Archive for the ‘Lyme’ Category

What Lyme & Autism Have in Common Will Surprise You

https://dariningelsnd.com/lyme-and-autism/

July 6, 2020

By Dr. Darin Ingels N.D.

When speaking with children who are chronically ill, it can be difficult to understand what is causing their symptoms.

Children, naturally, might not know how to accurately describe their pains or illness. When there are multiple symptoms, it can be even more challenging as they grow and change so quickly.

For children with autism or other language disorder, they may be limited or unable to communicate why they feel the way they feel. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Lyme disease are examples of what seem to be entirely different diseases, but they share an overlap of symptoms.

While autism is usually seen as a developmental disorder and Lyme disease and infectious disease, the two have more in common than you might think. There are interesting connections between the two, especially when diagnosed in children.

Sad boy with symptoms of lyme disease

Symptoms shared by both Autism and Lyme:

  • Neurological symptoms that include difficulty with communication and confusion, disorientation, muscle twitching, sensitivity to light, brain fog, and delayed development.
  • Psychological problems that impact behaviors, obsessive-compulsive disorder, an increased sense of doom, anxiety and outbursts.
  • Physical health issues such as muscle weakness, arthritis, and rashes.
  • Gut health issues including food allergies, bloating, constipation or diarrhea, and abdominal pain.

These symptoms are common features of autism and Lyme disease.

Coincidentally, many of these symptoms are also displayed in auto-immune disorders.

Tests for Lyme can be misleading, as they have a poor accuracy. A specialist is always needed in order to get a better sense of other treatment options because both autism and Lyme can have long-term issues.

However, there are treatments that benefit Lyme and autism alike. Focusing on gut health has been an important part of treatment for both conditions. This is because we are seeing the benefits of specific diets in patients with autism and/or Lyme.

Nutritional support strengthens the integrity of the intestinal membranes, balances the billions of bacteria in our gut and improves digestion and elimination.

All of this help support the immune function of the gut, which ultimately affects brain function.

An effective nutritional protocol would support the immune system, reduce symptoms, calm the nervous system and strengthen the body’s ability to fight infections.

Autoimmune conditions such as autism and Lyme disease benefit greatly from proper diet and lifestyle modifications.

Wheat

Removing casein, dairy, sugar, processed foods and gluten from the diet will allow the body to heal and aid in the detoxification process, naturally.

Reducing environmental factors like external and emotional stressors are extremely important for both Lyme and ASD.

Stress responses increase the load on the immune & nervous system, which can lead to exhaustion and further relapse into symptoms.

Identifying these triggers help you to work around them and eventually train your nervous system to create new patterns and get rid of the old ones. Autoimmune conditions have very unique impacts on the immune system, especially Lyme and autism.

Consider speaking to a specialist about your symptoms, especially if they mimic other autoimmune conditions. And never be afraid to get a second or even third opinion, as it may be necessary in order to get to the root of problem.

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For more:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2019/12/22/identification-evaluation-and-management-of-children-with-autism-spectrum-disorder/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/09/28/toxic-metal-pollution-linked-with-development-of-autism-spectrum-disorder/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/09/05/pans-autism-the-immune-system-an-interview-with-expert-neurologist-dr-richard-frye/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2017/10/26/clinical-trial-shows-most-kids-with-autism-are-not-born-with-it/

Category:

Autism, diet and nutrition, Gut Health, Inflammation, Lyme, Psychological Aspects, Uncategorized

Allegheny County’s Tick Collector Warns of Lyme Disease Risks

https://www.post-gazette.com/news/environment/2020/08/07/ticks-Lyme-disease-risks-Allegheny-County-blacklegged-tick/stories/

Leah Lamonte, vector control specialist for the Allegheny County Health Department, looks for blacklegged ticks in their nymph stage after dragging a cloth along a trail in Hartwood Acres on July 30, 2020, in Allison Park.

Allegheny County’s tick collector warns of Lyme disease risks

Pam Panchak / Post-Gazette
AUG 7, 2020

After dragging a swath of white cloth the size of a doormat through the forest duff along a shaded, onetime bridle trail now well used by walkers and joggers in Hartwood Acres county park, Leah Lamonte had her tweezers out.

Ms. Lamonte is the vector control program coordinator for the Allegheny County Health Department, and the specks she plucked from the “drag cloth” last week looked like smudges of finely ground black pepper. Except they were moving.

