How Lyme Disease Could Be Overlooked in the Era of COVID-19

Lyme disease infects an estimated hundreds of thousands of U.S. residents each year.

Could the COVID epidemic further overshadow Lyme disease diagnoses? That is the question being asked. Each year in the United States, there are approximately 30,000 confirmed cases of Lyme. The problem with Lyme has always been difficulty in early diagnosis. So much so, that the CDC believes that actual cases of Lyme could be ten times the number of confirmed annual cases. And experts now believe that it could be missed more frequently in the wake of the coronavirus epidemic.

Is Lyme disease in Massachusetts overshadowed by COVID?

We are all weary of COVID and Lyme disease too.

It goes without saying that we are all weary of this worldwide pandemic. It has affected every aspect of life imaginable. From schooling our children, to working at home, to job loss – coronavirus has been detrimental to us all in some way. As of the date of this writing, the United States has had 47.5mm confirmed cases, Massachusetts accounting for 888,000 of those. It’s been front-page news since March 2020. COVID-19 has overshadowed everything for the better part of two years, including other medical diagnoses.

Are cancer and Lyme disease taking a backseat to COVID?

Many illnesses are being missed for a variety of reasons. One critical element in this overshadowing is that some people are afraid to go to the doctor. The fact that medical facilities are potentially filled with COVID-19 patients has caused this hesitancy. The American Cancer Society reported a substantial drop in cancer screenings. Since we have been hesitant to partake in elective health practices, many illnesses are not being caught in the early stages, including Lyme disease.

Increased tick bite risk weighs into the equation also.

Many families have opted not to travel for the last couple of years, and have set out to enjoy time together in alternative settings, such as the great outdoors. More time out in nature leads to better odds of getting a tick bite, thereby increasing the odds of contracting tick-borne illnesses.

Lest we forget the “great imitator.”

Lyme infection can imitate other illnesses. If we a little sick, we might chalk it up to the common cold. If we feel really sick, we might believe we have the flu. Lyme is not always a front-and-center consideration, because we can have a tick attached for days without even knowing it. And while many Lyme sufferers get the bull’s eye rash, an estimated 20 to 40% of patients never get a rash at all. People, who have Lyme disease, might not know it for years.

Lyme prevention is the answer.

tick tubes for Lyme diseas prevention As with COVID-19, we must take preventive measures in order to lower our chances of contracting Lyme disease. Unlike COVID-19, there is no Lyme vaccine for humans. Our prevention methods rely on tick bite prevention. The most important elements of prevention are personal tick protection and professional tick control. Contrary to popular belief, ticks can still bite in the fall and winter. Therefore, we must enlist tick control around our homes all year long. That means barrier tick treatment spray in the spring, summer and fall; and tick tubes in the late fall through winter.

Dave Macchia, tick control enthusiast — Dave Macchia, Central Mass tick control enthusiast

Also read: COVID-19 Long Haulers Shine a Light On Chronic Lyme

COVID-19 Long Haulers Shine a Light on Chronic Lyme

There have been parallels between COVID-19 and Lyme over the last year. Could COVID-19 long haulers impact the future of treating chronic Lyme?

In June of last year, I wrote about comorbidity between these two illnesses. A chronic Lyme sufferer, who is being treated with immunosuppressant drugs, could be more susceptible to contracting coronavirus. Even though COVID-19 is a viral infection, whereas Lyme disease is bacterial, there are similarities in some of the symptoms. Extreme fatigue, body pain, and fever are just three. In recent months, we have heard about COVID-19 long haulers. These are people, who contracted coronavirus and recovered – but cannot seem to fully recover.

covid-10 long haulers — A negative COVID test does not mean a full recovery.

What are long haulers experiencing?

The persistent symptoms left behind seem to be non-discriminating. There are young and old sufferers. There are patients, who had no co-morbid conditions. There are long haulers, who didn’t experience serious COVID-19 symptoms. Imagine contracting the virus, and feeling okay, only to later begin to feel very sick. Chronic sufferers are experiencing symptoms, such as shortness of breath, extreme headaches, fatigue, and an increased heart rate many months after their original illness. The U.S. does not report an average age of COVID-19 long haulers. A hospital in Paris says the average age of their patients is only 40 years old.

covid long haulers impact lyme sufferers — New long-haulers could shine a light on chronic Lyme sufferers.

