Interesting and Shocking Truths about Lyme Disease
Lyme Disease Facts
1. Though most people are aware that Lyme disease can be transmitted via the bite of an infected tick, many don’t know that it can also be transmitted thru a blood transfusion, and mother to fetus, including biting flies, mosquitos, spiders and mice. Calling Lyme disease a “tick-borne” illness could be misleading. spiral shaped bacteria
2. Approx 300,000 new cases of Lyme disease are estimated to occur each year. Due to many challenges in diagnosing the disease and in the way the disease mimics others these numbers are likely much higher.
3. Misdiagnosis is common with Lyme disease. Known as “The Great Imitator” it has the ability to mimic virtually any disease. It’s commonly misdiagnosed for Multiple Sclerosis, ALS, Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue, Parkinsons, Autism, and Rheumatoid Arthritis.
4. Two of the most common symptoms of chronic Lyme are profound fatigue and randomized joint pain
5. Borrelia Burgdorferi is the most complex bacteria in scientific history. Co-infections like Bartonella, Rikettsia, and Babesiosis complicate the treatment for Lyme further. Certain antibiotics that may work for Borrelia are ineffective for one or more of these co-infections. Treatment methods with antibiotics have mixed results
6. Besides imitating certain diseases some suspect Lyme is the actual disease. Due to the strikingly similar characteristics of patient symptoms, and the similar areas of white matter visible on the brain, Multiple Sclerosis and Lyme are suspected by some to be the same disease. There is a high probability the same is true for chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia since both are actually symptoms common in other diseases such as Lyme.
7. Lyme disease has over 100 different symptoms associated with it. This makes accurate diagnosis challenging, leading patients to a chronic condition after it goes untreated. Adding to that is the lack of definitive testing, requiring a clinical diagnosis of the patient’s symptoms, history and lifestyle. If the doctor is not Lyme Literate getting a chronic Lyme diagnosis is slim due to the reigning controversy, despite the evidence that supports chronic Lyme.
8. Less than 50% of patient’s ever recall being bit by a tick or in getting a bulls eye rash, the tell-tale sign of infection
9. Inaccurate testing methods have also contributed to the common misdiagnosis of Lyme disease, leading to an advanced form known as “chronic Lyme” Chronic Lyme is considerably more challenging to treat with success, and is incurable. Patient’s can however experience a full recovery from their symptoms, long term, with the right treatment.
10. Lyme Disease is the fasting growing infectious disease in the United States.
11. So far over 65 strains of borrelia, the bacteria known to cause Lyme, have been identified.
12. According to Dr. Alan McDonald,standard testing for Lyme is sensitive for only one strain of Borrelia, moreover this strain has never been found in humans. It was only discovered in the gut of a tick. Technically we are not even sure if this strain of bacteria can be transmitted to humans via a tick or other known carrier.
13. Borrelia bacteria can morph into three visually unique shapes allowing them to hide easily from immune attack, and to easily move thru certain areas with denser tissue. Their evolution suggests the possibility that they have been around and in our bodies, longer than we think.
14. The three distinct forms which Borrelia have the ability to morph into and then change back into the previous form again are:
- A. Spherical or round shaped
- B. Rod Shaped
- C. Spirochetes or Spiral forms