Health at Hand
Lyme disease advice on the web is enough to tick you off
© Kim LeMoon 2008

June is the riskiest month for contracting Lyme disease in New Jersey. This is the time of year when the nymph-stage deer ticks (now called black-legged ticks) are most abundant. If you have been bitten by a tick or are experiencing symptoms such as rashes, fever, headache, or fatigue, you may turn to the internet to learn more about Lyme disease. But be careful! Researchers at the University of Connecticut Health Center and at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center found that about half of the websites that offer general information about Lyme disease provide inaccurate information.

The following are some examples of the misinformation that these websites contain.

#1. Myth: Ticks other than the black-legged tick carry Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacterium responsible for the transmission of Lyme disease. Fact: The other two common tick species in New Jersey, the American Dog tick (or Wood tick) and the Lone Star tick, are not able to transmit Lyme disease. These ticks, however, can transmit bacteria responsible for the rarer tick-borne illnesses such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever, tularemia and ehrlichiosis.

#2. Myth: A tick attached for less than 24 hours can transmit Lyme disease. Fact: If you do find a tick on you, don’t panic. Lyme disease transmission occurs on an average of 36 to 48 hours after attachment. If you remove the tick within the first 24 hours, your chances of contracting Lyme disease are unlikely.

#3. Myth: Preventative antibiotic treatment should be routinely prescribed for all tick bites and should be administered for longer than ten days. Fact: Antibiotic treatment to prevent Lyme disease after a known tick bite may not be warranted. Physicians must determine whether the advantages of using antibiotics outweigh the disadvantages in any particular instance. If antibiotics are prescribed, possible regimens include a ten-day course of amoxicillin or a single dose of doxycycline.

#4. Myth: Diagnosis of Lyme disease may be assumed based on the patient’s reports of feeling tired, achy or feverish; feeling better while taking antibiotics confirms the diagnosis. Blood tests are unreliable even in the diagnosis of late-onset Lyme disease. Fact: The diagnosis of Lyme disease is based on objective symptoms such as a bull’s-eye rash, facial palsy, or arthritis, and a history of possible exposure to infected ticks.  Late-onset Lyme disease is confirmed when the results from both the ELISA and the Western Blot tests are positive.

#5. Myth: Even if a mother is treated for Lyme disease during her pregnancy, her newborn may still be infected and suffer from on-going infection. Congenital Lyme disease can cause multiple organ impairment for infants and children and will require long-term therapy. Fact: If Lyme disease is diagnosed and properly treated during pregnancy, there is no risk of infecting a newborn.

#6. Myth: Lyme disease can be transmitted through breast milk. A mother should stop breast-feeding while being treated for Lyme disease. Fact: It is safe to breast-feed while being treated for Lyme disease. There have been no reported cases of an infant developing symptomatic or asymptomatic Lyme disease from breast milk.

Most tick-borne diseases can be treated successfully. Early detection and treatment can prevent more serious illness. For accurate information on Lyme disease, contact Lyme Disease Association, Inc. (www.LymeDiseaseAssociation.org) or American Lyme Disease Foundation (www.aldf.com).

Kim LeMoon has been practicing medical massage therapy in Highland Park for over a decade. She is an avid writer, health researcher and is currently studying cell biology and neuroscience. For more information, or to schedule an appointment, call 732.241-2917.