Deer tick Photo By Getty Images/Comstock Images
Lyme disease on rise in Waupaca County
Outdoor lovers need to take precautions to protect themselves from the deer ticks that often carry Lyme disease.
"It's a growing problem in our area," said Bette Casey, infection preventionist for New London Family Medical Center (NLFMC) and Riverside Medical Center (RMC) in Waupaca.
Lyme disease is a rapidly emerging bacterial infection that is spread to people by the bite of infected deer ticks.
"If possible, bring in the tick that was removed so the provider can determine the type of tick," said Dr. Dan Sutton, a family physician at ThedaCare Physicians-Waupaca.
According to the Wisconsin Health Department, in 2011 there were 95 confirmed cases in Waupaca County and 31 confirmed cases in Outagamie County. In 2010, there were 81 confirmed cases in Waupaca County and 43 confirmed cases in Outagamie County.
"Compared to Pennsylvania, where I practiced prior to coming to Wisconsin, I have seen many more cases in Wisconsin," said Dr. Michael Fetterolf, a family physician at ThedaCare Physicians-New London.
Nine states, including Wisconsin, account for 90 percent of the disease. In Wisconsin, Lyme disease is spread by the black-legged tick, which lives in wooded areas, grassland and yards.
The warm weather months provide brush and long grass, which is home to a tick's host animals like mice, cats, dogs and deer. Companion pets can bring the ticks into the home, putting humans at risk for Lyme disease, Casey said.
Ticks are the vector, feeding off the animals that have the bacteria, which is then spread when ticks feed off humans, she added.
"A lot of times the people who are coming down with Lyme disease are not the healthy men in the woods," said Casey. "We see a lot of Lyme disease in the elderly and the very young."
Anyone and anything that has been outdoors should always be checked for ticks, Casey said. "Sometimes it just becomes commonplace and then you're not checking for ticks frequently enough," she said.
The early stage of Lyme disease is usually marked by symptoms like tiredness, headache, chills and fever, muscle or joint pain, swollen lymph glands and a characteristic skin rash, which is often a red circular patch that expands around the site of the tick bite. The center may clear, resulting in a "bulls-eye" appearance. The rash may be warm but is not painful or itchy.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, a deer tick needs to be attached for 36-48 hours before transmission of the bacterium that causes Lyme disease can occur. "To remove ticks, the only method that should be used is to slowly pull the tick straight out of the skin by grasping it as close to the skin as possible with a tweezers," said Dr. Sutton. "Do not twist. Do not use any other methods such as Vick's or burning a match."
Not all Lyme disease symptoms are evident and sometimes they mimic other diseases, Fetterolf said. "Often times we order a tick panel to see what the patient may have for potential disease processes," he said.
Casey, who was diagnosed with Lyme disease five years ago, knows the complications the disease can pose on one's body.
"It's really good at crippling your immune system," said Casey, who was unaware she'd been bitten by a tick until symptoms plagued her for years. "It really affects your whole body."
If a deer tick has been attached for more than 24 hours, and symptoms are developing such as rash, fever or new joint pain, be evaluated by the doctor "within 1-2 days so you can receive timely care," said Sutton.
However, patients cannot be tested right away because a waiting period is required. "There is no benefit to testing for Lyme disease within 1-2 weeks of a tick bite," Sutton said. "It takes three to four weeks for the antibodies that we test for to show up, so there should not be a 'rush to the doctor to get tested' if a tick bite occurred a few days ago."
The disease, said Casey, likes to hang out in places of the body where there is low blood flow, making it harder for the antibiotics to reach.
When venturing outdoors in rural areas, take precautions like wearing long sleeves and long pants tucked into socks, wearing a hat and tying hair back, using insecticides to repel or kill ticks and checking yourself for ticks after outdoor activities.
Casey said local doctors in the area are really taking heed to symptoms that could be related to Lyme disease.
"I think we're just really starting to learn the mass of affects it has on your health," she said, noting that left untreated, Lyme disease can pose other health risks. "I think they have really done a good job with keeping Lyme disease in mind now when they do see a patient."