Shining a Light on Chronic Lyme Disease

fatigue in COVID long haulers As experts scramble to unravel the mystery of persistent symptoms of coronavirus, the Global Lyme Alliance is reaching out to these new long haulers. As with chronic Lyme disease, the common perception is that once you treat the illness, you are cured. Chronic sufferers of COVID-19 will likely be met with some misunderstanding, but a light is being shone on their suffering. If you search online or watch the news, you will see their stories. There is a active push for awareness, and even more incentive for us to protect ourselves. Doctors are working to treat long haulers, and one could assume that the overall awareness and acceptance of the phenomenon will offer hope to chronic Lyme disease patients, who seek acceptance and effective treatment. The idea that a negative test does not mean that the infection did not leave lasting effects could eventually become a thing of the past. Those suffering chronic Lyme could find new hope in no longer being dismissed by their families, friends, and even medical professionals. There could be a time in the near future, when persistent Lyme symptoms are taken seriously, and this is great news if you suffer from these symptoms.

Hingham Tick Control for Lyme Prevention

tick control Central Mass Knowing that Lyme disease can be just as life-altering as COVID-19, it is imperative that we keep ourselves protected from tick bites. The best way to prevent Lyme infection is to eliminate ticks from your yard. Reputable tick control companies offer ultimate protection with barrier tick sprays for your property. These EPA-registered treatments can eliminate up to 95% of ticks from your yard for a couple of weeks at a time. The best tick control companies offer year-long protection by adding tick tubes to your regimen in the late fall and winter. Tick tubes can greatly impact the number of ticks that emerge on your property in the spring by killing them where they nest.

Also read: How long can you have Lyme disease without knowing it?

Elena Delle Donne: Chronic Lyme Disease Medical Exemption Denied by WNBA

WNBA superstar, Delle Donne, takes 64 pills per day to manage chronic Lyme disease. The league’s panel of doctors denied her medical exemption request due to COVID-19.

When asked if she thought her superstar player status swayed the doctors’ decision to keep her active, Delle Donne said that she hopes that this is a case of having “Lyme illiterate doctors” on the panel. Lyme disease is still greatly misunderstood by many in the medical community. Some doctors still claim that there is no such thing as chronic Lyme disease, attributing its symptoms to other diagnoses, including mental illness. In an open letter, Delle Donne says, “Taking 64 pills a day is the only way to keep my condition under any sort of control. It’s the only way to keep myself healthy enough to play the game that I love — healthy enough to do my job and earn the paycheck that supports my family.” This medical opt-out denial could mean that Donne either must play and risk her health during COVID-19 or sit out games without pay.

How could this affect others with chronic Lyme disease?

Doctors have only recently made the comorbidity correlation between chronic Lyme and COVID-19. Delle Donne’s medical exemption denial is proof that not all doctors are onboard with the comorbidity stance. It also could reflect a greater issue that could ripple down to other professions. Consider teachers and school staff, who might soon be expected to return to school. If chronic Lyme disease is not recognized as a co-morbid COVID-19 condition, we could see educators, administrators, school nurses, and bus drivers be denied medical exemptions. Would anyone like to face a decision of giving up their livelihood to potentially save their life?

chronic Lyme disease

Prevention is key for COVID-19 and Lyme disease.

The CDC has guidelines to help prevent contracting COVID-19 and Lyme disease. Of course, we have all become very familiar with coronavirus prevention methods. The three W’s: WEAR your mask, WASH your hands, WATCH your distance. As for the prevention of Lyme, there are essential practices, which can help keep you safe. When you are enjoying the outdoors, wear long sleeves and pants to protect your skin. Consider protecting yourself and your family with tick repellent spray and clothing. When you return from outdoors, check yourself, your children, and your pets for ticks.

wear mask covid-19

At-home Central Mass tick protection.

Protecting your home and family from the threat of Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses means treating your yard with barrier tick protection. Reputable tick control companies will treat all the areas around your home with an EPA-registered solution that will eliminate up to 95% of ticks in your yard. These solutions will knock down ticks on contact and continue working with a time-released formula for a couple of weeks at a time. Regular sprays throughout spring, summer, and fall will keep your family safe. Tick tubes in the fall and winter will do even more to control the tick population around your home by thwarting the tick life cycle. Since we do not have a Lyme disease vaccine, prevention is our best hope.

Lyme Disease and COVID-19 Comorbidity

The COVID-19 crisis has been especially difficult for high-risk people. Should Lyme disease sufferers worry about COVID-19 comorbidity?

