Lyme disease and Peripheral Vascular Disease

Answer

Lyme disease and Peripheral Vascular Disease

Lyme Disease

According to Mead (2015), the cardinal sign that occurs in the early stages of Lyme disease is Atrioventricular block, myopericarditis and pancarditis. However, the most common clinical manifestation of Lyme disease is erythema migrans rash. Erythema migrans rash manifests itself as a small, red bump that occurs at the area of the tick bite which within a few days expands and extends to form a rash.

When infected with Lyme disease, the antibodies responsible for regulating B. burgdorferi infection take longer to develop. Mead (2015) confirms that among the population infected with Lyme disease, only one half will show positive serology within the early stages of the disease. Hence, the immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies appear two to four weeks while immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies manifest themselves at four to six weeks after the appearance of erythema migrans. However, immunoglobulin M (IgM) and immunoglobulin G (IgG) elevation occur six to eight weeks after the onset of erythema migrans.

In patients with Lyme disease, the early stages are featured with an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) due to an increase in the inflammation resulting from the rash.

Above all benefits and risks related to Therapeutic interventions, whether medicinal, exercise or herbal medicine, the fundamental goal is to restore one’s health and wellbeing to maximize the quality of life. Hence, the recommended treatment for Lyme disease highly depends on its effectiveness and side effects when used. Consequently, most medical providers recommend antibiotics therapy due to their proven benefits. The most prescribed oral antibiotics for Lyme disease are doxycycline (Monodox, Doryx ), amoxicillin (Amoxil), and cefuroxime (Ceftin, Zinacef) (Mead, 2015).

Peripheral Vascular Disease

The pain and cramping in the occlusive peripheral vascular disease are as a result of intermittent claudication that may occur in the feet, hips or thighs, especially in the calves. According to Kullo (2016), claudication is a term used to refer to the manifestation of reversible ischemia caused by exercise. As the Peripheral Vascular Disease progresses, the pain may elevate limiting the patient from walking long distances, and to some extent, the patient may experience rest pain, an indication of irreversible ischemia.

Peripheral artery disease is a condition that occurs when there is blockage of the peripheral arteries preventing blood from flowing to the legs. Hence, the blockage affects the leg tissues, and with time, the leg may become thin, pale, and the skin may lose the hair.

After surgery, the most recommended strategic physical assessments would be a critical review of the cardiovascular and respiratory system. Regular monitoring of common parameters such as temperature, blood pressure, peripheral oxygen saturation and pain scores need to be administered. To determine the adequacy of the patient’s circulation, an arterial blood gas analysis (ABGs) ad central venous pressure (CVP) monitoring is highly recommended.

Patients diagnosed with intermittent Claudication for non-occlusion are often recommended to take antiplatelet drugs which help modify atherogenesis as well as regulating transient ischemic attacks. Hence, medications for claudication include pentoxifylline 400 mg po bid with meals or cilostazol 100 mg po bid (Kullo, 2016). These drugs help relieve intermittent Claudication by promoting blood flow and improving tissue oxygenation in the attacked areas.