May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month

Letter to the Editor,

May is Lyme Awareness Month. Borreliosis (more commonly known as Lyme) is the greatest vector borne disease with over 300,000 new cases each year in the U.S. alone. The number of cases reported annually has increased nearly 25 fold since national surveillance began in 1982. There are five subspecies of borrelia burgdorferi, over 100 strains in the U.S. and 300 strains worldwide.

There are no accurate tests, with which to confirm one has it, or one to show the organism is eradicated and the patient is cured. Fewer than 50% of patients recall a tick bite, and less than 50% of patients have the classic “bullseye” rash. Up to 50% of ticks in Lyme-endemic areas are infected, and 40% of Lyme patients end up with long term health problems. The average patient sees five doctors over nearly two years before being diagnosed. Lyme disease is a clinical diagnosis. Unfortunately, most doctors in our area are not properly trained to recognize or treat Lyme.     Login or Subscribe to read the rest of this story.