EYE PROBLEMS IN TICK-BORNE DISEASES OTHER THAN LYME
“Why should an ophthalmologist have a good understanding of Lyme diagnosis and treatment?” asks Sathiamoorthi [1], from the Mayo Clinic, in an article published in the Current Opinion in Ophthalmology. “Vision-threatening ophthalmic manifestations are relatively common in Lyme disease (LD) and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.”
by Daniel J. Cameron, MD MPH
“Knowledge of systemic and ophthalmic manifestations combined with an understanding of the epidemiology of disease vectors is crucial for the diagnosis of tick-borne diseases,” she explains.
While manifestations may be present with LD and Rocky Mountain spotted fever, ocular involvement is rare in other tick-borne diseases such as babesiosis, tick-borne relapsing fever, Powassan encephalitis, ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis, and Colorado tick fever, Sathiamoorthi points out.
However, the true prevalence of ocular involvement due to tick-borne illnesses is unknown. Limitations with testing can make it difficult to identify patients. “It is crucial to know who is appropriate to test in order to avoid false positive results.” If an individual has been symptomatic for only a short period of time, they “may not have detectable serum IgM antibodies to the causative organism because it takes time for this immune response to develop.”
It can also be difficult to determine the cause of the ocular complaints if there is evidence of more than one tick-borne illness.
“One case report [2] describes a patient with optic neuritis and orbital myositis who had serologic evidence of HME [Human Monocytic Ehrlichioisis], Borrelia burgdorferi, and Babesia,” cites Sathiamoorthi.
There are more than one species of ticks associated with ocular findings, as well. According to Sathiamoorthi, those include Ornithodoros genus, Dermacentor variabilis Ambylomma americanum, Ixodes scapularis, and Dermacentor andersonii.
Sathiamoorthi advises doctors to “carefully generate a reasonable differential based on clues in the medical and social history regarding exposures and risks.”
“Patients who are most likely to have ophthalmic Lyme disease,” explains Sathiamoorthi, “are those with ocular manifestations commonly associated with Lyme disease (i.e. Bells palsy, cranial nerve palsies and keratitis); tick exposure in Lyme endemic regions; other signs/symptoms of late Lyme disease (i.e. inflammatory arthritis, carditis, acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans rash, encephalopathy and meningitis); and negative syphilis testing.”
1. Sathiamoorthi S, Smith WM. The eye and tick-borne disease in the United States. Curr Opin Ophthalmol. 2016;27(6):530-537.
2. Pendse S, Bilyk JR, Lee MS. The ticking time bomb. Surv Ophthalmol. 2006;51(3):274-279.
Rolo has Lyme disease, but thanks to early diagnosis and regular veterinary care, she lives a happy, healthy life with her family.
Lyme disease(Lyme borreliosis) is an illness that affects both animals and humans – what is known as a zoonotic disease – and is the most commonly reported vector-borne illness in the United States, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Transmitted through tick bites, the disease can be difficult to detect and can cause serious and recurring health problems. Therefore, it is best to prevent infection by taking appropriate measures to prevent tick bites and, for dogs, possibly vaccinating against the disease.
The bacterium that causes Lyme disease – a worm-like, spiral-shaped bacterium called Borrelia burgdorferi – is carried and transmitted primarily by the tiny black-legged tick known as the deer tick. Deer ticks are found in forests or grassy, wooded, marshy areas near rivers, lakes or oceans. People or animals may be bitten by deer ticks during outdoor activities such as hiking or camping, or even while spending time in their back yards.
Named after numerous cases were identified in Lyme, Conn., in 1975, the disease has since been reported in humans and animals across the United States and around the world. Within the U.S., it appears primarily in specific areas including the southern New England states; eastern Mid-Atlantic states; the upper Midwest, particularly Wisconsin and Minnesota; and on the West Coast, particularly northern California. The CDC maintains a map detailing confirmed cases of Lyme disease throughout the years.
Lyme disease is a reportable disease – which means that health care providers and laboratories that diagnose cases of laboratory-confirmed Lyme disease are required to report those cases to their local or state health departments, which in turn report the cases to the CDC.
How to prevent Lyme disease
The best way to protect pets from Lyme disease is to take preventive measures to reduce the chance of contracting the disease. Even during the last weeks of summer, it’s important to remember that pets and people are at greater risk of being infected with Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases such as anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis, or Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.
People with pets should:
Use reliable tick-preventive products. Speak with your veterinarian about what tick preventive product is right for your pet.
