4 Important Facts about Lyme Disease and the Sublingual Gland

This article will provide a few facts regarding Lyme disease and the sublingual gland, including the following: an anatomical description and location of the sublingual gland, Lyme disease signs and symptoms, its treatment, and its prevention.

Lyme disease is an infectious disease that is caused by the bite of a disease-carrying deer tick. The sublingual gland has a very great likelihood of being involved in the disease, due to its relationship with the nerve that is commonly affected by the disease.

Anatomical description and location of the sublingual gland

The sublingual gland is one of the three salivary glands that is responsible for the production of mucin, which is a saliva component. This is located right beneath the tongue, on either the left or right side of the mouth.

Lyme disease signs and symptoms

The typical initial sign of Lyme disease is a bull’s-eye rash on the bitten part of the victim’s body. It literally has a bull’s-eye appearance, with red at the very center and in an outer circle and a white ring in between. The patient may then also have additional associated symptoms such as joint pain or arthritis, flu-like symptoms, and symptoms that involve the nerves, like Bell’s Palsy. The nerve involved in Bell’s Palsy is the seventh cranial nerve, which is also the one enervating the sublingual gland. Thus, the involvement of the sublingual gland in signs and sypmtoms of Lyme disease seems likely. However, signs and symptoms associated with the sublingual gland have not been widely reported. In fact, according to executive director of the American Lyme Disease Foundation Phillip J. Baker, Ph.D., he is yet to receive any report of such a relationship or link between Lyme disease and sublingual gland signs and symptoms.

Lyme disease treatment

During the early stages Lyme disease is treated with oral antibiotics for two to three weeks. But if a patient does not seek immediate treatment, then he may be given an intravenous antibiotic treatment course.

Lyme disease prevention

Another important thing you should know about Lyme disease is that you cannot acquire it unless you are bitten by a disease-carrying tick. Prevention is the best way to avoid Lyme disease. The deer ticks that carry the microorganism Borrelia Burgdorferi are, naturally, found mostly in wooded areas where deer live. These ticks may be on the bark of trees or on bushes. So, if you go hiking, walking, or camping in the woods, you should protect yourself from these ticks. Wear long-sleeved clothes to cover your arms and long pants for your legs. Clothing should also be light in color so it is easy to see any tick that might get on your clothes. In addition, wear boots and a hat as well. It is also advisable to spray yourself with insect repellant, according to the manufacturer’s instructions, prior to leaving for your trip to the woods.

There are times when Lyme disease may be mistaken for other kinds of diseases. Lyme disease can also involve different organs in the body if not treated immediately. With these two facts in mind, if you are certain that you have a Lyme disease despite your medical professional’s opinion, then you should not stop seeking ways to identify and treat your disease.