I am wondering if Lyme can be spread from person to person by casual contact? I understand it can be spread in utero and with sexual contact, and of course by a tick, but is there any other way to contact this disease?
Posted by Tincup (Member # 5829) on :
Welcome to Lyme Net!
I've only ever seen one abstract that states Lyme can be spread by casual contact. Several years later one of the idiots wrote that stated Lyme can only be spread by deer ticks.
I think it depends on who is signing the researchers pay checks as to the facts they put out there.
Lyme is carried by .. ho.. wait a minute...
Here is a quote from an article I wrote years ago... Lyme Time You Knew.
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"2. The American Dog Tick, Lonestar Tick, and the Deer Tick, are just a few of at least 9 different species of ticks that carry the Lyme Disease spirochetes. The spirochete that causes Lyme Disease has also been found in at least 6 species of mosquitoes, 13 species of mites, 15 species of flies, 2 species of fleas, and numerous wild and domestic mammals including rabbits, rodents, and birds.
Once transmitted to humans, the spirochete (over 300 DIFFERENT strains have been identified to date) causes damage to its host by spreading to various parts of the body. Other insects and modes of transmission are currently being researched.
At this time, Lyme disease is not considered to be sexually transmitted, only because there has not been a ``documented case''. It may be wise to take precautions until studies are completed.
The spirochetes that cause Lyme Disease have been found in breast milk, the uterus, semen, urine, blood, the cervix, tears, brain, and other body fluids and tissues.
People suspected of having Lyme Disease should NOT donate blood, as the process of storing or processing the blood does not kill spirochetes or some of the other tick borne diseases. People have been infected with tick borne diseases through blood transfusions.
3. Ticks and other insects can transmit more that one disease at a time (up to 20 different diseases have been noted in scientific literature). Be aware of the early symptoms of other tick-borne diseases, such as Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, which can mimic severe flu-like symptoms in its early stages, and can be deadly.
Keep in mind, simply handling a tick, or a tick crawling across your skin can transmit RMSF. Co-infections with several strains of Babesia, Bartonella (Quintana and Henselae), and Ehrilichiosis are being discovered in people diagnosed with Lyme disease and they can be deadly and/or become chronic infections.
Treatment for these diseases is not always the same as for Lyme. Suspect and test for co-infections for those who do not improve on regular Lyme disease treatments.
The current method for testing people for Lyme disease misses up to 90 percent of those infected. The current tests are not designed to pick up more than one strain of Lyme disease and strains such as STARI are being missed.
Often, the lower the titer readings in infected patients, the longer the infection has been present. Low readings do not indicate a lesser infection. The symptoms of co-infections do not always present as ``typical'' for that particular disease when found in Lyme patients and tests do not always pick up the co-infections.
Lyme Disease and co-infections are to be diagnosed clinically and a negative test should NOT exclude a diagnosis of any of these diseases."
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The one abstract that states it can be casually spread then says it can't is by some duck at the University of Maryland claiming to be a Lyme expert. Yeah right.
Hope this info helps.
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
thanks tincup; see i didn't have it in my newbie package; i do now!! Posted by onbam (Member # 23758) on :
casual contact? ...that sounds like one **** of an abstract...
[ 03-26-2011, 11:43 PM: Message edited by: onbam ]
Posted by Jacqi (Member # 6619) on :
When we questioned my LLMD about it being sexually transmitted her response was, "Until they tell me absolutely no way is it at ALL possible, I will believe that there is a chance that it can happen".
Posted by onbam (Member # 23758) on :
up
Posted by jenniferk32 (Member # 30718) on :
I hope to God it's not sexually transmitted. I can imagine telling my next boyfriend "Oh, by the way, if we sleep together you might get infected with a disease that could screw up your mind, your body and pretty much every aspect of your life. And also, I have herpes. Wanna get it on now?"
Posted by gwb (Member # 7273) on :
There is recent research that shows it's very likely that Lyme disease can be sexually transmitted. You can do a search here and find links to articles about this. You can also do a google search and find articles and information about this.
Some here will tell you it's not possible. I believe, based on recent research, and the fact that a number of people here believe they've passed this disease to their spouse, or significant other, that yes, it is very likely that you can transmit this disease to your boyfriend.
Gary
Posted by gwb (Member # 7273) on :
By the way, here is an ongoing thread on this very subject:
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