Treating Lyme Disease

" Welcome to our web -- I'm David folk Thomas were going to be talking about treatments. For a lime disease lyme disease. Is spread by deer ticks now hopefully you can prevent being infected but if you're not so lucky we're going to tell you what you need to do with the treatments you need to get. To help get rid of the disease and treatment is joining me to discuss it on my left doctor Alec -- meeting he's an assistant professor of medicine at NYU Medical Center in New York and a doctor Brent -- clinical instructor at Madison. Also -- NYU Medical Center in New York doctors thanks for joining me and Alex let's start with you what what's the first line treatment if you've been diagnosed with lyme disease. "

" From those people don't we use a drug called docks recycling which is a form of touch recycling. I usually -- one -- twice daily or anywhere from fourteen to 21 days. It's not the -- struck in the world gift children so ensure Italy usually treat them with something called a -- this on which. Most parents will be yet familiar with this house -- use for other common. Pediatric infections. And I about exactly exactly. And the marks -- is used for many other. Charlton sections so they're there they're both quite effective. Intriguing the majority of cases. Early lyme disease. And -- how how long is this stuff first. Treatment is antibiotics prescribed for as Alex said come fourteen to 21 days. With that dot cycling or good -- and sometimes an -- after Iraq -- is employed as well. And then how much of the time will will this take care of it. This to -- the vast majority of early case. If if unfortunately has not been caught early and are -- manifestations there on this we sometimes have to do longer courses. Other antibiotics and sometimes used intravenous antibiotics straight into that bloodstream. And -- what are some of those later manifestations for two. Sure well believe arthritis that doesn't respond to oral therapies are -- logic. Line disease sometimes people can manifestations in the central nervous system lyme disease. And sometimes people can get -- involvement with with conduction abnormalities and heart in grizzly has. Are also can I think it hasn't happened in Boston that has had a couple people that got lyme disease during pregnancy. And again the usually recommend using intravenous antibiotics in that situation."

" OK and as far as if you have some of those -- these later stage developments. You know they're nervous system involvement et cetera and then these antibiotics what did you beyond them."

" Well that's a good question I mean other antibiotics there's not an awful lot to do it has spent alluded to remain sometimes go to longer courses this is still something of -- gray area. Classically. Most people would treat against fourteen to 21 days -- intriguing sent them except. I have seen situations personally and read it situations where people needed more prolonged therapy to cure there during your watch. Disease."

" And now practice is lyme disease incurable is do you get it removed immediately yours that always what you. Where it really also depends on how are you can it come with the good news is is there is excellent data showed that. Even most patients who have I'm -- east -- east with some of these cutting manifestations are in fact cured. I'm with into by chaotic there is a very high cure rate with both the early in the late stage infections. And Alex I've heard about the call the lumbar puncture my -- now that's correct what's that'll."

" Colin Nelson and spinal tap. What involves it is a way of diagnosing and somebody has lyme disease and central nervous system is to take some spinal fluid from the base -- there they're spying. It's it's a -- are actually quite safe -- the only thing can cause -- bad headache afterwards. Armed to take at this final -- they look under the the microscope for white blood cells and measure for elevations and chemicals such as protein which often and increased. And you can also extreme measures through from the called -- Mary chain reaction accident. A new test for -- actual bacteria. That causes lyme disease. "

" So it is the bottom line out with lyme disease that you need to catch it as early as possible so that. That you don't develop the later -- this thing the earlier you can make diagnose and treat somebody. The less likely you're going to get chronic -- stations -- to. Already that's all the time we have we've been discussing treating lyme disease and of course. I guess announcing anything new that the best treatment would be. Try not to get it in the first place but if you aren't lucky enough. We hope you've learned something here today my name's David folk Thomas we'll see you next."