Health
matters: lyme disease concerns
WEEK-TV NBC
Peoria, IL
by Gina Morse
8 June 2004
It attacks unsuspecting
picnickers, hunters and hikers. All outdoor enthusiasts and pet owners are
at risk of Lyme disease.
Although it is less
common in central Illinois, this is the time of the year we are threatened
the most by the deer tick disease.
Thousands of missed
and misdiagnosed cases of Lyme may be identified and treated, thanks to
new guidelines.
For the first time,
doctors around the world have the same guidelines to show them how to identify
symptoms of the most devastating diseases of the season.
Anyone who goes outdoors
or has a pet can get Lyme disease. The international group of physicians
known as ILADS reveals many signs of Lyme often missed.
As you are about to
see, patient’s lives fall through cracks when they are misdiagnosed.
This is Samantha Davis
before a doctor diagnoses her with Lyme disease:
“I lost my ability
to walk for three years and I couldn’t read for two years,” said
Davis.
After correct Lyme
diagnosis and treatment, Samantha recovered.
“They installed
a feeding tube in my stomach,” said Tom Coffey.
Doctor’s misdiagnosed
Coffey, too.
“I had six months
to live. Some of the best doctors and hospitals in the world sent me home
to die,” said Coffey.
After a correct diagnosis
with Lyme, Tom is doing well.
Liz Hess’ body
used to suddenly freeze.
“When I’d
see myself on camera I’d just cry,” said Hess.
This is before her
diagnosis. “Right now I’m just so grateful for Dr. Bach.”
Dr. Gregory Bach is
a member of the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society or ILADS.
ILADS has just published
the first evidence based guidelines teaching doctors how to accurately recognize
and treat Lyme.
“The CDC reports
Lyme could be under-reported by ten-fold. So, instead of 20,000 there could
be 200,000 cases, said Dr. Bach.
The Peoria Health Department’s
Lisa Dallmeyer says only about half of Lyme victims ever remember a tick
biting them and some never get the bull’s-eye rash some doctor’s
think they need to see before testing.
The new guidelines
list all of these symptoms and provide the kind of information that not
only gave Tom Coffey new hope for a long life, but the energy for his new
baby he named after Dr. Bach.
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