Work with your veterinarian to decide whether to vaccinate your dog against Lyme disease. Your veterinarian’s advice may depend on where you live, your pet’s lifestyle and overall health, and other factors.
When possible, avoid areas where ticks might be found. These include tall grasses, marshes and wooded areas.
Check for ticks on both yourself and your animals once indoors.
Clear shrubbery next to homes.
Keep lawns well maintained.
As noted above, there are preventive Lyme disease vaccines available for dogs, but they aren’t necessarily recommended for every dog. Consult your veterinarian to see if the vaccination makes sense for your pets. If your veterinarian does recommend that your dog be vaccinated against Lyme disease, the typical protocol will involve an initial vaccination followed by a booster 2-4 weeks later and annual boosters after that.
Lyme disease in pets – symptoms and treatment
Pets infected with Lyme disease may not show any signs for 2-5 months. After that time, typical symptoms include:
Fever
Loss of appetite
Lameness
Joint swelling
Decreased activity
Recurrent lameness also is possible, and the involved extremity may be tender. Inflammation of the joint can last from days to weeks, and may migrate from one extremity to another.
Horses with Lyme disease can develop lameness, joint pain, neurologic disease, eye problems and dermatitis.
Symptomatically, Lyme disease can be difficult to distinguish from anaplasmosis because the signs of the diseases are very similar, and they occur in essentially the same areas of the country. Lyme disease is diagnosed through a blood test that shows whether an animal has been exposed to the bacterium.
Antibiotics usually provide effective treatment for Lyme disease. However, it’s important to follow your veterinarian’s advice regarding follow-up care after your pet has been diagnosed with and treated for the disease.
Lyme disease is not communicable from one animal to another, except through tick bites. However, if you have more than one pet and one is diagnosed with Lyme disease, your veterinarian might recommend testing for any other pets who may have been exposed to ticks at the same time. In fact, because people and their pets often can be found together outdoors as well as indoors, a Lyme disease diagnosis in any family member – whether human or non-human – should serve as a flag that all family members might consult their physicians and veterinarians, who can advise about further evaluation or testing.
It’s a “One Health” problem
Because people and their pets often spend time in the same environments where Lyme and other disease-transmitting ticks are found, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) are working together to offer advice to households with both children and pets. People who have been diagnosed with Lyme disease should consult their veterinarian to determine their pet’s risk based on the animal’s lifestyle and possible environmental exposures. Likewise, people whose animals have been diagnosed with Lyme disease may want to consult their physician about their own or their children’s risk if they have concerns that the animals and family members might have been exposed to similar environmental risks.
Thousands of cases of Lyme disease have been reported in humans and animals across the United States and around the world. By knowing about Lyme disease and how to prevent it, you can help keep all members of your family — human and animal — safe.
Lyme disease in people
In humans, often the earliest indication of infection is a “bullseye” rash at the site of the tick bite – so named because it resembles a target. As the infection develops, symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, and muscle and joint pain. The disease can progress to cause chronic joint problems as well as heart and neurological problems. As with pets, Lyme disease is not contagious from one person to another.
There are many things people can do to avoid exposure to tick bites. These include:
Our dog’s case of Lyme disease was picked up on a yearly routine test. He was fine and didn’t show any signs of infection. Our vet insisted that he be treated with over a month’s worth of antibiotics. Meanwhile, my husband spiraled down the vortex of doom for years. No blood test would pick it up. He tested negative on the two-tiered CDC testing. Thankfully, a wise “out of the box” doctor tested him for inflammation which was off the charts high. She said, “The CDC says you don’t have Lyme, I say you do,” and she treated him with two antibiotics – of which he improved immediately. Shortly after, I developed symptoms but also tested negative with CDC testing. By this time, I contacted a Lyme support group and became educated on the polarization within the medical community and had the list of WI LLMD’s in hand. We’ve been in and out of treatment ever since, having spent over $150K out of pocket, but have our lives back.
Throw the CDC maps in the garbage. This is a pandemic and in every continent but the Antarctica.
Long-time United Nations staff member Claire Edwards summarizes worldwide developments in the 5G situation. While still far from a victory claim, there is much to be hopeful about as millions around the world deepen involvement and take a stand for our shared future.
How do you stop the rollout of a 12 trillion dollar technology promoted by one of the most profitable industries on the planet and bulldozed through by the EU, FCC and the whole UN, most notably its WiFi enablers, WHO and ITU?
