Lyme disease: A multi-systemic disease

There are many more symptoms for Lyme disease than the ones listed in this link. This is because Lyme is a multi-systemic disease. Aches and pains come and go and move about the body with consistent inconsistency...!!

This information is only meant to help you decide if you need to seek medical treatment to increase the quality of your life.
Just remember tho, a bit bite is not something to be ignored. The sooner you can get treatment, the less chance you have of developing Neuroborreliosis.

http://www.lyme-symptoms.com/1Lyme-Symptoms.html


Lyme is often Misdiagnosed as other Diseases and Disorders.
This is because it tends to mimic about 300 different illnesses which makes it very important to rule them out.
If you have ever experienced bites from ticks, fleas, mosquitoes, lice, biting flys, do not discount them.
You will do so at your peril !

http://www.lyme-symptoms.com/LymeMimics.html


Comparison of Lyme disease and co-infection symptoms.

http://www.lyme-symptoms.com/LymeCoinfectionChart.html

Tick-borne encephalitis or meningoencephalitis: is a bacterial infection of the brain, such as Lyme disease. The symptoms of encephalitis range from mild to severe and can be life threatening. Possible symptoms: Fever, headache, nausea, decreased alertness, malaise, visual disturbances, stiff neck and back decreased consciousness, tremor, seizures. Encephalitis can last from a few days to several months. Permanent neurological consequences may follow recovery in some cases. Consequences may include personality changes, memory loss, language difficulties, seizures, and partial paralysis. Tick-borne meningoencephalitis is caused by a virus and may be a coinfection of lyme.

Lyme Meningitis inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord called the meninges. It often occurs when an infection elsewhere in the body spreads through the blood and into the cerebrospinal fluid (the fluid that circulates in the spaces in and around the brain and spinal cord). One form of bacterial meningitis is related to Lyme disease. Lyme meningitis is generally less severe than other forms of bacterial meningitis and is not fatal. Lyme meningitis may be the first evidence of Lyme disease, occurring without a history of erythema chronicum migrans or flu-like illness. Symptoms in milder cases of encephalitis usually include: headache, fever, stiff neck, sensitivity to light, nausea, sleepiness, confusion.

Chronic meningitis is a slowly developing inflammation of the subarachnoid space (located within the layers of tissues covering the brain and spinal cord) associated neurological involvement affecting the lower extremities. The infection and inflammation develop more slowly, over weeks and months that lasts a month or longer. If symptoms have been present for a month or more, meningitis is described as chronic. People may have a fever, a stiff neck, a headache, double vision, or difficulty walking, or they may become confused. Headache lasting weeks to months persistent/severe/ head pressure /congestion /burning. Burning in the brain and sometimes the neck and spinal cord or parts of the head, forehead or most of the head.

Aseptic meningitis(The space between middle and inner layers of tissues covering the brain and spinal cord (meninges) is inflamed.) Sometimes aseptic meningitis is diagnosed when meningitis is caused by bacteria that are hard to identify, such as the bacteria that cause Lyme disease, syphilis, or tuberculosis. Symptoms Headache, stiff neck, malaise, nausea and muscle aches may develop over days. Usually, aseptic meningitis causes symptoms that are similar to those of bacterial meningitis (fever, headache, vomiting, sluggishness, and a stiff neck). However, people do not become as ill. People may not have a fever, particularly when the cause is not an infection.

http://www.lyme-symptoms.com/2Lyme-Symptoms.html#meningoencephalitis

The Official ILADS Guideline for treating Lyme disease and other tick borne infections.

These Guidelines should be a Bible for any doctor who cares enough to treat his or her patients for any tick borne infections.

One week of antibiotics is NOT enough to kill off the soup of bacteria which can eventually lead to the patient developing severe illnesses from tick bites. Sadly, many people have suffered permanent disability through this oversight and many lives have been ruined both physically and financially. Not to mention the mental anguish caused to the patients by this shortsightedness.

http://www.ilads.org/lyme_disease/B_guidelines_12_17_08.pdf

DIAGNOSTIC HINTS AND TREATMENT GUIDELINES FOR LYME AND OTHER TICK BORNE ILLNESSES
by JOSEPH J. BURRASCANO JR, MD
SEPTEMBER, 2008

In general, you can think of Lyme Borreliosis as having three categories:
acute, early disseminated, and chronic.

The sooner treatment is begun after the start of the infection, the higher the success rate.

However, since it is easiest to cure early disease, this category of Lyme Borreliosis must be taken VERY seriously.

