Final answer:
Early disseminated Lyme disease occurs days to weeks after the initial tick bite and may cause severe symptoms such as headache, arthritis, and carditis. It is typically treated with oral antibiotics. Later disseminated Lyme disease can occur years after exposure, causing severe complications that may require long-term antibiotics.
Step-by-step explanation:
Early disseminated Lyme disease and later disseminated Lyme disease are different stages of the disease caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. In the early disseminated stage, which occurs days to weeks after the initial tick bite, symptoms may include severe headache, neck stiffness, facial paralysis, arthritis, and carditis. In the later disseminated stage, which may occur years after exposure, chronic inflammation can cause severe arthritis, meningitis, encephalitis, and altered mental states.
The treatment of early disseminated Lyme disease typically involves a two- to four-week course of oral antibiotics, such as doxycycline. In more severe cases or when the central nervous system is involved, intravenous antibiotics like ceftriaxone may be necessary. For later disseminated Lyme disease, long-term maintenance doses of antibiotics may be required to prevent recurrence. It's important to note that prompt treatment is crucial in preventing long-term complications.