While we tend to think of Lyme as a relatively new disease, it has actually been written about in European medical journals since 1883, when it was first described by a German physician. The characteristic "bulls-eye" rash, (which is probably the most widely-known symptom of Lyme Disease) was first documented by a Swedish physician, Arvid Afzelius, in 1909. And in 1921, the first medical reports linking swelling and joint pain with what is now known as Lyme Disease were published, at the same time speculating that ticks may be responsible for transmitting the illness. Evidence was found throughout the 20's and 30's drawing connections between the disease and joint, neurological, heart and psychiatric problems.
In the United States, Lyme appeared on the medical map with the first cases originating in the mid-1970's in a small town in New England called Lyme, Connecticut. At first, there were 39 children and 12 adults from this area that were diagnosed with what was then called "Lyme arthritis," a mysterious swelling & joint pain in the knees, generally accompanied by headaches. When a local Mother, Polly Murray, noticed that many children in the neighborhood seemed to be having the same symptoms as those going on in her home, she contacted the local health department. And thus we have the formal recorded beginnings of Lyme Disease in the United States.
In 1978, a researcher from Yale University, Dr. Allen Steere, suspected that the symptoms these patients were having were somehow related to tick bites. In 1982, while investigating an outbreak of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Dr. Willy Burgdorfer discovered the actual bacteria, a spirochete that would be given his name, (Borellia Burgdorferi) that causes Lyme Disease. His research was able to prove that it wasn't the bite itself that was causing the symptoms, rather the presence of the Bb bacteria that was transmitted to humans when tick bites occurred. His important research was also able to link many of the infections that we now know as co-infections to tick bites as well.
GlaxoSmithKline came out with the first approved Lyme vaccine, LYMErix in the late 1990's. Although after much controversy, including lawsuits brought by claimants who had never had Lyme symptoms until after having the vaccine, it was pulled from the market. GSK cited poor sales as the reason for pulling the vaccine. After immunization many formerly healthy individuals developed what was referred to as "autoimmune" arthritis, and mysteriously also developed other symptoms of Lyme Disease. There is currently no Lyme vaccination available and I would recommend a great deal of caution if one is approved in the future. On a personal note, given the nature of spirochetes, I would be totally against ever allowing anyone to inject me or a family member with anything referred to as a Lyme vaccine!
The Infectious Disease Society of America came out with it's current Treatment Guidelines for Lyme Disease in 2006. The guidelines have added to the controversy by making it more difficult for doctors to diagnose and treat Lyme patients. The guidelines basically state that Lyme Disease can be treated effectively with 2-4 weeks of antibiotics, but that anything beyond 28 days provides no additional benefit to the patient, and in fact can be detrimental. The International Lyme and Associated Disease Society have come out with their own Treatment Guidelines for Lyme Disease which have taken into consideration the world-wide body of literature provided by physicians that are successfully treating patients with Lyme Disease, using combination antibiotic therapy, or long-term antibiotic therapy. The divide over Lyme Disease in the medical community continues to grow. Patients are caught in the middle, and are the big losers at the present moment, since many have to search for months, sometimes years, and in many cases travel out-of-state to find a doctor willing to treat them.
In 2008, Open Eye Pictures released it's Lyme Disease documentary, Under Our Skin, hugely successful at film festivals around the country. Since then, public and private showings have been raising awareness. Many Lyme patients and advocates have taken to the internet in an effort to spread awareness and aid in prevention as well. As the debate rages on, the history of Lyme Disease is still being written. There is still so much to be learned, so much that we desperately need to know about this debilitating illness. For more information on the great Lyme debate, check out Why the Lyme Controversy? a post from earlier this month that includes videos and other articles discussing the controversy.
GlaxoSmithKline came out with the first approved Lyme vaccine, LYMErix in the late 1990's. Although after much controversy, including lawsuits brought by claimants who had never had Lyme symptoms until after having the vaccine, it was pulled from the market. GSK cited poor sales as the reason for pulling the vaccine. After immunization many formerly healthy individuals developed what was referred to as "autoimmune" arthritis, and mysteriously also developed other symptoms of Lyme Disease. There is currently no Lyme vaccination available and I would recommend a great deal of caution if one is approved in the future. On a personal note, given the nature of spirochetes, I would be totally against ever allowing anyone to inject me or a family member with anything referred to as a Lyme vaccine!
The Infectious Disease Society of America came out with it's current Treatment Guidelines for Lyme Disease in 2006. The guidelines have added to the controversy by making it more difficult for doctors to diagnose and treat Lyme patients. The guidelines basically state that Lyme Disease can be treated effectively with 2-4 weeks of antibiotics, but that anything beyond 28 days provides no additional benefit to the patient, and in fact can be detrimental. The International Lyme and Associated Disease Society have come out with their own Treatment Guidelines for Lyme Disease which have taken into consideration the world-wide body of literature provided by physicians that are successfully treating patients with Lyme Disease, using combination antibiotic therapy, or long-term antibiotic therapy. The divide over Lyme Disease in the medical community continues to grow. Patients are caught in the middle, and are the big losers at the present moment, since many have to search for months, sometimes years, and in many cases travel out-of-state to find a doctor willing to treat them.
In 2008, Open Eye Pictures released it's Lyme Disease documentary, Under Our Skin, hugely successful at film festivals around the country. Since then, public and private showings have been raising awareness. Many Lyme patients and advocates have taken to the internet in an effort to spread awareness and aid in prevention as well. As the debate rages on, the history of Lyme Disease is still being written. There is still so much to be learned, so much that we desperately need to know about this debilitating illness. For more information on the great Lyme debate, check out Why the Lyme Controversy? a post from earlier this month that includes videos and other articles discussing the controversy.
No comments:
Post a Comment