Under-treated infections will inevitably resurface, usually as chronic Lyme, with its tremendous problems of morbidity and difficulty with diagnosis and treatment and high cost in every sense of the word.

So, while the bulk of this document focuses of the more problematic chronic patient, strong emphasis is also placed on earlier stages of this illness where closest attention and care must be made.



If you suspect that you may be affected by a tick borne infection like Rickettsia, Lyme disease and it's many co-infections, please take a look at this link which has invaluable information.

http://chronicfatiguesyndrome.co.za

Comparison Chart of Lyme Disease and Co-infections Symptoms

This is a link to a Comparison Chart of Lyme Disease and Co-infections Symptoms. It lists all the co-infections and provides back links to even more information.

http://www.lyme-symptoms.com/LymeCoinfectionChart.html

So!! you don't think Lyme disease can touch you...

Never say Never...  For the person who thinks they cannot be touched by Lyme disease, please read the above link.  Chances are if you have ever been bitten by a tick, flea or mosquito, your aches and pains, arthritis and stiff neck, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, MS, etc. ,etc. could just be caused by the bite of any of these bugs...

Autism : FACTS you need to know...

Do Tick-Borne Infections Like Bartonella, Ehrlichia, Babesia and Lyme Contribute to Autism, Aspergers and Pervasive Developemental Disorders?

CLICK ABOVE TITLE FOR LINK:

The Lyme-Autism Connection :  by Tami Duncan and Bryan Rosner

Please don't ignore it...  It your child is diagnosed as autistic, if not for yourself, then for your child's sake and future, please get your child tested for Lyme disease by a Lyme Literate Medical Doctor (LLMD).  This part is very important as any doctor not familiar with Lyme disease can give you a 'false negative'.

"To many parents, the discussion about whether Lyme disease and autism are connected is a moot point. It is really just semantics. The fact is that many children with autism have an active Lyme infection. Debate about whether Lyme causes autism, Lyme contributes to autism, or Lyme comes about after autism does nothing to help the many autistic kids who are testing positive for Lyme disease daily. If kids are infected, then they need to be treated. It is that simple."

"Unfortunately, the Lyme disease diagnosis is often missed in autistic children. Many of these children are diagnosed only after the mother is first diagnosed. The message, then, is clear: if you are the mother of an autistic child, get yourself tested for Lyme disease, and if you have it, the probability that your child also has it is much higher. My story, excerpted below from The Lyme-Autism Connection, co-authored with Bryan Rosner, will help drive this point home."


CLICK THE LINK ABOVE FOR THE FULL STORY:


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LIA STANDS FOR  -  LYME INDUCED AUTISM:

"This organization was started because parents with Lyme disease were finding that their children with autism were also testing positive for Lyme disease and experiencing symptoms of Lyme disease and associated co-infections.

The LIA Foundation has become much more than another "autism" organization or another "Lyme disease" organization.  In fact, we fit in neither of these categories very well.  We believe that good basic information is available from other organizations, but we try to take it to the next level, opening our minds to all potential healing methods.  We refer to this as an "Eclectic Healing Approach".  

http://www.lymeinducedautism.com/whatislia.html

Babesia mimics malaria and is on the rise...

Babesiosis, is a potentially deadly tick-borne illness that mimics malaria. It is also a co-infection of Lyme disease and more deadly than Lyme disease can be.

Babesiosis can go undetected in the blood supply.  Currently, there is no test for donated blood to pick up the bacteria, thus putting those who are the sickest at a terrible risk!

The disease is caused by the parasite babesia microti, which invades the body through a tick bite and destroys the body's red blood cells. Through a microscrope the red blood cells can appear to be invaded by a malaria parasite.

Don't believe that you cannot get Lyme or Babesia in South Africa.  I personally know of two people currently living in Australia who have been diagnosed in Australia with BOTH Lyme disease and Babesia from tick bites severla yearsa ago in South Africa.


Live blood analysis has found some of my red blood cells damaged by 'malaria' parasites.  However, since I have never had malaria, I believe that these parasites are infact babesia...

No tests can detect Babesiosis before blood donation

Needing a blood transfusion... ???

The CDC says there is a Tick-borne parasite infecting the U.S. blood supply... !

Now tell me, if this is the case in the US then what chance do we in South Africa have of falling victim to the same thing.  Despite the low reporting on numbers of people with Babesiosis in SA, it is here and in greater numbers than we are made aware of.  

If vets can say that this parasite is commonly found in dogs, then c'mon, it has to be in the human population as well !!

PS:

No tests can detect Babesiosis before blood donation- 

Make Ya Think ?? heh !!

