Fear of Anthrax? I have none. Fear of Lyme disease? Yes, I do have for those who are unaware of the ubiquitous nature of Borrelia Burgdorferi, the bacterium which causes Lyme disease.
Borrelia Burgdorferi has been occurring in nature for centuries. According to the 1995 United Nations Security Council document, four species of borrelia were monitored for use as biological weapons in Iraq, including Borrelia Burgdorferi, Lyme disease.
Currently, there are less than 50 patients infected with anthrax. Lyme disease cases in the U.S. are estimated to be 2 million, costing society $18 million.
There have been three deaths due to contact from anthrax. Patients infected with Lyme disease have died due to complications from the illness. Pregnant mothers can pass the Lyme bacterium to their babies through the placenta and breast milk.
The rash, which occurs in 50 percent of patients, is the ONLY marker for Lyme disease; this is proof of infection–the diagnostic gold standard. If you have the rash, you have the illness and should be treated with antibiotics immediately with a 4-6 week course of antibiotics. Undertreatment or delayed diagnosis often result in a chronic, insidious difficult to treat disease.
Rheumatic fever, acne, recurrent otitis, bronchiectasis, recurrent cystitis and Lyme disease, are examples of illnesses treated long-term for persistent infection without any dire consequences as a result of the medications used.
I am not recommending that the people take antibiotics indiscriminately. But for Lyme, an illness which can be cured with early treatment, I would suggest consulting a physician regarding antibiotics, since the bacteria can disseminate to the central nervous system within 12 hours and lay dormant for months to years.
If the clock could be turned back seven years ago and my expanding rash identified and treated, I could have avoided persistent disabling Lyme disease, for which I have to take doxycycline and biaxin on a daily basis.
Barbara Barsocchini
Board member, Lyme Disease Resource Center