The world is under the influence of COVID-19, and medical practitioners are busy testing and healing its patients. But as if Coronavirus hadn’t created enough havoc, another illness which is almost the same is catching the limelight. The name of this other disease is “Lyme disease,” and tick bites cause it. What’s worrying is that with the onset of summers, this disease is expected to increase.
Both Coronavirus and Lyme disease share similar symptoms like fever, headaches, and chills, but both illnesses are slightly different. Recognizing Lyme disease’s symptoms is a bit trickier, so awareness is the only key to curb its spread.
Unsplash | Lyme disease is very similar to Coronavirus as far symptoms are concerned
Let’s look deeper into the basics of both ailments.
What is Lyme disease?
Lyme disease is a vector-borne disease which is caused by the Borrelia Burgdorferi bacteria. It can be transmitted to the human body through the bite of the infected black-legged deer tick, which has to be in contact with the human skin for more than 36 hours to leave its effect. The symptoms of this illness may show up after three days to a few months.
Symptoms
- Early signs
Headaches, fever, chills, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, muscle, and joint aches, rashes (Erythema migrans-EM)
- Late signs
Additional EM rashes on the body, severe headaches, facial palsy, neck stiffness, arthritis, nerve pain, dizziness or shortness of breath, inflammation of the brain, and spinal cord.
Treatment
Oral antibiotics are usually recommended for curing Lyme disease.
Unsplash | A common symptom in both diseases in severe headache
Read – How to Prevent Lyme disease?
What is COVID-19?
Coronavirus is a severe respiratory disease that can quickly turn deadly. It transmits due to close contact with infected people and usually spreads through droplets of cough, sneeze, or even talking.
Symptoms
Sore throat, headache, muscle or body aches, fatigue, cough, fever or chills, shortness of breath, congestion or runny nose, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
Treatment
No Vaccine discovered yet. Prevention is the only cure.
Read – Know More about Coronavirus
Differences between the two
Entry point
The most significant difference between both illnesses is the point of entry into the body. For COVID, like influenza and cold, the virus enters the body through respiratory passages like nasal passage and lung tissue. On the other hand, microbes of Lyme disease enter the body through skin and bloodstream and are tick-borne.
Time lag
The time lag under which the symptoms occur differs a bit. The signs of Lyme may arise from three days to 30 days from the tick bite. However, the symptoms may take two days to 14 days to become visible in COVID-19.
Type and effect
Lyme disease is a bacterial infection and does not affect the immunity much. On the contrary, COVID-19 directly hits the immunity of an infected individual and can lead to death.
Unsplash | The treatment and severity of both differs, so if you notice any symptoms, visit your doctor immediately
Few last lines
Although there is a lot of similarity between both disorders, Lyme disease is still not as severe as COVID-19. It is just a bacterial infection and can be treated with the help of antibiotics. Regardless, if you observe any of the symptoms mentioned above, consult your doctor immediately.
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