyme disease test is still beneficial to ensure treatment for any future presenting symptoms. Take control of your health by staying aware of it with private lab services. To book a Lyme disease test, contact Health Today Health at 1-844-424-6728 or through the online contact form.
FAQ
If purchased on its own during your appointment, this test costs $140.00 + Tax.
Health Today Health offers this private lab testing blood service either in-clinic or using mobile lab testing. The Health Today Health mobile lab services are available in Edmonton, AB, Calgary, AB, Red Deer, AB, and Toronto, ON. In-clinic Lyme disease testing at one of our Health Today Health private lab testing locations is offered in Edmonton, AB, Calgary, AB, Red Deer, AB, Fort McMurray, AB, Medicine Hat, AB, and Toronto and Vaughan, ON.
Not necessarily. Lyme disease is typically carried by the blacklegged tick or the deer tick, not by all ticks, and not all of these ticks are infected. Even if the tick has the bacteria that causes Lyme disease, you may not become infected if the tick was removed before it could transmit the disease. Because symptoms can take a while to develop and because you may not know the type of tick you were bitten by or if it was infected, a Lyme disease test is recommended as a precaution.
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