Many people have said it’s impossible. But even as the Trump administration attempts to ram through 5G in the United States, the dominoes are indeed falling around the world, as cities and entire nations are coming to their senses and putting the brakes on 5G.
Portland Oregon city officials state clear opposition to the installation of 5G networks around the city, supported by the mayor and two commissioners.
Italy, 28 March:
Florence applies the precautionary principle, refusing permissions for 5G and referring to “the ambiguity and the uncertainty of supranational bodies and private bodies (like ICNIRP)”, which “have very different positions from each other, despite the huge evidence of published studies”.
Italy, 28 March:
One Roman district votes against 5G trials, with others expected to follow. Other motions to Stop 5G are expected in the four regional councils, one provincial council and other municipal councils of Italy.
The Belgian Environment Minister announces that Brussels is halting its 5G rollout plans, saying, “The people of Brussels are not guinea pigs whose health I can sell at a profit.
California Supreme Court Justices unanimously uphold a 2011 San Francisco ordinance requiring telecommunications companies to get permits before placing antennas on city infrastructure.
Switzerland, 9 April:
The Canton of Vaud adopts a resolution calling for a moratorium on 5G antennas until the publication this summer of a report on 5G by the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment.
Switzerland, 10 April:
Geneva adopts a motion for a moratorium on 5G, calling on the Council of State to request WHO to monitor independent scientific studies to determine the harmful effects of 5G.
Overcoming the roadblocks
For me, it has always seemed an information problem. If the public simply understood the existential threat posed by adopting a military weapon as a communications technology, they would not accept it.
The challenge of informing people is twofold. The name “5G” is deceptive, implying a simple upgrade from the current 4G or fourth generation wireless. [And many WiFi routers now display “5G” as a mode option, but it means “5GHz” in that context, not actual “5G” — an industry ploy to normalize the term’s acceptance through intentional obfuscation. -Ed.]
This ruse cleverly disguises the reality that 5G means densification, with each individual, visible antenna being replaced by thousands of tiny antennas menacing people, animals and nature from every nook and cranny on Earth and from 20,000 or more satellites with lethal, laser-like beams hitting their unwitting targets millions of times a day like silent bullets.
The second difficulty is the tight control of the media. Hardly a whisper of negativity about 5G penetrates the public sphere, while its claimed benefits are constantly touted in puff pieces in newspapers and in numerous promotional videos.
Yet in the space of only a year since we first heard about the impending catastrophe that is 5G, the message has spread virally through the alternative and social media.
5G deserves the bad rap
Since US Senator Blumenthal dealt a major blow to the telecommunications industry by definitively establishing that no safety studies have been done, the bad news on 5G just keeps on coming. At least 21 US cities have passed ordinances restricting “small cell” installation, and many are charging “recertification fees” to make it unprofitable for the wireless industry.
And the UK-based microwave weapons expert Barrie Trower reports that 17 mystery countries are taking steps to avoid getting 5G.
While the EU eagerly promotes the rollout of 5G, a new EU report admitsthat 5G is a massive experiment, lamenting that:
“[T]he problem is that currently it is not possible to accurately simulate or measure 5G emissions in the real world … concern is emerging over the possible impact on health and safety arising from potentially much higher exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation arising from 5G.”
The EU report goes on to set out the dangers:
“Increased exposure may result not only from the use of much higher frequencies in 5G but also from the potential for the aggregation of different signals, their dynamic nature, and the complex interference effects that may result, especially in dense urban areas.”
Meanwhile, a court in France has recognized electrohypersensitivity (EHS) as an occupational disease that can be developed also from exposure to levels of radiation that are considered to be safe by the government.
No one but the telcos want 5G
5G is beginning to look like an unwanted orphan. Everyone who hears the truth about it shuns it like the plague. Even most of its proponents clearly have no love for it.
In his Palm Beach neighborhood, President Trump and his fellow billionaires are not having any of it. None of the EU institutions in Brussels are having it (European Commission, Council of the European Union, European Council and the European Parliament). And its very enablers, the UN and its WHO and ITU are not going to be having it in Geneva, either.
Watch for moratoria being declared in Washington, D.C., home to the FCC; and Munich, nearby home to ICNIRP. Either would be an obvious indicator that the game is rigged.
Unless this insane 5G satellite plan is stopped, they, too, might wake up and find themselves as much guinea pigs as everyone else in this massive biological experiment.