Doctors are saying that there could be COVID-19 comorbidity risks for individuals with Lyme disease. Specifically, chronic Lyme sufferers. Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome patients suffer from fatigue, pain, and other symptoms that could render their immune systems weaker. This is especially true for Lyme patients that are treated with immunosuppressive drugs. Early Lyme disease diagnosed patients might not be at a higher risk, as they are treated with antibiotics that do not produce side effects that make patients more susceptible to COVID-19.

Lyme disease and COVID-19 comorbidity

What is the rate of COVID-19 comorbidity infection?

Recently the CDC stated that with the 2,470,000 reported cases of COVID-19 in the United States, we can expect the actual number of infections to be ten times higher. This means that 24,7000,000 cases of the disease could be present in the U.S. alone. Each year, there are roughly 30,000 cases of Lyme disease reported to the CDC. They also estimate that those cases are likely ten times higher than the number reported. This is because many with Lyme disease are mis-diagnosed, un-diagnosed, or remain asymptomatic for a long time. During the pandemic, we have learned that many COVID-19 carriers are asymptomatic.

COVID-19 comorbidity

A study in China found that approximately 25% of their COVID-19 patients had comorbidity. In the United States, a study was performed on March 28, which showed 37% of COVID-19 sufferers had comorbidity. 71% of hospitalizations and 78% of ICU patients had comorbidity.

What does this mean for chronic Lyme disease patients?

While chronic Lyme disease sufferers should consider themselves at higher risk for infection, and for hospitalization if infected, we should all be wary. Even though studies showed 78% of ICU patients had underlying health conditions, 22% of ICU patients did not have underlying conditions. We must all practice recommended social distancing. If you feel you are at too great a risk for infection, and can stay at home, it is best to do that. When we do go out into our communities, face coverings should be worn. Protect yourself. Protect others.

COVID-19 and Lyme disease comorbidity

Central Mass Lyme disease prevention with tick control is essential.

Central Mass tick control Even before the coronavirus health crisis arrived, informed Central Mass residents understood the threat of Lyme disease. With exploding tick populations, we see higher infection rates each year. During the health crisis, we must be vigilant in our efforts to prevent our infection and the infection of others while in public places. At home, we must be vigilant about effective Central Mass tick control. Enlisting the aid of a reputable tick control company is essential in the fight against Lyme disease. Protect your home and family with regular tick control barrier sprays all spring, summer, and fall. In the late fall, employ the use of tick tubes to continue your tick control efforts through the winter. While we are hopeful that the coronavirus crisis will lessen over time, and result in a vaccine, there is no vaccine against Lyme disease to-date. Tick control is our only way to prevent it.

How will COVID-19 restrictions affect tick-borne illnesses in 2020?

Massachusetts remains under strict COVID-19 restrictions through May 18. Will this help or hinder the fight against tick-borne illnesses in 2020?

That is precisely the question being asked by researchers from the University of Rhode Island, Hollins University, Duke University, Clemson University, and the University of Georgia. Residents across the United States have been under stay-at-home orders, which are just now beginning to phase out. Researchers theorize that since we have been unable to engage in social interaction, we are seeking adventure outdoors, where we will encounter more ticks and tick-born illnesses in 2020.

covid 19 restrictions affect tick-borne illesses

This theory is supported by the University of Rhode Island’s Tick Encounters team via TickSpotters, their crowdsource tick survey, which allows U.S. residents to submit photos of found ticks. During COVID-19 restrictions, photo submissions of attached and engorged ticks have risen exponentially. Tom Mather, University of Rhode Island Professor of Public Health Entomology, says this highlights the immediate need for essential tick prevention education. As folks begin to explore outdoor spaces, they might not be aware of the dangers of encountering ticks. Therefore, more people and their pets are finding themselves victims of tick bites.

hiking cause more tick encounters

Michael Yabsley, of the University of Georgia, is leading a research study entitled, “Investigating COVID-19 impacts on the epidemiology of tick-borne diseases in people and pets.” Currently, survey submissions are mostly from the southern United States, and more data is being requested from residents in New England.

Central Mass residents can take the survey here.

It stands to reason that this study will reveal a higher amount of tick-borne illnesses in the U.S. during the COVID-19 crisis. While the medical community works to control, cure, and prevent the spread of COVID-19, we must remember that tick-borne illnesses have been an ongoing battle in Central Mass for decades.

Central Mass tick control is always essential.

The best way to fight tick-borne illnesses in Central Mass is with essential tick control. Hire a reputable tick control company to spray areas around your home and yard to eliminate ticks. Now is the time to begin. We have been spending more time at home than ever, and our yards have become our private escapes. If you are spending more time outdoors, be sure that you are protected from ticks and the threat of the diseases they carry.