ROSEMONT, Ill., Feb. 2, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Early,
correct diagnosis is the best way to prevent the development of
Lyme arthritis in individuals with the tick-borne illness,
according to a paper published in the Journal of the
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (JAAOS). In
patients who do develop the condition, most cases can be treated
successfully with antibiotics, the review found.
“Lyme arthritis occurs commonly in patients with Lyme
disease and should be considered when evaluating patients
with joint complaints and who live in areas where the disease
occurs,” said study author Aristides Cruz, MD, chief orthopaedic
resident, Yale-New Haven Hospital. “When diagnosed early, most
patients do not develop Lyme arthritis. But when correct diagnosis
is delayed, arthritis can occur and requires intervention before
permanent joint damage develops.”
Lyme arthritis can be defined as a painful, swollen joint, that
causes a stiffness similar to osteoarthritis,
and occurs most commonly in the late stages of Lyme disease,
usually several months after the onset of the disease. About 60
percent of patients who are left untreated for Lyme disease in its
early stages will develop Lyme arthritis, Dr. Cruz said.
“Lyme arthritis occurs when the spirochete, the bacteria that
causes the disease, invades the joints and causes inflammation to
the tissue that lines the joints,” he said. “If left untreated,
this inflammatory response can cause the cartilage within the
joints to become damaged.”
Dr. Cruz said most cases of Lyme arthritis are brief and involve
a single joint, most typically the knee. The ankle, elbow, hip and
wrist may also be affected, and some patients may develop a fever.
Following an initial period of joint pain and swelling lasting from
a week to sev
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