But one wonders how the 5G movers and shakers will avoid the satellites, which the 5G literature boasts as being intended to “blanket” the Earth. Perhaps the satellite beams will avoid the areas where they live. Or perhaps not. Unless this insane 5G satellite plan is stopped, they, too, might wake up to find themselves as much guinea pigs as the rest of us in this massive biological experiment.
While well over ten thousand peer-reviewed scientific studies on the biological effects of electromagnetic radiation provide a clear perspective on the unprecedented risk of 5G, the rhetoric from the corporate media would have you believe that it’s the greatest thing since sliced bread. One thing we can agree on: if we were to allow 5G to go ahead, it would make history. What a pity, then, that it would leave no one standing to celebrate it.
The tide is turning in our favour because people like you, dear reader, are becoming educated and involved. You are sharing information and speaking with leaders. Thanks to your willingness to stand up for life and love, we will succeed in this great battle of our time.
________________________
**Comment**
For an interesting read on the connection between COVID-19, COVID injections, 5G, and Chemtrails.
A few important excerpts:
…globalist entities that are behind the military deployment of 5G worldwide needed a cover for the inevitable outbreaks of both 5G Flu and 5G Syndrome. The coronavirus pandemic has provided just that, especially in light of the fact that many of the symptoms of both are quite similar. See: Is The “Coronavirus” Actually Microwave Illness from 4G and 5G Radiation?
The article also points out that the aerosolized and chemically mobile aluminum oxide is “particularly toxic to the brain when permitted to pass through the blood-brain barrier.” This was accomplished through the invasive nasal COVID-19 testing which punctured the brain lining, causing some to need surgery.
Wireless Industry Confesses “No Studies Show 5G is Safe”. US Senator Blumenthal Raises Concerns on 5G Wireless Technology Health Risks at Senate Hearing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekNC0J3xx1w
‘Horror’ summer of blood-sucking ticks that can ‘cripple and blind you’ on its way
A five-year-old boy from Llandudno, in Wales, has already caught Lyme disease and the Health Protection Agency say case numbers are soaring
By Jim Hardy & Libby McBride
4 APR 2019
If a bug latches on to a human it can pass on a germ which can cause blindness, paralysis and meningitis (Image: WESSEX NEWS AGENCY)
Britain could be in for a record-breaking “horror” summer of blood-sucking ticks which can cripple people and even make them blind.
Following a mild winter and with the balmy weather this spring, fears are growing that the insects could have survived their hibernation in vast numbers and could be ready to breed and multiply.
The ticks spread Lyme disease with their saliva as they gorge on people’s blood – but it’s incredibly early in the year for an outbreak.
If a bug latches on to a human it can pass on a germ which can cause blindness, paralysis and meningitis .
The nightmare vampire-like mites, which feast on flesh, have already left a five-year-old boy suffering from Lyme disease .
Doctors are monitoring William Bargate who was bitten twice within five days by two separate ticks after playing at a Conwy Council owned park in Llandudno, Wales.
Three days after the initial tick bite on March 22 – which is understood to have been attached to William’s head for up to 36 hours – he began to suffer flu-like symptoms including tiredness, muscle pain, headachesand a fever.
Open-air lovers are warned that sex in the grass could have consequences(Image: WESSEX NEWS AGENCY)
His mother Adelle Bargate, 37, took him to see a doctor but says that as he did not have the visible circular rash associated with the disease it was thought he had just contracted a viral infection.
But days later, William was taken to see the doctor for a second time after being bitten again.
As well as being unable to move his neck, he had also developed severe and worsened flu-like symptoms.
The disease most commonly affects the skin, joints, the heart and the nervous system and is generally treated with antibiotics but some patients claim the symptoms can continue after treatment.
William Bargate, 5, was bitten by two ticks(Image: Daily Post/Adelle Bargate)
“On the second visit, the doctor acknowledged the potential infection and gave him 10 days worth of antibiotics” Ms Bargate said.
“But his symptoms were worsening and I was really concerned so I took him to A&E in Bangor on Saturday.
“They took him straight to the children’s ward where he was immediately sent for blood tests and that’s when they said they were treating it as Lyme disease.
“It’s really difficult to get a positive test of Lyme disease so as a precaution to his nasty symptoms he is now on a three week course of antibiotics.”
William was discharged from hospital on Sunday with three weeks worth of antibiotics, and his mum was told he will need to go for further tests this week to monitor the suspected disease.
A tick gorged with blood(Image: WESSEX NEWS AGENCY)
Mum Adelle continued:
“I’ve lived on the Orme for more than 16 years and I never had ticks pulled off me as a child, it only seems to have become a bigger problem over the last two years.
