Last week, the Baltimore Sun and other media reported on the "dramatic" rise of Lyme disease in this area. From 2006-2007, reported cases of Lyme disease in Maryland doubled (from 1248 to 2576) and more than tripled in Howard County (from 113 to 358).According to the CDC, most cases of illness occur in the late spring and summer (i.e., now) when "the tiny nymphs are most active and human outdoor activity is greatest." The CDC has a good explanation of Lyme disease transmission.
I contracted Lyme disease in 2002 and have sustained a chronic arthritis in my right knee that slows down my walking and moving to this day. Many of my neighbors (and some of their dogs) have had Lyme disease as well, including my next door neighbor who had it 3 times (!). Most were able to recognize it and get it treated early enough before complications set in. And this is key. Unfortunately, I did not have the classic bull's eye rash (which appears in about 80% of infections), so mine was not detected and treated until well after the knee problem occurred.
I do, however, remember having a high fever and flu-like symptoms for a few days. So I would encourage anyone who experiences this--when it's not flu season--to check with a doctor and consider Lyme disease. And, an otherwise unexplained joint problem could also be due to Lyme disease. Arthritis in one knee is the most common complication. But, other complications can occur--like arthritis in several joints and neurological and cardiovascular problems.
I would also urge everyone to be mindful about ticks, and keep checking themselves and their dogs for the teeny tiny things. The deer ticks are really, really small--pinhead size. And you don't have to be a camper or hiker to get them in this area. Many of the people I know who got Lyme disease are not particularly outdoorsy types--except for gardening around their house.
Also, it's important to keep dogs up-to-date with tick prevention treatments, especially now. Dogs can get Lyme disease too, but fortunately, there is a vaccine for them. I make sure mine have it yearly. However, even though dogs are treated, ticks can still get on them, go for a ride, and them jump on you. So, nothing beats frequent checking and vigilance.
And that's today's "Scary Thought of the Day"!
It definitely does seem to be more of a problem this year!
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, my dog could not complete the Lyme vaccinations. After the first two, he began having seizures and it turns out that he had an allergic reaction to the vaccine that triggered a whole string of allergic reactions to things he'd been fine with before.
For us a good flea comb works wonders and (knock on wood) we've only had to remove one so far this year.
Wow! I haven't heard much about allergic reactions to vaccines in dogs. Maybe some of it is due to the preservatives--like thimerasol--as it happens with humans.
ReplyDeleteI think I'll read a bit more about the Lyme vaccines. The disease is only getting more and more prevalent.