Do you not realize that this year is the 30th anniversary of the naming of Lyme Disease. Thirty years ago a number of children in Old Lyme Connecticut came down with a kind of arthritis etc and the disease first identified and has been misidentified and misunderstood ever since.
In light of the fact that the Infectious Diseases Society of America has just published its new guidelines on Lyme Disease, I wonder if anybody knows anything about all those children in Old Lyme Connecticut. How many were there, actually?
More to the point what has happened to them since then. After thirty years, before anybody had a clue as to how to treat this disease what is the condition of those children who have all now grown up. How many are still sick, if any, what symptoms etc. Such a thing could be potentially a source of invaluable information indeed.
Who do we know in Connecticut???? Cheers. Thomas Parkman
Posted by Ann-OH (Member # 2020) on :
I know Polly Murray who actually discovered Lyme disease in Lyme CT.
At one point in her book, she talks about 9 cases, including her, and 35 possible cases, many of whom were adults and many children.
I know a lot of people in that area of CT continue to be bitten by infected ticks over and over, and keep going back on antibiotics. You never develop an immunity, you know.
If you would like to read a wonderful book, you can buy Polly Murray's "The Widening Circle by clicking on the Amazon ad at your left. Then some of the money for the book will help support Lymenet!
While you are there, you can read my review of the book, too.
I think it would be an excellent idea to do a follow-up article on how those people all diagnosed with "Lyme arthritis" by Steere et al are doing in their adult lives today.
Ann - OH
Posted by kam (Member # 3410) on :
So, what is the next step? Do we write Polly and ask for her help on this?
I am very curious how the kids/adults are doing now and what helped or did not help.
Katherine
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
We need a newsreporter to do a follow-up story. That would be interesting.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :