Back to Lyme News

YOU MAY HAVE IT AND NOT KNOW IT

Lyme Disease Epidemic Increases as Spring Approaches

With over 300 known strains of the Lyme disease bacteria worldwide, Lyme disease is the fastest growing infectious illness in the United States, growing at five times the rates of the AIDS and HIV infections. Lyme disease has been reported in 49 states, every continent and nearly every area including Canada and the Caribbean. From infants to the elderly, no one is immune to this disease.

As the weather becomes warmer in the spring, the dangers of contracting Lyme disease become increasingly ever-present, as new research shows that warmer weather and a higher moisture content lead to a higher increase in infected tick populations.

Lyme disease is a multi-system disease which can affect virtually every tissue and every organ of the human body. Symptoms of Lyme disease can range widely and include migraines, paralysis, joint pain, cardiac trouble, overall malaise and even death. Many physicians often misdiagnose the disease for other illnesses since the symptoms often mirror other medical problems such as Multiple Sclerosis, Arthritis, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Lupus or Alzheimer's disease. From infants to the elderly, no one is immune to Lyme disease.

The disease is predominately transmitted by deer ticks that live in areas with long grass, shrubs, trees and/or underbrush. Activities such as golfing, fishing and biking are just a few of the many activities that put people at risk.

You can minimize your chances of getting a tick bite by taking some of the following precautions:

• Wear a long sleeve shirt and long pants and tuck pant legs into your socks
• Wear light shaded clothing as it makes it easier to spot a tick, although they are as tiny as the size of a poppy seed when in the "nymph" or beginning stage
• Use an insect repellent containing the chemical DEET or Permethrin
• Inspect yourself and your children once you come back inside. Remove any ticks promptly. If you see a tick, use tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible and pull back firmly. Wash the area with soap and warm water.

Staci and Rich Grodin founded Turn The Corner Foundation in February of 2002 to help increase awareness, education and innovative treatments for Lyme disease. Staci has suffered from Lyme disease since 1994 and through her battle with Lyme disease over the past eleven years has seen first hand the critical need for Lyme disease research and education. Since its inception, the Foundation has raised close to one million dollars which has been dedicated to a variety of Lyme disease research projects. For more information about Lyme disease and Turn the Corner and to find out how you can get involved, please check out www.turnthecorner.org or contact Staci Grodin at 212.580.6262.

Back to Lyme News