Softballmom
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6235
posted
Wondered if you all would like to help me.
I read an article on the UNC Hospitals website that was very dicouraging. So I wrote them a respectfull letter about my concerns of their view on Lyme disease and requested that they do further research. I am giving you the article and the email they wrote back to me.
If you are interested I would love to flood their office with respectfull educational emails that might possibly trigger someone to look into the matter even further. It may not help but I thought it was worth a try.
Article _____________________________________________ Avoid tick-laden areas to prevent infection of Lyme disease
By DR. JAKE LOHR UNC Health Care
Lyme disease was first described in children from Lyme, Conn., in the 1970s. It is caused by a germ transmitted to humans by the deer tick and often causes a skin rash, but can involve many parts of the body.
The disease continues to occur most commonly in children.
Lyme disease is the most common disease carried by ticks in the United States - even more common than Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF). On the other hand, Lyme disease is very uncommon in North Carolina, a state that often leads the nation in the number of cases of RMSF. Most patients who are diagnosed with Lyme disease in North Carolina acquired their disease outside of the state.
The most important risk factor is living in an area where deer ticks are prevalent and likely to be infected with the agent of Lyme disease. Such areas include all or parts of Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Maryland, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Wisconsin and Minnesota. Deer populations are abundant in these states, and the deer ticks there are plentiful and more likely to be infected.
The increased likelihood of tick infection occurs because they feed on small animals, such as the white-footed mouse, that are often infected. Thus, the agent causing Lyme disease is kept alive and available in the white-footed mouse, transmitted to the deer tick through its feeding on the mouse, and spread about the area when the tick attaches to a deer that moves around.
Lyme disease is more likely to be acquired in the spring and summer when more deer ticks are active. Children increase their risk of being bitten by a deer tick when they play in woodlands and fields. They do not have to come in direct contact with or even close to a deer. To become infected, their bite must be from an infected tick, and the percentage of ticks that are infected varies greatly within different areas.
Infection does not occur immediately upon being bitten. In fact, infection is far less likely if the tick is attached for less than 48 hours. Unfortunately, the attached young ticks are so small that they may not be noticed.
Lyme disease is separated into early disease and late disease. The first sign of early disease is most often a single spot of rash that appears seven to 14 days after the tick bite. The rash is most often a single round spot that starts at the site of the tick bite and increases in size until it reaches an average width of 6 inches. The rash is red, but its center can have clearing of the redness, and it may prove itchy or painful - or have no symptoms. Other general symptoms include fever, muscle aches, headache or tiredness. Untreated, the rash may last one to two weeks or longer.
About one-fourth of infected children with early disease will go on to have many, smaller spots of rash days to weeks after the single, larger spot of rash occurred. Fever, muscle aches, headache, neck pain, tiredness, pink eyes and swollen glands usually occur with multiple spots. Some of these children will have paralysis of the nerve that works the muscles of the face.
Late disease in children usually appears as a form of arthritis, which occurs months after the initial infection and usually involves a few of the large joints, especially knees. Even untreated, the arthritis will still disappear but come and go before it finally goes away permanently.
Diagnosis usually must be made on the basis of the child's symptoms and signs. Routine laboratory tests are rarely helpful. Blood tests that can be useful in making a diagnosis are not likely to be positive until three to four weeks after the infection begins. Almost all children who have Lyme disease are over their illness by then.
Several commonly used antibiotics can be used to safely cure Lyme disease. Treatment is usually given for up to three weeks. It is rare that a child is not completely cured. Lotions and ointments do not help the rash, and the usual kinds of pain medication can help with the arthritis.
The best way to prevent Lyme disease is to wear protective clothing when entering areas known to have ticks, especially the kind that carry Lyme disease, and to look for and remove ticks after being in these areas. Insect repellents may work, but they can be absorbed through the skin and have bad side effects for children. The skin should be inspected daily; hair-covered parts of the body should receive special attention.
