[RP TownTalk] Lyme disease

[Regina Kreger]

Ugh .... I hope you and yours caught it early!  Thank you for the warning.

Sarah Wayland wrote:
> Well, it turns out that (at least) two people in our house have Lyme
> disease. And I personally know of at least 4 other people in town who
> have (or had) it. This seems like an epidemic to me.
>
> Apparently our warmer winters mean that the tick population (along
> with the mosquito population) is exploding. When my oldest son was
> diagnosed, the doctor told me he was the second person he'd seen THAT
> DAY with the disease.
>
> Please, everyone, read up about this disease and be aware of the
> symptoms. You can get it from being bitten by a tick. The trouble is
> that the ticks are tiny, and you may not even be aware you've been
> bitten. Even worse, the characteristic rash* only shows up in 70-80%
> of cases, so if you didn't get the rash, it doesn't mean you don't
> have the disease.
>
> You can learn more at: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/Lyme/
>
> >From that site:
> * The first sign of infection is usually a circular rash called
> erythema migrans or EM.  This rash occurs in approximately 70-80% of
> infected persons and begins at the site of a tick bite after a delay
> of 3-30 days.  A distinctive feature of the rash is that it gradually
> expands over a period of several days, reaching up to 12 inches (30
> cm) across. The center of the rash may clear as it enlarges, resulting
> in a bull's-eye appearance. [snip]  Patients also experience symptoms
> of fatigue, chills, fever, headache, and muscle and joint aches, and
> swollen lymph nodes.  In some cases, these may be the only symptoms of
> infection.
>
> Untreated, the infection may spread to other parts of the body within
> a few days to weeks, producing an array of discrete symptoms.  These
> include loss of muscle tone on one or both sides of the face (called
> facial or "Bell's palsy), severe headaches and neck stiffness due to
> meningitis, shooting pains that may interfere with sleep, heart
> palpitations and dizziness due to changes in heartbeat, and pain that
> moves from joint to joint.  [snip]
>
> After several months, approximately 60% of patients with untreated
> infection will begin to have intermittent bouts of arthritis, with
> severe joint pain and swelling.  Large joints are most often affected,
> particularly the knees. In addition, up to 5% of untreated patients
> may develop chronic neurological complaints months to years after
> infection.  These include shooting pains, numbness or tingling in the
> hands or feet, and problems with concentration and short term memory.
>
> Most cases of Lyme disease can be cured with antibiotics, especially
> if treatment is begun early in the course of illness.  However, a
> small percentage of patients with Lyme disease have symptoms that last
> months to years after treatment with antibiotics.  These symptoms can
> include muscle and joint pains, arthritis, cognitive defects, sleep
> disturbance, or fatigue.
>
> ------
>
> This disease can be debilitating. Please be aware, and get to a doctor
> quickly for treatment if you suspect it.
>
> -Sarah
>
>