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22 Comments for "Lyme disease on rise in Waupaca County "
Actually, the number of cases have not increased [i]significantly[/i].
The biggest change is that the state (and this paper) are now counting "probable" cases in addition to confirmed cases. The number of confirmed cases in Waupaca County last year was: 50. The number of confirmed cases in Waupaca County in 2007 was: 62. So has there been an increase? A significant increase? No, and No.
Should you protect yourself from ticks? Certainly.
Should the elderly and children take extra precautions? Absolutely.
Should you do this because lyme disease incidence is increasing? No.
You should do it because lyme disease can be debilitating, and because preventing lyme disease is easy.
[quote]When venturing outdoors in rural areas, take precautions like wearing long sleeves and long pants tucked into socks, wearing a hat and tying hair back, using [b]insecticides[/b] to repel or kill ticks and checking yourself for ticks after outdoor activities.[/quote]
Actually, you should use insect [b]repellents[/b], not insecticides. Do not spray "RAID" on yourself. Try OFF! or Cutter, etc - something with DEET as an ingredient, if you spend time in the woods/fields.
lastpercentile Jul 11, 2012 1:58 PM
I’m sorry but I’d have to disagree with you. It is true Lyme Disease is an endemic in the state of Wisconsin. The Waupaca area is a cesspool of Lyme Disease and Co-Infections. It's unreal. In certain areas people can't let their kids out to play as they come back covered in ticks. Those that let their dog out, the dog comes back with 20 or 30 ticks on them at a time.
last percentile... So has there been an increase? A significant increase?
Yes and Yes. Again I apologize but I disagree with you. The Waupaca area is one of the most endemic areas in the whole country. People are literally bedridden in a couple days as it is such a virulent strain of Borrelia (aka Lyme Disease.) Co-Infections Bartonella and Babesia are absolutely rampant in this area.
Some people will quickly dismiss Lyme as a diagnosis because they say they have never been bitten by a tick. Please note... The nymph of ticks are so small, they are very difficult to see. All biting insects and arachnid (spiders and ticks) have the capability of being carriers of a vector-bourne disease. Lyme Disease can be passed on by fleas, biting flies, lice, bed bugs, spiders, and mosquitoes, not only all species of ticks. A few tips... A tick readily feeds on humans. Don’t forget to wear gloves to cover your hands while out in the woods. Immediately wash all clothing after venturing outdoors in rural areas. A wide range of animal hosts serve as a source of blood, keep your pets inside. If ever in need of a blood transfusion please check with the American Red Cross, ask if they test for Lyme Disease, Babesia and Bartonella. Most people do not get a bulls eye and the Lyme test is very inaccurate but if you should ever become arthritic, have flu-like symptoms and a unwell feeling see your doctor right away. If treated with antibiotics right away you can be cured but if you wait too long it can be a very long road.
areyoucrazy Jul 14, 2012 10:16 PM
"Endemic" is an adjective. Lyme disease can "[b]be endemic[/b]", but it can't "[b]be an endemic[/b]". This is my way of pointing out that you don't know what you're talking about.
In Wisconsin, lyme disease is endemic, but it is not an epidemic.
[quote]Yes and Yes [i] (there is an increase in lyme disease cases)[/i][/quote]
You just don't have any credible evidence of your claim. I reviewed the actual case statistics for Waupaca County and the state - for 10 years. There is no increase in cases over that time, or over the past 3 years.
[quote]All biting insects and arachnid (spiders and ticks) have the capability of being carriers of a vector-bourne disease. Lyme Disease can be passed on by fleas, biting flies, lice, bed bugs, spiders, and mosquitoes, not only all species of ticks.[/quote]
[b]Now you're just telling a bald-faced lie; and you're intentionally trying to alarm the public - which makes you a kitchen-table terrorist.[/b]
To the best of my (considerable) knowledge, there is no scientific evidence that lyme disease has been transmitted to humans by anything except a tick.
[quote]If ever in need of a blood transfusion please check with the American Red Cross, ask if they test for Lyme Disease, Babesia and Bartonella.[/quote]
If you need a blood transfusion, you probably don't have time to ask those types of questions.
