Lyme Disease Challenge
Want to know the facts? Here are just a few facts that we have chosen to highlight for the challenge.
- Children are at the highest risk of contracting Lyme Disease and are more vulnerable to central nervous system infections.
- Transmission of Lyme Disease and other infections can take place in a matter of minutes, particularly if the tick is not removed properly.
- Lyme Disease has been called “The Great Imitator” and can be mistaken for ALS, MS, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, autism, and other illnesses.
- Research suggests that Lyme Disease and other infections can be spread from mother to baby during pregnancy.
- Studies show that standard laboratory tests recommended by the CDC to diagnose Lyme Disease miss approximately half of actual cases, leading to misdiagnosis and an infection that is more difficult to treat.
- Over 63% of patients treated for Lyme Disease continue to suffer symptoms that can be debilitating.
- The CDC estimates that there are 329,000 new cases of Lyme Disease each year in the United States. Some experts believe the actual number of new cases could be as high as 1-2 million new cases per year in the US alone.
- Lyme Disease has been reported in every state except Hawaii and has been found on every continent except Antarctica.
- Lyme Disease has 6 times more new cases each year than HIV/AIDS, yet it receives less than 1% of the funding.
- Fewer than 50% of patients with Lyme Disease recall a tick bite or any rash.
- There are no tests available to prove that the bacteria that causes Lyme Disease has been eradicated or that the patient is cured after treatment.
- Ticks can carry many different types of bacterial, viral and parasitic infections – some life-threatening – which can further complicate tick-borne disease diagnosis, treatment and recovery.
What is Lyme Disease?
Lyme Disease is caused by a spirochete (spiral shaped) bacteria (Borrelia burgdorferi) and is transmitted by certain species of black-legged ticks, as well as the lone star tick commonly found in southern states. The nymphal, or immature, form of the tick, which is about the size of a poppy seed, causes most human cases. Because the bite is painless, many people do not realize they have been bitten. Furthermore, ticks harbor many other diseases that can be transmitted to humans aside from Lyme Disease, including other bacterial infections, viruses or parasites. Indeed, there are many diseases (some life-threatening) carried by ticks that can complicate tick-borne disease diagnosis, treatment and recovery, including Babesiosis, Tularemia, Anaplasmosis, Mycoplasma, Ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Borrelia miyamotoi, Bartonella, Bourbon Virus, Heartland Virus, Powassan disease among others.
Lyme and tick-borne diseases are prevalent across the entire United States. Fewer than half of patients with Lyme disease recall a tick bite. Likewise, fewer than half of patients with Lyme disease recall any rash. Although the bulls-eye red rash is considered a classic sign and warrants a clinical diagnosis, it is not the most common dermatologic manifestation of early Lyme infection. Atypical forms of this rash are actually far more common. Learn more.
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