4 Distinctions Between Lyme Disease And Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
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by: Patricia Strasser
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Word Count: 618
Date: Sun, 19 Feb 2012 Time: 12:46 AM
Differences between Lyme disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis include the following: presence of rash, feelings of exhaustion, muscular problems, and joint discomforts.
Lyme disease is a simple disease to treat. However, this illness is not easily identified due to identical signs and symptoms as with other conditions. One of these diseases that resembles Lyme disease is Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Lyme disease sufferers and their medical team both have to determine the right disease for the appropriate and prompt treatment.
Presence of rash
One of the common indications of Lyme disease is a skin rash on the bitten area of the body. This rash will show up in a couple of days to 30 days soon after the tick makes its infectious bite. The size of the rash can also be as big as twelve inches in diameter, and have the appearance of a bulls-eye; being round in shape and with the outer part reddish in color and the interior part white. In comparison to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, which will not have signs of such a rash. The bulls-eye rash is unique to Lyme disease.
Feelings of fatigue
While the person having Lyme disease has developed the rash, he will also experience feelings of heaviness; along with swollen glands, fever, headache, and chills. Medical professionals state that those who have amyotrophic lateral sclerosis will also experience fatigue or body weakness. The difference with the two illnesses is that the heaviness 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 overall body malaise, which will eventually improve over time, especially with the medication and therapy of the disease. In amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, the fatigue feelings increase in degree as the illness advances.
Muscular problems
Lyme disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis can both cause muscular problems, such as rigidity and muscle contractions. Based on a report by the CDC, Bell's palsy can sometimes happen to individuals 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 sufferer with neck muscle rigidity. In the initial stages of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, the sufferer will endure the same muscular manifestations as those related with Lyme disease; which are stiffness, contractions and muscle cramping. These muscular problems may affect different parts of the body, such as the legs, arms and the face; making it tough for the patient to ingest or talk. Additionally, the sufferer of the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis will have increasing muscular pain and discomfort as his disease progresses and extends to other parts of his body.
Joint pains
Those who are having Lyme disease and refuse to get immediate treatment will gradually experience arthritis and joint pain. Arthritis or swelling of the joints in Lyme disease sufferers usually occur only in the later phases of the disease. 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 distinction of the joint pains with the two 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 typically associated with the lack of use of that particular body part due to muscle discomfort and stiffness.
It is essential that an illness is ruled out, especially Lyme disease. This is because misdiagnosing a disease is no different from not being treated, and will most likely cause further and more severe complications. Always take part in your treatment.
About the Author
Written by Patricia Strasser. If you want to find out more about swollen glands, please go to http://www.lymediseaseblog.com/lyme-disease-symptoms/
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