Fact: No case of lyme disease has been linked to a blood transfusion.
[quote]Most people do not get a bulls eye[/quote]
[b]Another lie.[/b]
70-80% of all infected individuals will have a classic bulls-eye rash. Not all of them will see it (because it's on a part of their body they don't see), but [b]MOST[/b] people do get the rash.
______________
If you want the facts: [url]http://www.cdc.gov/lyme/[/url]
lastpercentile Jul 15, 2012 9:38 AM
So, let me get this straight, your calling areyoucrazy a liar because of a typo?
Give me a break!
You obviously do not know anyone who has lyme disease and worse babesia (which is a blood parasite and has literally killed people who have had blood transfusions). Call the Red Cross yourself and while your at it, ask them when they started checking people with a question of if they have ever had lyme disease and co-infections, not sure they even ask that today, but they do ask about babesia now because of the potential liability of infecting people or death from babesia tainted blood.
You can check all the statistics you want, but I belong to a lyme blog and I can't tell you how many new people we get each day desperately trying to find out how to get tested, diagnosed and treated.
Your considerable amount of information is laughable.
First of all, lyme disease & co infections can be passed from mother to baby, it has been tested and proven that it can come from mosquitos, fleas, flies and all ticks, not just deer ticks but even wood ticks.
The tests are so inaccurate.
Most people do NOT get a bullseye rash.
It was just written that lyme disease & co infections have now surpasses HIV.
So do some more research and come back and try again.
By the way, Kitchen Table Terrorist?? Really??
Maybe you would have better luck as an author writing and book and using some language like that, but it's inappropriate to use it here.
There will unfortunately come a day, probably sooner then later when a friend or family member becomes completely debilitated by this horrendous disease and then I will probably meet you on the lyme board looking for good information to help them or yourself, or find a doctor after going to many who know nothing about lyme disease.
In the meantime, look online or rent the dvd "Under Our Skin", then come back here and apologize or at least have a civil discussion.
Can't wait to hear from you.
lymeangry
lymeangry Jul 15, 2012 7:42 PM
Your credentials precede you.
[quote]then I will probably meet you on the lyme board looking for good information[/quote]
When I need information on a disease, I don't consult a bunch of (if) high-school educated housewives, with misdirected anger - who think a blog constitutes medical research.
[quote]it has been tested and proven that it can come from mosquitos, fleas, flies and all ticks, not just deer ticks but even wood ticks[/quote]
Interesting that they used "tests". Are these the same tests that are "so inaccurate"?
Provide a scientific reference (that wasn't published in Czechoslovakia, or in 1978, etc). Until then, you're just bleating in the wind.
Again, the facts can be found here: [url]http://www.cdc.gov/lyme/[/url]
lastpercentile Jul 15, 2012 8:25 PM
I applaud you for doing your best at giving out inaccurate information...it is clear who you work for. Even the CDC says lyme testing is inaccurate and diagnosis should be a clinical diagnosis...that being said most doctors like you are not trained or educated on Tick Borne Diseases.
YES, I am a wonderful housewife....but I am highly educated...as are most people that suffer from TBI's...but this disease has taken them out of the work force due to the debilitating disease...even the CDC says if this disease is treated right away this disease can not be cured...if not a patient can have symptoms and an auto immune disease most likely will happen.
I do not question your education level....you have been taught exactly what to say to keep people very ill....and the IDSA's pockets lined with money while humane beings suffer....suffer for no other reason other then people like you do not keep up with current information and education on TBI's.
I pray anyone you love or care about does not ever suffer with TBI's....because it would then mean you would have to open your mind and educate yourself...
I truly have no ill feeling towards you and your hostile inaccurate posts...as you too will also suffer from this diease....one day...as your time bomb is ticking. I pray you will not have to suffer for years like most people going from doctor to doctor with many misdiagnosis all along you are losing you job, house, life....
What happened to "Do no harm??" Believe me your misdiagnosis and uneducated practice does do harm....even kills!! :(
Cant wait to read your ill minded return post....remember downing others says more about you then them.
Bless you.....
