Symptoms Of Lyme Disease Seniors Should Know

May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month and seniors and their families should know more about Lyme Disease and how to spot the symptoms of it. There are around 35,000 cases of Lyme Disease reported each year, but there could be many more that aren’t reported. Antibiotics and other medications can help battle Lyme Disease, but it’s important for people to know the symptoms of Lyme Disease and how to spot them so that they can get treatment. Their elder care provider can also help in this situation.

Seniors can get Lyme Disease if they are bitten by an infected tick. And during the spring and summer months when seniors are outdoors enjoying the nice weather, there is an increased chance that they will end up coming into contact with ticks. Seniors that have elder care should have their elder care provider check them carefully for ticks if seniors go out golfing, hiking, or engaging in other outdoor activities. Seniors should also wear long pants and socks to help them avoid getting bitten.

The most common symptoms of Lyme Disease that seniors should watch for are:

Rash

The most recognizable symptom of Lyme Disease is a rash that appears to have a bullseye formation where there is one red point in the center of a red rash circle. If your senior parent starts complaining about a rash or you or their elder care provider notices a rash that looks like a bullseye your senior parent should be seen by a doctor right away to get screened for Lyme Disease.

Swollen Knees

Arthritis can cause joint swelling, but the swelling associated with Lyme Disease isn’t a joint swelling it’s a swelling of the entire knee. If your senior parent starts to complain about swollen painful knees that is something that a doctor needs to see right away. Your senior parent may need antibiotics at that point to start treating Lyme Disease. Other joints may also be swollen and painful but any seniors with swollen knees take that seriously.

Lymph Node Swelling

Typically when lymph nodes swell it means that the body is fighting off some kind of infection or illness. If your senior loved one has swelling in the lymph nodes in the neck, armpits, or groin area it could be a sign of Lyme Disease, especially if you know that your senior loved one was recently bitten by a tick. Anytime your senior parent has lymph node swelling they should see a doctor to make sure that they don’t need antibiotics or other medication.

Elder Care Aide May Notice a Drooping Face

When seniors experience drooping on one side of their face it usually means they’ve had a stroke or a TIA. But it can also be a symptom of Lyme Disease. Any change in physical appearance like that is something that your senior parent needs to have examined right away to figure out what is causing the drooping. If your senior parent doesn’t experience any of the other symptoms of a stroke but does suddenly notice drooping in their face they may have Lyme Disease.

Source: https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/index.html https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/stats/humancases.html

If you or an aging loved one is considering Elder Care Services in Marietta GA please contact the caring staff at CaraVita Home Care today. (770) 643-1712