This article was produced in collaboration with the Public Health Agency of Canada.
The Issue
Lyme disease is a serious illness spread by the bite of certain species of ticks. Ticks are insect-like in appearance and feed on the blood of animals, including humans.
For most Canadians, the risk of exposure to Lyme disease is fairly low. However, it is still important to keep the risk as low as possible if you spend time outdoors in areas where there may be ticks that could transmit Lyme disease.
Background
Lyme disease in Canada is caused by a bacterium called Borrelia burgdorferi. This bacterium is normally carried by mice, squirrels, birds and other small animals.....
.....You are most likely to come into contact with ticks by brushing against vegetation. When a tick bites you, it becomes attached to your skin by its mouth parts....
....The risk of exposure to Lyme disease is highest in the regions (listed above) where blacklegged and western blacklegged ticks are established. However, surveillance has shown that migratory birds can carry these ticks to other parts of Canada.
In addition, researchers believe the ticks may be establishing themselves in areas that are not identified yet. This means there is a risk that people in other regions of Canada may also be exposed to infected ticks.....
....The Symptoms and Health Effects of Lyme Disease Although the symptoms and health effects will vary from one person to the next, Lyme disease is often described in three stages.
The first sign of infection is often a circular rash. This rash occurs in about 70-80% of infected people and begins at the site of the tick bite after a delay of three days to one month.
Additional symptoms may include fatigue, chills, fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, and swollen lymph nodes. If untreated, the disease progresses into the second stage which can last several months.
Symptoms of this stage include migraines, weakness, multiple skin rashes, painful or stiff joints, abnormal heartbeat and extreme fatigue.
If the disease continues to progress, the third stage of Lyme disease can include symptoms such as chronic arthritis and neurological symptoms, including headaches, dizziness, numbness, and paralysis.
Fatalities from Lyme disease are rare. However, if contracted during pregnancy, Lyme disease can pose serious health risks to the baby, including stillbirth.
Lyme disease can be treated effectively with antibiotics. A full recovery is more likely when treatment begins in the early stages of the disease.
Undiagnosed Lyme disease may develop into chronic illness that can be difficult to treat.
Amazing not a word about post lyme syndrome, of course this is Health Canada not CDC.
regards maps
[ 06-14-2009, 02:32 PM: Message edited by: maps ]
-------------------- 1999 CFS, 2002 CMV Myco pneumonia 1 year antibiotics on and off 2002 EBV, 2009 Positive Igenex Borellia and Babesia, Brain mri severe white matter disease Monoclonal Gammopathy. On and off antibiotics since sept. March 9 started iv antibiotics Posts: 328 | From somewhereelse | Registered: Apr 2009
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bettyg
Unregistered
posted
maps, WHOOPIE! big improvement there for canada.
i'll have to reread this later; came on to get my virus check going.
maps, may i suggest you edit title and add CANADA HEALTH SITE to it since you'e not from USA and that's what we think of automatically on here.
just click on pencil to right of you name opens up subject line. thank you xox
just watching a California news cast on utube did not realize that they already have in place the law to protect doctors.
could have gone there and stayed with my sister, especially since i think my son and i were bitten there:)
have a great day.
regards maps
-------------------- 1999 CFS, 2002 CMV Myco pneumonia 1 year antibiotics on and off 2002 EBV, 2009 Positive Igenex Borellia and Babesia, Brain mri severe white matter disease Monoclonal Gammopathy. On and off antibiotics since sept. March 9 started iv antibiotics Posts: 328 | From somewhereelse | Registered: Apr 2009
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posted
Well, at least someone is finally saying what we all already know. I just hope our CDC can jump on board with the Canadian one.
Shalome
Posts: 893 | From Florida | Registered: Dec 2008
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bettyg
Unregistered
posted
maps,
that was a really GOOD article! reread it later and noticed they mentioned STILLBIRTHS too! off hand can't remember any of our usa articles with that in.
happy for you it was in your newspaper! whoopie
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Ufortunately cdc and health canada are two different governemtn agencys. Our CDC follows whatever your cdc says.
But stating it may affect pregnancy and also even though no infected tick may have been found in an area does not mean they are not there.
One tiny step at a time but always nice to see.
liesandmorelies, I was wondering about the insurance companies.
regards maps
-------------------- 1999 CFS, 2002 CMV Myco pneumonia 1 year antibiotics on and off 2002 EBV, 2009 Positive Igenex Borellia and Babesia, Brain mri severe white matter disease Monoclonal Gammopathy. On and off antibiotics since sept. March 9 started iv antibiotics Posts: 328 | From somewhereelse | Registered: Apr 2009
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Dekrator48
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 18239
posted
So glad to hear that the people in Canada are getting some good info!
Thanks for posting!
Take care, Dekrator
-------------------- The fibromyalgia I've had for 32 years was an undiagnosed Lyme symptom.
"For I know the plans I have for you", declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future". -Jeremiah 29:11 Posts: 6076 | From Pennsylvania, USA | Registered: Nov 2008
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