As she delicately grabbed each tiny crawling dot and dropped it into a clear plastic vial filled with alcohol, she explained that she was collecting ticks, especially blacklegged ticks, the kind that carry Lyme disease and pass it to thousands of Pennsylvanians every year.  (See link for article)

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**Comment**

Important takeaways:

  1. Lamonte states she’s finding ticks in every one of the city and county parks.
  2. She rightly assumes that every time she’s been in a park she’s been exposed to Lyme (if not other things as well).
  3. According to their results, 25% of nymphal deer ticks carry Lyme, while 50% of adults do. She states this is because adults have had two blood meals thereby increasing their risk.
  4. 4% carry Anaplasma
  5. 1% carry Babesia
  6. They repeat the mantra that a tick has to be attached for 36-48 hours when minimum attachment time has NEVER been determined.  I show here that within 4-6 hours a little girl couldn’t walk or talk after a tick bite:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2017/04/14/transmission-time-for-lymemsids-infection/  It’s also been shown that ticks partially feed, drop off, and then attach to a new host. These partial feeders are able to transmit much more quickly:  m.org/content/iai/61/6/2396.full.pdf  and a more recent 2019 article:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2019/04/26/three-strains-of-borrelia-other-pathogens-found-in-salivary-glands-of-ixodes-ticks-suggesting-quicker-transmission-time  This study was in castor bean ticks – still in the Ixodes family.
We really need to stop saying a tick has to be attached for hours and hours – giving people a false sense of security.

 

 

Category:

Lyme, research, Ticks, Transmission

Horsham Area Mum’s Tick Bite Warning as Toddler Diagnosed With Lyme Disease

https://www.crawleyobserver.co.uk/health/horsham-area-mums-tick-bite-warning-toddler-diagnosed-lyme-disease

Horsham area mum’s tick bite warning as toddler diagnosed with Lyme disease

A Horsham area mum is urging people to be aware of the dangers of tick bites after her toddler caught Lyme disease.
By Sam Dixon-French
Wednesday, 5th August 2020, 4:23 pm
Lauren and Imogen AndersonLauren and Imogen Anderson

Lauren Anderson, of Broadbridge Heath, said her 22-month-old daughter Imogen was diagnosed with the illness after she was bitten twice by ticks.

The RSPCA worker, 35, said Imogen had a bull’s eye rash on her chest – which can be an early symptom of the disease – before developing a swollen knee.

Lauren added: “It just didn’t go down. You could tell she was in pain. She was waking up in the middle of the night and saying ‘ow, ow’.”  (See link for article)

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BTW: Here is the first recorded case of Babesia & the second reported case of TBE in England:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2020/08/04/babesia-and-tick-borne-encephalitis-diagnosed-in-england/

Category:

Lyme, Ticks

FREE: Lyme Disease Resource – Printable Factsheet

https://caudwelllyme.com/2020/07/15/caudwell-lymeco-kidunk-launch-the-tick-detectives-initiative/

Caudwell LymeCo & Kidunk launch the Tick Detectives Initiative

Posted on by Caudwell LymeCo Charity

As the UK navigates its way out of some of the restrictions related to COVID-19, there has been a huge surge in the popularity of outdoor summer schools, forest schools and activity programmes planned for the summer months.

In response to this growth of young children and families spending more time outdoors, we’ve been working with our partner, UK award-winning kids clothing brand Kidunk to produce a fun new resource to help children, parents, carers and teachers be better prepared and better aware of Lyme disease.

The Tick Detectives resource

Our factsheet has been designed with input from children so it can appeal to a young audience.

We have tried to deliver the key facts around Lyme disease in a no-nonsense language using engaging colours and imagery that would appeal to a younger audience, but with factual content of use to parents and practitioners.

The ‘Tick Detectives’ fact sheet is available to download from both the Caudwell LymeCo and Kidunk websites.  It will also be sent digitally to over 10,000 nursery settings, carers and parents over the coming weeks.

Ultimately, it’s intended the resource will be printed and provided free to schools and outdoor centres across the UK.

This awareness campaign is part of the partnership between Caudwell LymeCo and Kidunk, launched in May of this year. Given our concern around the potential increase in cases of Lyme due to more socialising outside, we want to work with forest schools and nurseries to empower children and parents with knowledge and understanding of Lyme disease in a fun and creative way.

Kidunk’s fab partnerships and contacts allow us to do this and we’re very grateful to have the support. The resource already has the support of forest school practitioners, and we hope it goes some way into educating young people about ticks and how to keep safe.

Pam Houghton, owner of High Meadow Nursery, Lancashire, and Level 3 Forest School Nursery Practitioner said: ‘Children’s safety is of paramount importance to us and this fantastic resource has been shared with parents and staff who have passed on to others with an interest in outdoor activities and learning’.

