Lyme Disease

Lyme disease is a tick-borne illness with a wide array of symptoms.  Cases have been reported throughout the country but the disease is most prevalent in the Northeast and upper Midwest .

The first sign of Lyme disease is a usually painless skin rash called erythema migrans at or near the site of the bite. If not promptly and properly treated with antibiotics, Lyme disease can produce the following conditions: CNS problems, including inflammation of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord (meningitis) or of the brain itself (encephalitis).  Some patients may develop confusion, memory loss, and emotional difficulties.  Heart problems, including inflammation of the heart (myocarditis) and heart block, an abnormal slowing of the heartbeat.  Joint problems, usually arthritis of the larger joints such as the knee or ankle.  Various other problems, including fever, fatigue, headache and muscle pain.

Dr. William Fife and Dr. Donald Freeman at Texas A&M University reported the use of HBOT for Lyme disease in humans.  In their study, 40 patients were treated with HBOT at a pressure of 2.36 atmospheres absolute once or twice a day, five day of week, for from one to four weeks.  Some patients continued antibiotic therapy while taking HBOT.  Others did not.