Ticks, Lyme disease in NH (Manchester, Nashua: income, income tax, living)

[Valerie C]

IMO, the ticks have always been around, it's the disease that seems to be migrating north into New Hampshire. My daughter was diagnosed back in 2004, and we were told at that time that the only areas of Massachusetts that were endemic to Lyme was the Cape and the Ipswich area. And there was NO Lyme Disease in New Hampshire (this from a well-known orthopedic center in Concord) and if Lyme was what she actually had, then she must have gotten it somewhere else (because of course infected ticks fall off of their host as they are crossing the border...)

MessengerGirl, welcome to NH and welcome to the forum... Whatever the reason, glad you registered, hope to see you here some more

[MtnFlyer]

NH2008 thanks for the link. That's a great map.

So Val if I'm understanding you correctly, even though the map shows Coos County as being almost totally free of Lyme, you're saying that the chances of being bit by a tick in Coos County is no less than say down in Portsmouth. It's just a lesser chance of contracting the disease, (that is until the disease migrates.)

MidCityBrady's link was also very useful. It's a shame to have to ward off the wildlife though. To me that's one of NH's biggest assets.

[maestramommy]

NH2008, the map no longer can be seen. Should I go somewhere to view it? Thanks!

[maestramommy]

One thing I've heard that I wanted to ask about. Val, maybe you would know. Is it true that some people are more apt to contract it and develop symptoms? Or more likely to end up with chronic lyme? I ask partly because I know someone with a 3.5 yo daughter in suburban Philly who's had lyme 3 times already!

[MtnFlyer]

Originally Posted by maestramommy

NH2008, the map no longer can be seen. Should I go somewhere to view it? Thanks!

The link is still working for me:

http://www.dhhs.state.nh.us/NR/rdonl...ymemap2007.pdf

If you can't pull it this time, PM me your email address and I'll send it to you.

On your other question, from my limited knowledge which goes back several years to when I was a paramedic, anyone with a compromised or undeveloped immune system would be more suseptible. This would include the elderly or children whose systems aren't fully developed yet. I did a quick search to see if I could find anything that said some people were more suseptible due to genitics etc., but really couldn't find anything. Perhaps a search of the CDC's site might yield something more. If not maybe someone with some real credibility like an M.D. behind their name will chime in.

[Valerie C]

I can only answer these questions from my point of view: someone who had to dig for answers because the "gods in white coats" with the MD following their name were certainly no help. In fact they urged me to NOT research Lyme Disease because of all the misinformation out there. I don't know what's worse, being misinformed or NOT informed. I guess we'll all find out years from now if we made the right decision to treat, retreat, retreat once again... but when it's your kid who can't walk, can no longer concentrate a book, and missing 39 (yes, 39) days of school in a year, decisions have to be made...

OK, back to the questions at hand (I tend to digress on this subject)
Maestra, I do think that people with a weakened immune system are more likely to NOT be able to overcome the BACTERIA on their own. After all, what is Lyme Disease? It's the infection from the Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria. Like any bacteria, some are most likely able to overcome without treatment. Others, like those with a weakened immune system, will have symptoms and hopefully be diagnosed and treated. Caught early enough, it's not a problem. The ones who end up with chronic Lyme are the ones who weren't diagnosed in that crucial period immediately following the initial bite.

Our infectious disease Dr. (truly an angel in a white coat!!) feels that DD's Lyme could be the result of an infected bite from a year or more before symptoms emerged, and that her own immune system kept the bacteria from multiplying, and when she became ill, the bacteria still in her system recognized a weakened state.

And MtnFlyer, I can only guess on your question. Somebody who understands the migration of the disease, and most importantly (imo) their hosts, which include deer, mice and of course birds. All I can tell you is that when my DD was diagnosed, a well respected Dr. in Concord flat out stated: There is no Lyme Disease in New Hampshire. Apparently even the CDC recognizes that there is indeed Lyme in NH. Hopefully northern NH remains free of the bacteria.

And speaking of these animals, you mentioned that it's a shame to have to ward off the wildlife. While that may be true, please remember that as beautiful as they are to watch from our windows, deer and other wildlife just don't belong in our yards. It's unfortunate that we (as humans) have taken over their area in frightening numbers in the last couple of decades (part of the Lyme problem??) but some folks I know have feeding stations which attract deer, mice, raccoons, and other various wildlife. I cringe when I visit, but hey, it's their property. And btw, my kids are not allowed to play outside in that yard

Please understand that this entire post is my opinion based on my experiences. It's not documented fact, and as we say, your mileage may vary...

Originally Posted by maestramommy

One thing I've heard that I wanted to ask about. Val, maybe you would know. Is it true that some people are more apt to contract it and develop symptoms? Or more likely to end up with chronic lyme? I ask partly because I know someone with a 3.5 yo daughter in suburban Philly who's had lyme 3 times already!

Originally Posted by MtnFlyer

So Val if I'm understanding you correctly, even though the map shows Coos County as being almost totally free of Lyme, you're saying that the chances of being bit by a tick in Coos County is no less than say down in Portsmouth. It's just a lesser chance of contracting the disease, (that is until the disease migrates.)

MidCityBrady's link was also very useful. It's a shame to have to ward off the wildlife though. To me that's one of NH's biggest assets.

[Rexicana]

Yes, there is a lot of misinformation in general MDs out there. I was bitten last summer and called my MD who said that I could not get infected unless it was an adult tick attached for more than 48 hrs. SOOOOOOOOOOO wrong. I did not get infected, (thank you tick twister!!), but was shocked at this misinformation.

[BF66389]

I understand the various impacts of Lyme as well as many other insect born diseases... But a general question:

Is getting a tick bite "rare" for most people?

[nicolem]

Originally Posted by BF66389

I understand the various impacts of Lyme as well as many other insect born diseases... But a general question:

Is getting a tick bite "rare" for most people?

I don't think it is rare. I guess it depends if you are one to put yourself in an environment where ticks are. The more you are there-the higher your chances of getting ticks. I myself can think of many times in my life where I had ticks "embedded" in me-both here and in New Jersey. In high school, I had to have a doctor remove one he was so embedded in. Luckily it was a big fat tick and not a deer tick. I know growing up in NJ, I recall mom, dad and my sister at one point or another having a tick on them. We had a lot of trees in our back yard and also spent a lot of time in the woods. Also, a few years ago after hiking in Concord, my husband had two ticks on him and one that a doctor had to remove. Of course, I run through cross country trails so that would up my chances. As far as friends and coworkers that I know, I would think it would be not uncommon for them either. As far as me, friends and family, I don't think it is really rare. Of course most the people I know are very outdoorsy.

[BF66389]

Ok, just making sure I wasn't weird. I grew up in NJ and got TONS of ticks running through the fields and woods. Likewise in NH we have a wooded lot with some thick brush in parts and I've gotten some ticks in our short time here.

It's actually a miracle I don't have Lyme, it was so common in my county in NJ I'd say that most of my HS graduating class had it at some point... Fortunately it was so commonplace that I think early treatment was pretty consistant.