This is a five-year-old topic. I've been trying to help people understand how pervasive Lyme Disease is (been in all states for years) and how most go undiagnosed (
current diagnostics are limited to screen for one of 37+ virulent strains). In New England (et al), most ticks transmit other diseases (co-infections).
In retrospect, it's absurd to read Justin's post about pushing Lyrica. He was always very vocal about my attempts to discuss Lyme disease and its role in joint disease. And sadly, the prednisone that Cindy took only suppressed her immune function more -- exactly the opposite of what was needed. How many patients' lives have been ruined in this country from steroids? I read about them every day!
Please read from the beginning of topic.
This article is dated, but I think it's a good reminder. I've spoken with far too many Lyme Disease patients in the past few months. This disease is epidemic. And people need to understand that it can invade EVERY part of the human body (see second abstract).
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Ann Emerg Med. 2002 May;39(5):558-61.
Lyme disease masquerading as brown recluse spider bite.
Osterhoudt KC, Zaoutis T, Zorc JJ.
Poison Control Center, the Division of Emergency Medicine, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
Abstract
We report a case of Lyme disease with clinical features resembling those described from brown recluse spider bites. The most striking manifestation was a necrotic skin wound. Brown recluse spider bites may be overdiagnosed in some geographic regions. Tick bite and infection with Borrelia burgdorferi should be considered in the differential diagnosis of necrotic arachnidism in regions endemic for Lyme disease.
Comment in
The diagnosis of brown recluse spider bite is overused for dermonecrotic wounds of uncertain etiology. [Ann Emerg Med. 2002]
PMID: 11973566 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
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Rev Med Chir Soc Med Nat Iasi. 2012 Oct-Dec;116(4):1101-5.
Lyme disease - unusual medical encounter for an urologist.
Ciută C, Nechifor V, Tomac I, Miron A, Novac B, Novac C.
University of Medicine and Pharmacy Grigore T Popa Iasi, Faculty of Medicine.
Abstract
Lyme disease also called ,the illness with a thousand faces" ("The Great Imitator") because it may mimic very well the symptoms and signs of other diseases, is an unusual medical encounter for the urologist. Every patient with Lyme disease has his own clinical feature, while the superposition over an unknown but easy to discover urological disease may lead to a misdiagnosis.
CASE PRESENTATION: Male patient A. P. was an emergency transfer in our clinic with multiple system organ failure. The mirage of first imaging finding, bilateral obstructive ureteral calculi was obviated after the serological confirmation of Lyme disease suspected after the thorough history obtained from his family. The intensive care treatment, broad-spectrum antibiotics and hemodialysis sessions, together with external urinary drainage, lead to the improvement of the patient status, and subsequent proper urological treatment to urolithiasis cure.
CONCLUSIONS: This case identifies several challenges faced by practitioners, challenges which involve the diagnosis and the treatment of Lyme disease
associated with urolithiasis.
Although Lyme disease remains a controversial clinical entity, its diagnosis is based on a history of possible exposure to ticks, the appearance of specific clinical symptoms, whether or not combined with serological tests.