Download for FREE here

Please feel free to download via the image below, share, and give us your feedback at lymecocharity@caudwell.com.

The resource is also suitable for Beavers, Cubs, and other school age groups.

Category:

Activism, Lyme, Ticks

Babesia and Tick-borne Encephalitis Diagnosed in England

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/rare-tick-borne-infections-diagnosed-in-england

Rare tick-borne infections diagnosed in England

PHE calls for people to be tick aware as the first case of a babesiosis is diagnosed in England.
Published 31 July 2020
From:  Public Health England
Tick on a leaf

Public Health England (PHE) can confirm the diagnosis of a case of babesiosis and a probable case of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) in England. This is the first record of a UK-acquired case of babesiosis and the second case of TBE being acquired in the UK.

Babesiosis is caused by a parasite which infects red blood cells whilst TBE is a viral infection that affects the central nervous system. Both are rare infections spread by the bite from an infected tick.

Both patients have been transferred to hospital, where they are receiving appropriate treatment and supportive care.

PHE regularly undertakes work to understand the potential risks of tick-borne infections in England. This year, PHE has surveyed sites in Devon close to where the person with babesiosis lives, collecting and testing hundreds of ticks – all tested negative for the parasite which causes babesiosis.

PHE has tested deer blood samples from Hampshire in areas near to where the person with probable TBE lives and they have shown evidence of likely TBE virus infection, which matches similar results found in 2019.

The risk of babesiosis or TBE for the general public is very low. However, a number of infections can develop following a tick bite, including Lyme disease, and there are things we can all do to reduce our risk of being bitten by ticks while enjoying the outdoors this summer.

It is important to ‘be tick aware’ and take precautions to reduce your risk of being bitten by ticks when enjoying green spaces this summer including:

  • keeping to footpaths and avoiding long grass when out walking
  • wearing appropriate clothing such as a long-sleeved shirt, and trousers tucked into your socks makes it less likely that a tick will bite and attach
  • considering the use of repellents containing DEET
  • making it a habit to carry out a tick check regularly when you’re outdoors and when you get home
  • if you have been bitten by a tick, it should be removed as soon as possible using fine tipped tweezers or a tick removal tool which is sold by many outdoor stores, vets and pharmacies. Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible and pull upwards slowly and firmly. Once removed, wash your skin with water and soap, and apply an antiseptic cream to the skin around the bite
  • contact your GP promptly if you begin to feel unwell, remembering to tell them you were bitten by a tick or recently spent time outdoors

Dr Katherine Russell, Consultant in the Emerging Infections and Zoonoses team at PHE, said:

It is important to emphasise that cases of babesiosis and TBE in England are rare and the risk of being infected remains very low. Lyme disease remains the most common tick-borne infection in England.

Ticks are most active between spring and autumn, so it is sensible to take some precautions to avoid being bitten when enjoying the outdoors. Seek medical advice if you start to feel unwell after a tick bite.

Background

About babesiosis

Most people with babesiosis will have either no symptoms or mild symptoms of infection; people with weakened immune systems can become very ill and present with flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills, muscle ache, fatigue, and jaundice.

About TBE

Around 2 thirds of people with TBE infections will have no symptoms. For those who develop symptoms, there are often 2 phases. The first is associated with flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache and fatigue. This can then progress to a more serious second phase that involves central nervous system, which can lead to meningitis, encephalitis and paralysis.

If you develop flu-like symptoms after being bitten by a tick, visit your GP.

Go to hospital if you:

  • get a stiff neck and a severe headache
  • get pain when looking at bright lights
  • have a seizure (fit)
  • have a change in behaviour – such as sudden confusion
  • develop weakness or loss of movement in part of the body

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**Comment**

Authorities really need to stop saying infection is rare.  Many doctors don’t know what to look for and many cases go undiagnosed, and therefore unreported.  They should just state that it’s been found and refrain from telling people anything about numbers when frankly no one has been keeping track.

And it should be a real heads-up that they do need to start looking for it and recording it when it’s found.

Secondly, Babesia, according to Dr. Horowitz is one of the most tenacious coinfections he deals with and necessitates 9 months to a year of solid treatment.  To say that people with Babesia mostly have no symptoms or mild symptoms is asinine because people bitten by a tick and typically getting Lyme in the process CAUSES a weakened immune system.

We know that those infected with multiple things have more severe illness for a longer duration of time.  Authorities need to quit soft peddling their comments.  

For more:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/category/babesia-treatment/

Category:

Babesia, Lyme, Testing, Ticks, Viruses