The more I learn about coronavirus, the more similarities I find between coronavirus and Lyme Disease. Now, I know that these diseases are not the same and there are plenty of differences (on the most basic level, COVID-19 is viral and Lyme Disease is bacterial)… But, I’ve been astounded by how many similarities there are. These are the similarities I’ve noticed:
Signs & symptoms don’t show up immediately after you’re infected
Coronavirus: Signs and symptoms appear 2-14 days after exposure
Lyme Disease: Days, weeks, months, years, decades before signs and symptoms appear…
Signs & Symptoms:
Early Signs & Symptoms:
Coronavirus: Fever, dry cough, fatigue, shortness of breath/difficulty breathing
Lyme disease: Fever, chills, fatigue, headache, muscle and joint pain, swollen lymph nodes, rash, sweats, neck pain
Other Signs & Symptoms:
Coronavirus: Body aches/muscle pain, lack of appetite, chills, repeated shaking with chills, runny nose, sore throat, headache, dizziness, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, nasal congestion, loss of smell, loss of taste, chest pain/pressure, confusion, inability to arouse, blue lips, blue face
Lyme Disease (not all symptoms are listed): Fever, headaches, sensitivity to light or sound, problems with hearing and vision, memory loss, sleep issues, mood changes, paralysis of one or both sides of the face, heart rhythm problems, sore throat, stiff neck, joint pain, muscle aches, fatigue, areas of tingling or numbness, confusion/cognitive impairment, fainting, poor memory, inability to concentrate, neuropathy (hands, feet, back)
Symptoms can range from very mild (=no symptoms at all) to very severe (=death) for both Coronavirus and Lyme Disease
Difficulty getting (accurate) tests
Coronavirus: Shortage of tests
Lyme Disease: After a 20-year comprehensive review, the mean accuracy of all Lyme test kits is only 59.5%
Precautions for Preventing/Avoiding Disease:
Coronavirus:
Avoid large events and mass gatherings;
Avoid close contact with those who are sick
Keep your distance between yourself and others if COVID-19 is spreading throughout community
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol
Cover mouth and nose with elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze, and discard the used tissue into the trash;
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth;
Avoid sharing dishes, glasses, bedding, and other household items if you’re sick;
Clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces daily;
Stay home from work, school, public transportation, and public areas if you’re sick, unless you’re going to get medical care
Lyme Disease:
Wear long pants to avoid tick bites
Monitor children, pets, and yourself to keep away from ticks
Thoroughly inspect body for ticks after being outside
Use insect repellants
Make the surroundings unfriendly for the ticks to grow (mow grass often, discard fallen leaves, etc.)
Inaccessible Medical Care
Coronavirus: Quarantine has forced limited availability to healthcare practitioners
Lyme Disease: Often takes a long time, a lot of doctor’s visits, and a lot of suffering in order to formulate the correct medical team
Treatment:
Coronavirus: Currently, no antiviral medication is recommended. Treatment is symptom-based
Lyme Disease: If you have chronic Lyme Disease, you may always be trying to manage symptoms and reach or remain in remission