Tag: Neurology

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How Do Tick-Borne Infections Affect The Brain?

Angelica Bottaro

Whenever spring is just around the corner, you can be sure tick season is almost ready to begin, too. While many people know that ticks harbor diseases, not everyone may be aware of the severity of these infections until they contract one. The initial symptoms associated with tick-borne diseases are typically mild. Because of this, many people go untested after contracting a disease. But when treatment is not sought quickly, tick-borne diseases can spread through the entire body and cause severe health issues. Tick-borne conditions can be just as harmful to the brain as any other organ in the body – but how do tick-borne diseases affect the brain, exactly? Let’s find out.

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How Can Epstein-Barr Affect The Brain?

Angelica Bottaro

Viral infections come in all shapes and sizes. Some will take a light hold and cause mild illness, while others will dive deep into tissues and cause long-term disease and health issues. Viruses also affect people in different ways. For example, a young, healthy person may not experience any symptoms of a mild cold or flu virus, but an older adult with preexisting conditions could be hospitalized with the same infection.

When it comes to common viruses that are difficult to understand, Epstein-Barr is the leader of the pack. The virus has been around for a long time – people may commonly know it as “the kissing disease”, or mono. As much as 90% of the global population is actually walking around with the Epstein-Barr virus in their bodies without any knowledge of it!

Because of this, some people may suffer from long-term consequences of the disease, such as autoimmune conditions and an increased risk of developing certain cancers. But how does Epstein-Barr affect the brain? Let’s investigate.

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How Is Lyme Neuropathy Treated?

Angelica Bottaro

Lyme disease is a complicated infection that has the power to affect various bodily systems. The bacteria that cause Lyme infiltrate the body via the bloodstream and can camp out in joints, tissues, and other areas to evade detection by antibiotics and the body’s defenses. When Lyme manages to cause harm because of its invasion technique, people can experience debilitating symptoms that range in severity and presentation.  

Some areas of the body that can be affected negatively by Lyme bacteria include the central and peripheral nervous systems. These systems are designed to connect the brain with the rest of the body and send nerve signals that play a role in bodily functions, motor skills, and much more. When Lyme disease affects the nervous system, it is referred to as Lyme neuropathy. But what is Lyme neuropathy, exactly? And how is Lyme neuropathy treated? Read on to learn more.

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Laboratory Testing For Identifying PANDAS

Angelica Bottaro

PANDAS stands for “Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections”. PANDAS is typically diagnosed when a child has a strep infection and develops other disorders such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), a tic disorder, or both. If a child already has either one of these disorders, a strep infection that makes them worse could also be considered PANDAS. 

When symptoms develop, they do so quite suddenly. For example, a child may be completely fine when they go to bed at night and wake up with dramatic symptoms such as vocal or motor tics, new compulsions, or obsessions. Other signs of PANDAS can include anxiety attacks, separation anxiety, and irritability. It can be hard to determine if a child has PANDAS because there is no single test available – it takes quite a lot of investigation to come to a positive diagnosis. So how does laboratory testing for identifying PANDAS work? Read on to learn more.

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Neurological Complications Of Lyme Disease

Angelica Bottaro

Lyme disease can create a range of different health issues if left untreated. Unfortunately, because the early stages of Lyme disease are so non-specific in terms of symptoms, many people may be completely unaware that they even have the infection. For people who don’t immediately think about tick bites when they feel flu symptoms come on, the possibility of Lyme disease is the furthest thing from their mind.

Unfortunately, having Lyme disease over the long term can lead to various debilitating symptoms – but diagnosing Lyme disease or getting it treated before it turns into something more sinister isn’t always the way things go for people who contract the infection. So what are the many health issues caused by chronic Lyme? Can neurological symptoms be one of them? Read on for all you need to know about the potential neurological complications of Lyme disease.

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