Lyme Disease

By Trevor Shewfelt, Pharmacist at the Dauphin Clinic Pharmacy

Have you heard Trevor on the radio? Listen to 730 CKDM Tuesday Mornings at 8:35 am! We now have most of the articles published in the Parkland Shopper on our Website www.dcp.ca

The information in this article is intended as a helpful guide only. It is not intended to be used as a substitute for professional advice. If you have any questions about your medications and what is right for you see your doctor, pharmacist or other health care professional.

You know what is cool about a phone call from Hong Kong? It sounds just like a phone call from across the street. In today’s world of fax, email, Facebook, satellite phones, Skype videoconferencing, text messaging and many, many other forms of electronic communications, the overseas phone call is still almost magical to me. About a year ago a friend I grew up with called me from Hong Kong. He asked if I was going to Winnipeg in the following couple of weeks. It turned out I was, so he was asked if I could meet this guy, Allen for dinner. I said sure.

Allen was in Winnipeg because he was driving a bus for a tour company. He was taking people from a downtown hotel to the airport who were on their way to Churchill to see polar bears. Allen was originally from Texas, went to university in the eastern states and has had a variety of fascinating jobs. He had run for Congress, twice, had helped record music for a national book chain. He had played his small part as a member of the massive team that helped get Barack Obama elected president last year. He had many tales to tell. The one that came closest to my line of work involve a lime green van. Allen had driven this lime green van across the US to promote Lyme disease awareness. I have to admit, I really didn’t know much about Lyme disease, and after dinner with Allen, I quickly forgot about the story of the lime green van. However, recently Manitoba Health sent the pharmacy a Deer Tick information package. So thinking about Allen and his green van, I read it. Here is some of what it said.

Deer ticks are cousins to the wood tick that you are probably familiar with. They are smaller than wood ticks and they don’t have any white marks or streaks like wood ticks. They are of interest because deer tick can transmit Lyme disease to people. Deer ticks haven’t been in Manitoba long. Apparently they have only been identified here since 1989. Deer tick are predominantly in the south eastern part of the province and probably only 10% carry Lyme disease. Most Manitobans are unlikely to run into a deer tick. However, unlike wood ticks, deer ticks are more common in the fall. I guess that’s why Manitoba Health sent out the info package in the late summer.

Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium, Borrelia burgdorferi. Bacteria are transferred from the deer tick to the person when the tick bites and feeds on the person. This gives us our first opportunity to prevent Lyme disease. If you remove of attached within 18 to 24 hours you can reduce the risk of infection. Do not forget to check children and pets as well. Carefully remove attached ticks using tweezers. Grasp the tick's head and mouth parts as close to the skin as possible and pull slowly until the tick is removed. Do not twist or rotate the tick and try not to damage the tick (i.e., squash or crush it) during removal.

The symptoms of Lyme disease are often described as having three stages, although not all patients have symptoms of each stage. The first sign of infection is usually a circular rash called that’s been described as a “bull’s eye rash”. This rash occurs in about 70-80% of infected persons and begins at the site of the tick bite after a delay of three days to one month. Patients may also experience symptoms such as: fatigue, chills, fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, and swollen lymph nodes. If the infection goes untreated, the second stage of the disease can last up to several months with possible symptoms including: central and peripheral nervous system disorders, multiple skin rashes, arthritis, heart palpitations, extreme fatigue and general weakness. If the infection continues to go untreated, the third stage of the disease can last months to years with possible symptoms including, chronic arthritis and neurological symptoms.

The good news is since Lyme disease is caused by a bacteria, it can be treated with antibiotics. The earlier in the disease the doctor can start you on the antibiotics the better. Late stage disease may have to be treated with antibiotics for a long period of time.

I don’t want to scare anyone about Lyme disease. It is still something Manitobans are unlikely to catch. But forewarned is for-armed, and if you happen to see a lime green van driving around promoting Lyme disease awareness, talk to the driver. It could be a very interesting conversation. And phone someone you know that lives a long way away. Remember to marvel at how that familiar voice can travel so easily along those little wires.

As always if you have any questions or concerns about these or other products, ask your pharmacist.