May is Lyme Awareness Month, as many of you may know.
It is through education and advocacy that Lyme disease is finally getting recognized in Squamish and across Canada as a whole, but there is a lot of work still to do.
A new study in the journal Healthcare suggests that the vast majority of Canadians with Lyme disease are slipping through the cracks. The research was done by Vett Lloyd, a Mount Allison University biology professor, and Dr. Ralph Hawkins, a clinical associate professor at the University of Calgary’s Cumming School of Medicine.
Lyme disease appears to be under reported, with less than 1,000 new cases every year in Canada. However, the patient population group far exceeds those numbers.
Our current testing model lacks accuracy, so hundreds, if not thousands of cases are missed annually. There are many people that get misdiagnosed or get treated as per Canadian health policies, and still develop chronic symptoms called Post-Treatment Lyme disease.
All of this puts an added strain on our health care professionals. As warmer days fast approach, we all need to be aware of Lyme disease.
It is important to do tick checks when you come in from hikes or rides.
Use tick repellent on your clothing, such as Atlantick Body Spray, stick to the middle of the path if you can, wear long pants tucked into socks and long sleeve shirts.
Avoid tall grass, and always check your dogs for ticks when you take them out for walks. If you find a tick on you remove it slowly and carefully, do not twist it out. Instead pull straight out.
You can even find tick removal kits at your local pharmacy or order them through Canlyme.com If you’ve been bitten, do not throw your tick away. You can send your tick off for testing at Geneticks.ca
If you suspect you have been bitten by a tick watch for flu like symptoms, malaise, migrating joint and muscle pain as a rash isn’t always present.
An “Erythema Migrans” skin rash is more often incorrectly referred to as the “bull’s eye” rash.”
Current research has shown that only a small number of strains, and there are over a 100 known strains, of borrelia bacteria will cause a rash of any kind.
Of the few that do cause a rash only 9% will look like a typical bull’s eye rash. The vast majority of cases will have no rash.
Lyme disease is endemic in our province and in Canada as well. Fortunately, in Squamish, we have a few Lyme Literate GP’s as well as a lyme Literate Natropathic Doctor, Dr Sal Meli, at Euphoria.
Know how to protect yourself when you are enjoying the outdoors. Left untreated, the repercussion can be life-altering and severe.
When it comes to Lyme, knowledge is power.
Brandy Willmot is a local business owner and an advocate for Lyme disease awareness.
Valerie says
Thank you Brandy for writing this article! Lyme disease awareness is important and more people need to be informed of the risks ticks may impose. I am really happy to hear Squamish has lyme literate health care workers. As a young lady who has had lyme for 15 years, a lyme literate doctor is invaluable. Thank you for sharing all of this information!