Joy Burge giving testimony in PA

This was an incredible account of what one Lyme patient had to go through to get a Lyme diagnosis..

This is unacceptable in America or anywhere in the world for that matter.  The rest of the world looks to America in matters like this and if they don't get it right.. Guess What ?  We don't stand a hope in hell of getting the powers that be in SA to acknowledge that Lyme disease and it's MANY co-infections are Alive and Kicking in here in South Africa.....

How many more people are going to be allowed to suffer before they wake up to the truth?
Pretending it does not exist is not going to make Lyme disease go away.  Real people, just like Joy are suffering not only from the disease itself, but from the hardship and shame that the medical establishment puts people Lymethrough getting a diagnosis...

Press release: Babesia shown to be transmitted via transfused blood

Press Release 2011 :  Jordan Hospital  (Click title for link)

"Several cases of babesiosis have been identified at Jordan Hospital in the past, and high rates of the disease have generally been found throughout Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut and New York.

Most commonly transmitted by the bite of a deer tick, Babesia has also been shown to be transmitted through transfused blood. Approximately 100 cases of transfusion transmitted babesiosis have been reported, some of which have been fatal."

My Mother received a blood transfusion in November 2001 in Cape Town due to a double by-pass heart operation.   Since then, she has always maintained that she no longer feels herself despite her good recovery from the operation.  Over the years she has developed very similar symptoms to myself.  I was diagnosed with Lyme disease in March 2010 after 30 odd years of mis-diagnosis.  In May 2011 live blood tests revealed what appears to be 'malaria' parasites in my red blood cells.  Now, since I have never had malaria, I am wondering if what I do have is Babesiosis...  !

Babesia may not show symptoms.... by Jenna

I was diagnosed with Lyme disease in Fberuary 2010.  I have not been diagnosed with Babesia, I believe because we don't test for this co-infection of Lyme disease in South Africa.  However, recent results of  'life blood tests' have shown 'malaria' parasites in my red blood cells...  As I have never had malaria or been in malaria risk areas, I am left wondering if these 'malaria parasites' are in fact Babesia...  Click the title for more info.

Babesia : A Lyme co-infection not recognised in humans in SA

For me this is a particularly intersting article.  I have been treated with anti-malarial drugs but never fully understood the reason until I read this article.  Recently whilst doing a deox and having live blood analysis, malaria parasites were seen to be in my red blood cells.  Over a period of 6 weeks, a parasite or two was seen under darkfield microscope on five of these six occasions.  What is even more amazing, this is just in a pin prick of blood...   I wouls love to see a significant sample of my blood under microscope... or would I !!

"Babesiosis is an infection caused by a malaria-like parasite, also called a “piroplasm,” that infects red blood cells. Babesia microti is believed to be the most common piroplasm infecting humans, but scientists have identified over twenty piroplasms carried by ticks."

"Symptoms of babesiosis are similar to those of Lyme disease but it more often starts with a high fever and chills. As the infection progresses, patients may develop fatigue, headache, drenching sweats, muscle aches, nausea, and vomiting. Babesiosis is often so mild it is not noticed but can be life-threatening to people with no spleen, the elderly, and people with weak immune systems. Complications include very low blood pressure, liver problems, severe hemolytic anemia (a breakdown of red blood cells), and kidney failure."

Lyme disease bacteria love to feed on the brain tissue and CNS.

This says it all... !

"The infection is not just bacterial as all say, trying to dismiss the severity of Lyme Disease; 

the infection are parasites who look for food and for a place to make their camping (ground)! 

When they invade the blood, the anemia is severe; the malaria parasites go inside the red blood cells, one bug per one red blood cell; 

while the Lyme parasites are three at a time invading each red blood cells, three times worse than malaria - this is the Babesiosis - and the Borrelia that is always called a "resistant bacteria" it is just another "intracellular bacteria" which certainly means another type of parasite malaria like.  

So after having such infection in the organism the body breaks. The sudden anemia causes fatigue and from there tons of symptoms start.  

The bugs stay in the blood for a short period of time but soon they migrate to other places,

they want to hide in the smaller veins to hide from the attacks of the immune system and or antibiotics when the person receives treatment, and they're hungry too,  

so they go where they can feed and reproduce better.  

The malaria parasites go to the liver and the brain, that's why they kill their host so fast.  

The bugs of LD are smarter, they migrate to many places to not kill their host, there are many cases of people living with Lyme for more than 20 or 30 years and all the time symptomatic and suffering; 

yes many others die from a heart attack and other complications but these bugs do not pretend to kill just to live long."

~7~ SEVEN LYME FACTS THAT COULD HAVE SAVED ME!!!