Author Interviews, Lyme / 08.11.2024

    Own a dog? Then your vet must have shared a thing or two about the risks of ticks and even warned you about Lyme disease.  But is your furry friend only at risk of this bacterial infection? You’re wrong if you think so. Humans can also get Lyme disease if a black-legged tick carrying the borrelia bacteria bites them. Just recently, the comedian and actress Miranda Hart opened up about how she struggled with chronic fatigue syndrome after she was diagnosed with Lyme disease.  Many other famous people say they have been struck by this tick-borne bacterial infection. Those include Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Yolanda Hadid and her daughter, model Bella Hadid, comic Amy Schumer, actor Ben Stiller, and singer Justin Bieber.  As high-profile names share their struggles, awareness of Lyme is spreading fast. But so are the myths. So, let’s separate the facts from the fiction surrounding this disease.

Myth #1: Lyme Disease Is Only a Problem in the Northeast

The Northeast does see a lot of Lyme disease cases, and that is mainly because it has a high population of black-legged ticks. But it is not confined to New England.   Lyme-carrying ticks can be found across much of the United States, especially in the upper Midwest and along the West Coast. In 2022, the largest number of Lyme disease cases were reported in the Middle Atlantic region—New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York.  There has also been a rapid surge in the number of cases in the northern New England states of New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine, reports Mount Sinai.  So, why the misconception? Part of it comes down to awareness—doctors in the Northeast are more used to spotting it, which can lead to better diagnosis rates. Meanwhile, in other areas, this bacterial infection might be misdiagnosed or underreported, which is why it flies under the radar.  (more…)
Author Interviews, Lyme, Race/Ethnic Diversity, UCLA / 18.10.2021

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Dan P. Ly M.D., Ph.D., M.P.P. Division of General Internal Medicine and Health Services Research David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA Los Angeles, CA  MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: Lyme disease presents first on the skin with the classic “bull’s-eye” rash. But such rashes in Black patients aren’t well-represented in medical textbooks. This may lead to physicians not recognizing such rashes in Black patients. As a result, Black patients are more likely to present with later complications of Lyme disease when first diagnosed such as neurologic complications.   (more…)