Written by Richard M. Bogoroch

It is hard to imagine that a nasty little insect no more significant than the size of a poppy seed can wreak so much havoc in a person’s life. People who have been infected by Lyme disease may recount stories of years of pain, suffering, and the stress of being misunderstood – or even dismissed – by the medical profession. But higher education and research are helping medical practitioners and the public come to grips with the disease and its effects.

The chances are you have heard of Lyme disease, but did you know that a bacterium cause it?

Lyme disease, or Lyme (borreliosis), is caused by borrelia bacteria and exists in many strains that vary in symptom severity.¹

Transmission takes place when a tick bites an infected animal and then implants itself into human skin. While Lyme is usually associated with deer and areas heavily populated by the nocturnal animal bearing its telltale whitetail, Lyme can also be transmitted through other animals, including dogs and mice.

Lyme has been in the news lately with its spread to more significant parts of rural areas and North American cities, as well. With ticks increasing their range, the Public Health Agency of Canada predicts 18,000 cases by 2020, an exponential rise from current numbers.

There are three stages of Lyme disease infection, which may blur together quite rapidly

Stage 1: Early infection (first few days after infection)
Stage 2: Infection spreads (days to weeks following infection)
Stage 3: Chronic Lyme (days to weeks after infection if left untreated, or not adequately treated, for months/years after infection)

The Mystery and Misery of Lyme

Lyme disease is one of the most treatable of chronic illnesses, yet there are numerous accounts of individuals who continue to suffer from its effects for many years following the initial infection. Why is this?

The symptoms of Lyme disease are varied and can be extremely debilitating. It is a fact of overlap with several other conditions that sometimes lead to misdiagnosis – or no diagnosis at all. And in the medical arena, few things are more frustrating for a patient than not being taken seriously. Lyme disease has been misdiagnosed² as AIDS, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and even depression. With increased awareness, it is hoped that critical early diagnosis will help prevent long-term suffering for individuals who have been infected.

Signs and Symptoms

The symptoms of Lyme³ vary from person to person and can recede and flare up again, adding to the difficulty in diagnosis. There are, in fact, more than 100 known symptoms, but one of the most common signs is a rash, sometimes shaped like a bull’s eye mark, at the bite site or on other parts of the body. However, in 50% of cases, there is no rash at all.

Flu-like symptoms⁴ such as fever, headache, nausea, jaw pain, light sensitivity, red eyes, muscle aches, and neck stiffness are often present.

Other symptoms of Lyme disease include:

Unexplained hair loss
Headache, mild or severe
Seizures
Facial paralysis
Tingling of nose, (tip of) tongue; cheek or facial flushing
Symptoms of sinusitis: sore throat, clearing throat a lot, phlegm, hoarseness, runny nose
Overly emotional reactions, crying easily
Cognitive impairment such as slow or slurred speech

What You Can Do

While the growing threat of Lyme disease may present a gloomy picture of the potential for illness, the good news is there are simple steps⁵ you can take to help minimize your chances of infection.

– Please wear long pants tucked into your socks or footwear, long sleeves, and closed-toe shoes to prevent ticks from attaching themselves to your skin

– Check your body carefully for ticks after spending time in wooded or grassy areas

– Examine your pets for ticks after they come in from outside

– Keep the grass on your property cut short to discourage unwanted insect visitors. You want to make your surroundings as uninviting to ticks as possible

– Discourage deer: if they come on your property, do not feed them. Construct barriers to prevent their entry on to your property

– According to Consumer Reports,⁶ a plant-based repellent should be your first anti-tick product. Insect repellents that contain DEET or Icaridin are useful but use these sparingly: products with 95 percent or more DEET have been linked to severe side effects.⁷

CanLyme – the Canadian Lyme Disease Foundation – offers practical information and guidance, as well as research updates and recommended books on Lyme disease. See www.CanLyme.com.⁸

Bogoroch & Associates LLP has extensive experience in medical malpractice litigation and firmly believes that victims of malpractice are entitled to access to justice.

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