If a tick is discovered, it should be removed by pulling it directly off without a twisting action and without squeezing it hard enough to make it burst. The hands should be covered with a tissue or other protection when removing the tick. Heat from a cigarette or a match should not be used to try to get the tick to let loose. Covering the tick with a petroleum lubricant will not make it release and will make successful removal more difficult. Once removed, the tick should be discarded down the toilet.
The area of the bite should be cleansed, preferably with alcohol antiseptic. Antibiotics are not used for just tick bites. Finally, a vaccine to prevent Lyme disease is available but is not yet recommended for widespread use.
Jake Lohr, MD, is a professor of pediatrics and associate chair of the Department of Pediatrics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine.
Responce from UNC _________________________________________________ Hello Ms. #$%&,
Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us about the article on Lyme disease on our Web site that was written by Dr. Jake Lohr.
We took your comments very seriously. Therefore, we asked Dr. David Weber, who is medical director of infection control for UNC Hospitals, to read your comments and Dr. Lohr's article, and to let us know whether or not the information in his article, which was written several years ago, is still accurate. Here is Dr. Weber's reply:
"In general Dr. Lohr's article remains accurate. The data from the NC Department of Health suggests that indeed Lyme is rare in NC. There is no FDA approved lab test for Lyme. Dr. Lohr's comments on treatment are correct. Therapy even for advanced neurologic disease is not recommended for more than 60 days (note Ms. #$&% was treated for 4 months). There is a vocal group that believes in seronegative Lyme disease (symptoms not consistent with previous descriptions and negative lab tests) - needless to say, one cannot prove or exclude Lyme disease in this case."
So, while we understand that there are those who hold opposing views, we believe that Dr. Lohr's article accurately reflects the currently prevailing view within the field of medicine with regard to Lyme disease.
Best regards,
Tom Hughes University of North Carolina Health Care System Public Affairs & Marketing Phone: (919) 966-6047 E-mail: [email protected]
Northstar
Posts: 1331 | From hither and yonder | Registered: Sep 2005
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ConnieMc
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 191
posted
Here is NC the state epidemologist has changed reporting requirements for Lyme. They are trying their best to show that NC has very few cases. So although we have Dr. J, and more cases are being diagnosed than ever, the state stats show fewer cases in 2005.
I will certainly write but doubt it will make a difference.
I acquired Lyme in Vance County NC and had a CDC positive test. But, surprise - I was never contacted by a health dept. This is what is supposed to happen. So although I was told by the LLMD that my case was reported, I suspect it didn't make the final stats, for reasons unknown.
Tourism, potential outrage of untreated patients, money-making from chronic illnesses - all this comes into play. There is a major cover-up here. Tried as we might we cannot get any hard evidence on these clowns.
But their day will come. And all this will be exposed.
It was heart-wrenching to read the letter recently posted about Dr. Bleiwess. But reading this I realize in 12 years nothing has changed. Dr. J here in NC is in exactly the same situation as Dr. Bleiwess was 12 years ago.
When will the madness end?
Posts: 2276 | From NC | Registered: Oct 2000
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Softballmom
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6235
posted
Thanks for responding. Don't really see how anything will ever change if we don't at least try.
-------------------- It's not the Lyme, I just can't spell! Posts: 1331 | From North Carolina | Registered: Sep 2004
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posted
I reported my case in NC and was contacted for release of medical information.
Posts: 211 | From NC | Registered: Dec 2005
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Softballmom
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6235
posted
Thanks for your help. I got a email today showing more correspondence from UNC Hospitals. Not sure who sent me.
My son had his appt with Dr. J in CT yesterday. We got him in early.
I believe he is the most caring Dr. I have ever had the pleasure of watching at work. We have our test results back in 3 weeks. He started him on one antibiotic to see his reaction to it.
He says that the results from previous Lyme testing show high antibodies which is good. He said that my son has a strong immune system and will probably not suffer from Lyme as bad as I did.
-------------------- It's not the Lyme, I just can't spell! Posts: 1331 | From North Carolina | Registered: Sep 2004
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