Lyme Link

Today, the Baltimore Sun had a big article on Lyme Disease. It is nice to see that local papers are paying attention to this, especially since there are quite a few cases of Lyme Disease in Maryland. In fact, in 2006 alone, there were 1248 cases reported. The most interesting thing is something I’ve been saying all along to anyone who will listen to me:

It’s not the deer that are the problem - it is the little tick covered field mice that romp around the houses that are spreading deer ticks far and wide.

Douglas Hotton, leader of DNR’s deer management program, said deer numbers may have little to do with the spread of Lyme disease. In fact, he suggested that the very name “deer tick” is misleading. “It ought to really be called the “mouse tick,” he said, since the white-footed mouse is the main host for the Lyme-causing bacteria.

Another thing the article discussed was that not everyone agrees on treatment. The CDC says not to take drugs longer than four weeks, although a second dose of four weeks is sometimes necessary. Patients’ groups are saying they may need to take antibiotics for a lot longer than that if they have a chronic Lyme infection. Who’s right? I don’t know. Hopefully, this second dose is all I’ll need.

If you have Lyme Disease, think you may have it, or want to avoid getting it, your first stop should be the comprehensive Lyme Disease Association site. There you can find handy printable brochures and information sheets about Lyme Disease, news releases, pictures of ticks and rashes, doctor referral info and more. It is the most useful medical site I’ve ever seen.