State's guide to lyme disease needs clarification

[Franky]

Although the state Health Department's Guide for Preventing Lyme Disease, recently distributed with the Times Union, presented some good information, some important points need to be clarified.

Tick season runs from March through November -- nine months. Ticks can be active any time when the temperature is above freezing. With our warmer winters that means that we can expect tick activity almost all year now in our region.

In discussing the symptoms of lyme disease, we are told that in 60 percent to 80 percent of cases there is a bull's-eye rash. That means that in up to 40 percent of cases there can be no rash at all or an atypical rash.

The early symptoms, which "usually" appear in three to 30 days, may actually not appear at all. In my case, my first symptoms were neurological.

In addition to using Deet and permethrin for protection, after exposure we can place our clothes in a dryer on high heat for 15-20 minutes, which may kill any ticks that are on them. A thorough scrubbing in the shower is also a good idea.

Lyme disease is a difficult and confounding disease, and we in this area are not educated about symptoms, prevention and diagnosis. There are too many people suffering with this disease because of inadequate tests and diagnostic criteria. This situation needs to be remedied.

A Lyme disease information and support group meets monthly in the Capital Region area. Our next meeting will be at the Bethlehem Public Library from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 22.

JUDY MERRITT
Empire State Lyme Disease Association
Capital Region Branch
New Scotland