Four Differences Between Lyme Disease and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Differences between Lyme disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis may include the following: presence of rash, feelings of weakness, muscular problems, and joint discomforts.
Lyme disease is a simple disease to treat. Nevertheless, this condition is not quickly detected due to comparable signs and symptoms as with other conditions. One of these diseases that resembles Lyme disease is Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Lyme disease victims and their medical team both have to determine the right disease for the proper and prompt treatment.
Presence of rash
One of the typical signs of Lyme disease is a skin rash on the bitten area of the body. This rash will show up in a few days to thirty days after the tick makes its infectious bite. The spread of the rash can also be as big as 12 inches in diameter, and have the appearance of a bulls-eye; being round in shape and with the exterior part colored red and the inner part white. In contrast to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, which will not have indications of this rash. The bulls-eye rash is unique to Lyme disease.
Feelings of weakness
At the same time the individual having Lyme disease has developed the rash, he will also have feelings of heaviness; in addition to swollen glands, fever, headache, and chills. Medical professionals state that those who have amyotrophic lateral sclerosis will also have fatigue or body weakness. The distinction with the two illnesses is that the fatigue suffered by those with the latter is felt only on a specific part of the body, which is in contrast to Lyme disease. With Lyme disease, the patient will have general body malaise, which will eventually improve over time, especially with the treatment of the disease. In amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, the fatigue feelings increase in degree as the illness progresses.
Muscular problems
Lyme disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis can both cause muscular problems, like stiffness and muscle contractions. Based on a report by the CDC, Bell's palsy can sometimes happen to people suffering from Lyme disease. Bell's palsy is a facial paralysis, where either or both sides of the face lose muscular tone and strength. Aside from that, the same illness can also torment the patient with neck muscle stiffness. During the initial stages of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, the patient will experience the same muscular manifestations as those related with Lyme disease; which are stiffness, spasms and muscle pains. These muscular conditions affect several parts of the body, specifically the legs, arms and the face; making it difficult for the sufferer to ingest or talk. Additionally, the sufferer of the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis will have escalating muscle pain and discomfort as his disease advances and spreads to other areas of his body.
Joint pains
Those who are suffering from Lyme disease and decline to receive prompt treatment will gradually experience arthritis and joint pain. Arthritis or swelling of the joints in Lyme disease patients usually happen only in the later phases of the illness. The most common joints affected are those of the knees and other major joints in the body. In comparison with that of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, joint pains are also present. The difference of the joint pains with the 2 illnesses lies in the fact that it manifests late in Lyme disease, and in the initial phases of the other disease. Joint pains in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis are mostly associated with the lack of use of that certain body part because of muscle pain and rigidity.
It is essential that an illness is ruled out, specifically Lyme disease. This is because misdiagnosing an illness is no different from not being treated, and will most likely cause further and more serious complications. Always take part in your treatment.
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