Recognizing Lyme Disease

" Welcome to our web -- I'm David folk Thomas. Since it was discovered in 1975. After mysterious outbreak of our writers and all -- town Connecticut. Lyme disease has become a household name. Thousands of new cases are diagnosed every year in those numbers continue to rise and most folks in the north east know that it spread by deer ticks. But what exactly is lyme disease and how do you know if you haven't. We're going to try to answer all those questions joining me to help shed some light on my left doctor Alex -- meeting. He is an assistant professor of medicine at NYU Medical Center. And next to -- is doctor Brent why is he say clinical instructor of Madison also -- at NYU Medical Center here in New York City. Gentlemen thanks for joining me an -- when we start right off the bat which you. What is lyme --"

" Well David -- disease bacterial infection is spread around. By eight type effect here called the -- that particular name of this one is called earlier Bergdorf -- Out of -- wrong name it spread through the bites of a particular type of tick called the deer tick. Very common particular in this part of the country. -- it'd take you on a dog. Absolutely absolutely so it's called a -- ticket can be on any animal with -- mightiest. Domestic pat -- bringing in the house if you -- country home example. Things of that nature and it can certainly. -- from that the Doggett that acts as an outdoor cat. And settle one person that likes to it unfortunately drink your blood. And beat by doing that it can spread this bacteria which lives in the -- intestinal track and your bloodstream and cause alignment section."

" Now before we go much further believe we have some pictures of the few -- and if you could talk about it right here Alex you're one of those as. When I look out for."

" Chinese one to the right it's called the -- article form the second one. Is called an informant that's that is the second one from the right that's the classic one that spreads most that the infections. It's about the size of the sesame -- on a bagel. And so it's tiny tiny tiny most people can't really feel it when it's on your skin. It also has acute ability of biting you and releasing a chemical which acts almost as an anesthetic -- so most people don't even feel the bite. And crawling all over 50% people who get lyme disease has no history that they are aware of attempting to --"

" Now Brent what when somebody gets bitten by one of these six. What should they do learn how -- they know if there are at risk for lyme disease Well the first important as if you're gonna have exposure to the outside -- do it checked. We knew coming in to see you if you effect do you have ticks on -- If you do you have -- it's important -- should you check out we see it everywhere. I mean you really should you should look yourself over completely should have someone else. Helped you with that had a look over your back side very carefully to make sure that -- of ticks now I've always grew up thinking will they get your hair is that they like being their community anywhere. They can be anywhere. They can be you know usually the day stay with fairly close to where they landed on your -- That there are mostly I would say the lower extremities. And on the upper extremities. As well. Okay so that and then once you find that accounts which which -- it."

" Well for some don't panic. As as Trent mentioned it has to be on for over 24 hour period so if you were just outside and the tickets just recently. Things found in the likely that is not being there long enough to transmit infection. This -- however you should remove the tick. Either by trying to pull off again they're so small might be hard to do you can use tweezers. Another trick I sometimes found work is at work is using something like baby oil which actually tries to. Almost smothered the ticket arsenal get a team. I don't release itself from from fighting through your skin. And then start to move around and then you can get much easier if it's already kind of and edited it into your skin."

" And -- what are some of the symptoms grant nearly manifestations. Of lyme disease that few in fact have contracted it. The most common symptom is probably no symptoms. But of the symptoms that people do you have. They read this is the most typical early. Manifestation of lyme disease I think we have we do -- that so when we see this pop up to explain which what this -- like I think this is a classic -- theme of my growing threat. Within -- region you can see in the center where it's dark red and then it is. That's clearing area where this game has more returned more to its normal color and then gets ready again. And that's why we call that a bullseye rash how long after you've been bitten. So to speak will you get that crash. I'd probably be about 48 hours producer Alex anything from 48 hours up to -- sometimes as much as those two to three weeks. And as I mean is that -- in the center that's cool side tonight appear where. Usually it does. Her around the fight but Iraq has been known to occur other places as well and the rest does not what's important -- does not have to be that typical bullseye Iraq. To be like this can be almost any type of branch until we have other rational also discouraged you know because when you're you're gonna -- not really but anyway what about this -- were going to look -- seeing right there. What what's what's that one about that's not a bulls know that is -- That is it at scar. -- that is most likely to around where -- actually bit. And that blackened area. Is his powers surrounding the tick -- with an air -- redneck. Around that black area and -- Alex what happens then what are then what happens after you get the rash what are the symptoms sure well you you make it."

" Spread of the bacteria through your your body. It can end up for example in your joints causing chronic or recurrent arthritis. You can get involvement of the heart without. Involvement the conduction system are causing with a call Clark blocks or you can get involved in the central nervous system series manifestations from. I type of political encephalitis. To chronic Rick neurological symptoms that can be very hard to diagnosis of lyme disease what is."

" The connection I mentioned earlier that back and 75. In a longtime Connecticut arthritis. Outbreaks what is the connection. Between lyme disease and --"

" Well the they think they -- it is the bacteria or you're immune response to the bacteria causes an inclination in the joint. Why this particular bacteria and a joint and joint I don't think anyone has certain. But it -- to being out. And larger -- such as the knees the ankles elbows. I think of that nature and securing children. It was first misdiagnosed was what the coaches and arthritis. It can also be misdiagnosed in older people as degenerative osteoarthritis. Lupus rheumatoid arthritis a number of different conditions at. Certainly physicians have to be aware. And do blood testing for. Alignment and body so they don't miss the diagnosis and missed treat somebody for another type of arthritis and all the time the person has lyme disease"

" Now Brent you mentioned earlier that. Five times there are no symptoms so. I guess you can't do what I mean if you don't know you've been bitten and you don't have symptoms will -- to eventually."

" Away what was going on on the end eventually. And then himself but I would say the most common no sentences is. Right at the very beginning of of that by. Com and many people don't notice the rash. Or don't count -- and it's not until they're diagnosed. When they developed. The manifestations. The -- was mentioning either conduction problems in the heart or arthritis or are chronic your logic symptoms. That then and checking their serum antibody for lyme disease is found out they were posit."

" And -- it when he's tick season and it's in the north east dimensional line. Town Connecticut where it got its name but can get it other -- actually it's it's mostly concentrated northeast. In the upper midwest Wisconsin Minnesota. And that again in the Pacific northwest. That you can get it less common in other states. The season usually brings it begins in the spring. March April. -- with the that the union form. Then over the course that this spring and summer. The number of cases gradually drops off and but you can you case's latest fall from the adult. And I can occasionally cause -- which spread on to awesome."

" All right all the time we have on our web cast. For a lime disease remember if you're outdoors. You gotta check yourself for text because lyme disease there's something to be treated seriously my name's David folk Thomas we'll see you next time."