Over the last several years increasing numbers of patients have sought out OHP for treatment of a range of often confounding symptoms that have become recognized as the hallmarks of Lyme disease and its related infections. These diseases are generally caused (in our region) by the bites of infected deer ticks, which have reached epidemic proportions.
Infections that are carried to humans by carriers known as “vectors,” such as ticks and insects, account for more than 60 percent of human infections.When such vectors move infections from animals (both wild and domestic) to humans, they are called "zoonotic diseases."Lyme disease is one such disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is “an epidemic and the number one emerging infectious disease” in the United States.
The term "Lyme disease" is often used today to include the original spirochete along with the "co-infections" caused by the other tick-borne infectious agents. Lyme disease can be narrowly defined as an infection with the bacterium, Borrelia burgdorferi, a spirochete (and close relative of the bacterium responsible for syphilis) originally identified as the cause of arthritis-like symptoms which were first described in the town of Lyme, Connecticut in 1975. In 1982, Dr. Willy Burgdorfer isolated the spirochete bacteria responsible for the disease, and determined that the carrier, or vector, for this bacterium from its animal hosts to humans was the deer tick. Since that time, a number of additional bacteria, viruses and parasites (including Bartonella, Anaplasma, Ehrlichia and Mycoplasma and the parasite Babesia) have been identified as being carried by the deer tick from mice and other small rodents and possibly birds, to humans.
These pathogens can all lead to multiple infections with myriad symptoms, and short- and long-term illnesses.The large number of overlapping symptoms being caused by the possible combination of multiple infections that may or may not respond to a wide range of treatment regimens is what makes helping patients with these conditions both highly challenging and urgently needed in the medical community.
In our geographical region in the mid-Atlantic states, there is wide public awareness that the deer tick has infested the deer population, and that deer have become common visitors in residential suburban communities as well as the throughout the countryside.
Lyme Disease Diagnosis: Controversy
Take note that there is a continuing controversy regarding the diagnosis of Lyme disease.This debate has been fostered primarily by the insurance industry, which uses guidelines promulgated by the Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA).IDSA relies on an internal panel’s review process, which has been the focus of legal action asserting bias and conflict of interest, and on the CDC’s Case Definition of Lyme disease.In fact, the CDC actually states that the purpose of its Lyme definition was surveillance, not diagnosis.The CDC has stated that its case definition of Lyme disease “was developed for national reporting of Lyme disease; it is not intended to be used in clinical diagnosis [bold type added for emphasis].”
OHP relies on the full analysis of each patient's medical history, clinical presentation and available laboratory testing. You should recognize, however, that while a wide range of laboratory tests very valuable, there are no reliable, specific tests for the Lyme disease pathogens. Toprovide some basic information about Lyme and other tick-borne diseases, you may review this page and our links to other Internet resources on these topics. Symptoms Overview
The following list is an extensive set of conditions that may or may not be related to Lyme Disease or any other related illnesses. In one way or another, however, all of these symptoms in a wide range of combinations and degrees of severity can be indicators of underlying conditions such as Lyme disease.
Just by scanning this list, one can imagine the myriad ways in which Lyme can disrupt normal health. Our goal is to help individuals with complex combinations of symptoms or chronic conditions that have been difficult to diagnose and treat. This list is simply a collection of symptoms that can be associated with Lyme. It is not meant in any way as a guide to diagnosis or treatment.
The Tick Bite
Rash at site of tick bite
Rashes on other parts of body
Rash basically circular and spreading out
Raised rash, disappearing and recurring
Head, Face, Neck
Unexplained hair loss
Headache, mild or severe
Pressure in head
Twitching of facial or other muscles
Facial paralysis (Bell's palsy)
Tingling of nose, (tip of) tongue, cheek or facial flushing
Stiff or painful neck
Jaw pain or stiffness
Dental problems (unexplained)
Sore throat, clearing throat a lot, phlegm, hoarseness, runny nose
Eyes/Vision
Double or blurry vision
Increased floating spot
Pain in eyes, or swelling around eyes
Oversensitivity to light
Flashing lights, peripheral waves, phantom images in corner of eyes
Ears/Hearing
Decreased hearing in one or both ears, plugged ears