Lymemom Jul 16, 2012 9:08 AM
The only people who have to use their credentials are ones who don't have any!
Your ASSumption of me being a (if) high school educated housewife with misdirected anger again shows your ignorance.
The blog I was referring to obviously doesn't constitute medical research, what it does do is show how many people have been MISdiagnosed, MIStreated (actually NOT treated at all by the mainstream doctors) who are sick & suffering, those are "real" statistics of how many people are desperately seeking help for their health & their lives.
If you do not have Lyme disease or Co-Infections, then what is your interest?
I would really love to know the real reason why your posting on this article?
I think I have a good idea!!
You are a very rude, Inappropriate & Misinformed person.
Try to listen to this webcast I am listing below & educate yourself.
The Lyme Disease Association (LDA) announces that the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, & Human Rights, will hold a hearing 2PM, July 17, 2012, 2172 Rayburn HOB, Washington, DC─ Congressman Christopher Smith (NJ)hearing chair.
Global Challenges in Diagnosing and Managing Lyme Disease – Closing Knowledge Gaps, will be webcast and available live via the Committee website http://www.hcfa.house.gov .
LDA President Pat Smith is presenting testimony─problems with doctors diagnosing and treating Lyme and with patients receiving treatment for Lyme.
Come back & talk to me afterwards if you like.
Have a Good Day!!
lymeangry Jul 16, 2012 11:29 AM
More highly than what?
[quote]it is clear who you work for[/quote]
No, it's not - at all.
[quote]...that being said most doctors like you[/quote]
I am not a physician.
[quote]you have been taught exactly what to say to keep people very ill....and the IDSA's pockets lined with money[/quote]
I don't know what "IDSA" is; never heard of it.
[quote]even the CDC says if this disease is treated right away this disease can not be cured[/quote]
That's not what they say. At the very least, they speak more coherently.
lastpercentile Jul 16, 2012 12:55 PM
Oh lastpercentile,
What, what are we going to do to help you??
I think LymeMom meant to say that she is more highly educated then you!
I myself never thought for a minute you were a doctor!
Your sooooooo smart and you don't know what IDSA stands for?
It stands for Infectious Disease Society of America.
Here are some more facts:
Waupaca county had 95 confirmed cases in 2011. They had 81 confirmed cases in 2010. (Your statistics).
You continually provide the CDC link on lyme. The CDC themselves say that only 1 out of 10 cases of lyme are actually reported which means Waupaca county had 950 cases last year and 810 cases the previous year. That's 1,760 cases in two years.
Let's go back ten years and say Waupaca county has had at least 5,000 cases which is a reasonable estimate. The total population of Waupaca county is appx. 52,000. Which means that ten percent of the county has or has had lyme. What if ten percent of the population had diabetes or cancer or West Nile ? Would this be cause for alarm ? Would you consider that "endemic" or "epidemic" ?
The CDC also says that the Elisa test is not reliable and lyme should be diagnosed by symptoms by a LLMD ( Lyme Literate MD) in case you didn't know what that meant!
Now what do you have to say?
lymeangry Jul 16, 2012 1:15 PM
They are anecdotes, not statistics; you should understand the difference, if you want to be taken seriously.
[quote]I would really love to know the real reason why your posting on this article?[/quote]
I commented on this article because the headline was:
[b]LYME DISEASE ON RISE IN WAUPACA COUNTY[/b]
And, in fact, lyme disease is NOT on the rise in Waupaca County.
All the bile and anger posted in response - that's your schtick.
[quote]LDA President Pat Smith is presenting testimony[/quote]
Congress' time being wasted. Smith has no medical or scientific credentials. There are no medical researchers on staff - so she has no scientific conclusions to present on behalf of the organization.
You may want to check into the LDA's finances, because there's something strange going on. In 2010, they took in around $185,000 in donations, but spent only $35,000 on outside "education and research" - turns out that $29,000 of that went to pay medical bills. In fact, ZERO DOLLARS were spent on research.