“I don’t think it’s being taken seriously enough in the area, I feel as though I am the only person who is making a noise about the number of them around here.
“Nobody seems to be doing anything about it and I’m worried more children will become sick because of them.
“Every time my children play outside I have to strip them and check them for ticks.”
Her son’s illness comes after she also found a tick on her eight-year-old daughter Briony’s head in June last year, which she suspects had been there for around two days.
He was prescribed antibiotics(Image: Daily Post/Adelle Bargate)
It was the second tick she had found on her daughter in a week.
At the time, a number of families also reported finding the tiny blood sucking insects attached to their child’s skin after they were playing in and around the same park.
Public Health Wales declined to comment due to patient confidentiality.
Now it’s feared that billions of the blood-sucking bugs which can send you blind or cripple you for life are ready to creep across the country.
How to avoid getting bitten by ticks
Stick to paths – Try not to stray from paths and avoid overhanging vegetation unless
necessary. Ticks do not jump or fly so sticking to clear areas without tall
grass or shrubs will decrease the chances of being bitten. If in an area
where there is no footpath, try and avoid tall grass or shady areas that are
surrounded by shrubs.
Light Clothing – When in areas of woodland remained covered, wear long sleeve tops and full-length trousers. Protect areas such as the back of the knees, armpits
and the groin area. Opt for light coloured clothing in order to easily
identify any ticks present that may become attached.
Footwear – Wellies are not only reserved for rainy days and are perfect when in high risk areas, as you can tuck trousers into the wellie boots. Tucking trousers
into socks is also a great defence mechanism if wellies are not an option.
Regular checks – Ticks are very small and hard to identify when not paying attention. Check regularly whilst outside and also when home in order to remove any feeding ticks. The longer a tick is left attached the harder it is to remove.
Right tools – Avoid any home remedies to try and remove ticks such as covering the
affected area of the body in Vaseline or nail varnish or even burning them
off. Instead, use a tick removal tool, which are sold in outdoor shops and some
supermarkets and pharmacies. This will help avoid aggravating the tick and
lower the risk of secondary infection. When removed, use an antiseptic wipe
and be aware of any symptoms of Lyme disease
They love to lurk in lush long grass and woodland glades, so couples getting frisky in the fresh air face getting bitten.
The Health Protection Agency says there are 2,000 cases of Lyme disease every year in the UK, but the number is soaring.
TV Question of Sport star Matt Dawson, the former England rugby international, needed heart surgery after he was bitten by a tick in a London park in 2015 and Lyme Disease spread through his body.
Matt was bitten by a tick while walking in a park in 2016(Image: Rex)
According to The Big Tick Project – a nationwide research survey in collaboration with Bristol University that looks at the number of ticks on dogs – the numbers are on the increase for several reasons.
“Many factors may have contributed to the increase in tick numbers across the UK” they said.
“Changing weather patterns mean prolonged periods where conditions are favourable for tick survival, particularly wetter summers and warmer winters.
“A lack of awareness amongst pet owners, leading to inadequate treatment and prevention may also play a significant role in contributing to problems for dogs.
“However, despite the growth of tick populations across the country, only 12 per cent of people are actually concerned by the risk posed by ticks.
“More worryingly, 47 per cent of pet owners were not aware that they too are at risk of infection from tick-borne diseases.”
Last summer mum Emily Porter warned parents to be on their guard after she spotted this tick embedded in her three-year-old son’s scalp after their trip to Lyme Park in Disley, Manchester.
The mum-of-two, from Marple,believes she was lucky to spot the tick so soon and managed to get it out with a tick remover.
She said at the time “I saw it whilst washing his hair. It stood out against the blond.
“I probably wouldn’t have spotted it in my other son’s hair and I only knew what it was as I am on high alert as we have a dog who has had them.
“Someone else would have probably thought it was a scab or a bit of dirt as they are so tiny at first.”
In a statement at the time, a spokesperson for National Trust-owned Lyme Park advised visitors to wear long trousers and check themselves afterwards to reduce the risk of infection.
The first symptom when someone is bitten by an infected tick is a red circular ‘bullseye’ skin rash which may subside after a week or two.
A high temperature, muscle and joint pain may then follow.
Most infections are not serious but in extreme cases it can cause paralysis, encephalitis and meningitis.
It is caused by the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi, found in the digestive system of deer, pheasants and mice.