By the way, Rep Smith's district just happens to be the same district where the LDA is located (the armpit of New Jersey). He's pandering to his constituents. Patricia Smith and Christopher Smith - they aren't related, are they?
lastpercentile Jul 16, 2012 1:56 PM
In a population of 55,000, there is no statistical difference between 95 and 81. I know, that doesn't make sense to you, but from a scientific perspective it can be proven with mathematical certainty.
[quote]The CDC themselves say that only 1 out of 10 cases of lyme are actually reported which means Waupaca county had 950 cases last year and 810 cases the previous year. That's 1,760 cases in two years.[/quote]
Actually, the CDC states that the number of un-reported cases is "unknown". Several of these "unscientific associations" like to state that only "1 in 10" are reported, but their references are about 15 years old. Yes, lyme disease reporting sucked in 1996 - who cares.
So, "1 in 10" means nothing.
[quote]Let's go back ten years and say Waupaca county has had at least 5,000 cases which is a reasonable estimate.[/quote]
Fantasy is what it is.
_______________________
If you have a good recipe for chocolate chip cookies, I'll take your word for it. Otherwise, I'm done debating scientific concepts with the needlepoint society.
lastpercentile Jul 16, 2012 2:29 PM
The CDC based the 1 in 10 counted cases on scientific research, it wasn't a guess.
Your the one who has been using the CDC's information and now your debating this? Check it out!!
The LDA has funded scores of research, clinical trials, etc. They're tightly intertwined with medical/research facilities. The $29,000 in medical bills is to pay for children's treatment in their Lyme Aid program. LDA has satellite organizations and affiliates that fund research. I suggest you study the money connections between the CDC and Pharma/Insurance companies.
It's well documented.
Also check and you will see that a board member of the IDSA has a patent on the Elisa test and they are trying for another patent having to do with Lyme, even though they say there is NO chronic Lyme disease.
Interesting isn't it?
By all means while your researching, check out the lyme vaccine Lymerix which was a joke and pulled from the market.
By the way, I hope you really haven't detectd any anger in my post, as I am not and never have been an angry person, I am just trying to set you straight!
As for Patricia Smith & Chris Smith, that is such an uncommon name, you just might have hit on something--------------brilliant!
Can I help you with anything else??
lymeangry Jul 16, 2012 4:39 PM
please please don't stop debating with me, I would be crushed!
You have just made my point by your comment below:
*Actually, the CDC states that the number of un-reported cases is "unknown".
Then you say,
Yes, lyme disease reporting sucked in 1996 - who cares.
Well you are right on both of those statements, The number of reported &
un-reported cases of lyme disease is unknown by the CDC and also lyme disease reporting did suck in 1996 and it still sucks today and who cares?
I care and all the people who are struggling with the disease.
Most people have been MISdiagnosed by at least 3 mainstream Doctors and some many more then that before they researched their symptoms and or found a
Lyme literate Doctor.
Let me ask you, do you even believe in Lyme disease? Bartonella? Babesia?
You say you don't believe that lyme is on the rise in Waupaca, but you give no
reason for that comment.
What makes you think it's not on the rise?
Sorry to diappoint you, but I do not do needlepoint and I don't have a good recipe for chocolate chip cookies, but you can find one at:
www.recipes.com
lymeangry Jul 16, 2012 8:09 PM
Yes you can.
[u]Given:[/u]
Lyme cases for 2010: 81
Lyme cases for 2011: 95
At-risk population for both years: 55,600
Using a (one-tailed) z-test for 2 independent proportions, calculate the z-score and p-value at a significance level of 0.05. Then, [b] [i] correctly[/i][/b] interpret the results as they relate to the incidence rate of lyme disease in Waupaca County.
[quote]You say you don't believe that lyme is on the rise in Waupaca, but you give no reason for that comment.[/quote]
Actually, I said that it is NOT on the rise - it requires no belief system.
My "reason" is contained in the answer to the problem above.
lastpercentile Jul 16, 2012 8:31 PM
CountyName / State / CaseCount_1992_1996 / CaseCount_1997_2001 / CaseCount_2002_2006
Waupaca / Wisconsin / 12 / 33 / 158
To Healthier Days,
LymeBlue
LymeBlue Jul 16, 2012 9:46 PM