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Can You Donate Blood If You Have Lyme Disease

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How Can You Reduce Tick Habitats Near Your Home

Testing for Lyme DiseaseWhat You Need to Know

Here are some ways to limit exposure to ticks near your home:

  • Mow the lawn regularly to keep the grass short
  • Remove leaf litter, brush and weeds at the edge of the lawn and around stonewalls and woodpiles
  • Stack firewood neatly and in a dry area
  • Put barriers to exclude deer around your home and seal stonewalls and small openings to discourage rodent activity
  • Place childrens recreational playground sets, patios and decks away from the yard edges and trees. Place them on a woodchip or mulch foundation and in a sunny location, if possible.
  • Treat pets that are commonly exposed to ticks with oral or topic acaricides as they could carry ticks into the home

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What Are The Symptoms

One sign of Lyme disease is a round, red rash that spreads at the site of a tick bite. This rash can get very large.

Flu-like symptoms are also common. People in the early stages of Lyme disease may feel very tired and have headaches, sore muscles and joints, and a fever.

These symptoms can start at any time, from 3 days to up to a month after you have been bitten. Some people don’t have any symptoms when they are in the early stages of Lyme disease. And they may not even remember getting a tick bite.

If Lyme disease goes untreated, you can have more serious symptoms over time. These include:

  • Swelling and joint pain .
  • Tingling and numbness in your hands, feet, and back.
  • A lack of energy that does not get better.
  • Trouble focusing your thoughts.
  • Weakness or paralysis in your face muscles.

A Vital Research Need

The Bay Area Lyme Foundation created the Lyme Disease Biobank to help fill a vital research need among researchers working to better understand tick-borne diseases and to identify solutions.

The program collects blood and urine samples from untreated patients with early-stage Lyme disease as well as those with chronic disease.

Samples are also collected from people without Lyme disease, so researchers can compare differences in samples from people infected with Lyme disease with those who are not.

This program also includes tissue samples from late-stage Lyme patients who undergo surgery, and post-mortem samples from those who have passed away.

These samples are used by researchers to understand later stages of Lyme disease, and how the Lyme bacteria can invade organs and tissue.

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Should You Get The Lyme Vaccine For Your Dog

I cant tell you what to do although there are a lot of folks who try to

If you visit the Pets & Parasites website, youll see some pretty scary things like this

The folks at Pets & Parasites arent the most creative bunch, because here was their 2017 forecast

And their 2016 forecast

Pets & Parasites deliver the same message every year and just change the date. How can Lyme disease be that scary when most dogs will never get sick? Even when they test positive for Lyme.

Why all the fuss about Lyme if it doesnt really affect dogs? Companion Animal Parasite Council publishes The Pets & Parasites website. And this council is sponsored by companies who make tick products they want you to buy.

You might think Im biased when it comes to vaccines and that would be true but Im nowhere near as biased as the huge corporations that make billions of dollars off dogs and cats each year! And dont think theyll share my little secret that 95% of dogs with Lyme disease will NEVER develop any symptoms theres no money in that message.

But they will try to scare you and your vet every year, so youll run out and get their spot ons and vaccines.

But now I hope you know better than to get caught up in the propaganda.

So, will you vaccinate your dog for Lyme this year?

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Can Lyme Disease Be Prevented

15 diseases doctors often get wrong

People arent able to become immune to Lyme disease. So even if youve had Lyme disease, you can get it again. No vaccine is available currently to prevent the disease.

The FDA approved a Lyme vaccine called LYMErix in 1998. The vaccine was not 100% effective, however. The FDA still recommended preventing the disease in other ways. In 2002, the company that made LYMErix said it would no longer offer the vaccine.

To help prevent Lyme disease, follow these guidelines.

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A Quick Note On The Different Types Of Blood Donation

Today, there are several different types of blood donation. For example, The American Red Cross has four different donation categories that are split up depending on the blood components taken:

  • Whole Blood: White blood cells, red blood cells, platelets, and plasma all donated
  • Power Red: 2 units of red blood cells donated platelets and plasma returned to your bloodstream
  • Platelet donation: Only platelets extracted donated other blood components are returned to bloodstream
  • Plasma donation: Only plasma extracted and donated other blood components are returned to bloodstream

If you intend to take advantage of a blood donation type other than whole blood donation, keep in mind that these donations may be subject to additional restrictions and rules.

You Were Recently Vaccinated

If you have recently received a vaccination or immunization, you may be required to wait for a period of time before being eligible to donate blood. The major exceptions are the Smallpox vaccination andliving in close proximity of someone who receives the Smallpox vaccination. It is requested that you wait 8 weeks after receiving a Smallpox vaccine or after living in close proximity to someone who received the Smallpox vaccine before donating blood. This waiting period should be extended if you experience complications.

COVID-19 vaccination restrictions are, at the time of writing, still subject to change. However, at the present moment, the ACR states that blood donations are Acceptable if you were vaccinated with an Inactivated or RNA based COVID-19 vaccine manufactured by Moderna or Pfizer providing you are symptom-free and fever-free. If you received a different type of COVID-19 vaccine or are unsure what type of vaccine you received, you may be subject to a waiting period before you are eligible to donate blood.

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Limitations Of The Babesia Study

The first known case of babesiosis in the U.S. occurred in 1966, after a resident of San Francisco became extremely ill with malaria-like symptoms that were later identified as a Babesia infection. Since then, scientists have identified hundreds of species of Babesia, with several known to infect humans.

Babesia microti is the primary cause of babesiosis in the United States. There are however, at least 5 other strains of Babesia known to infect humans in the U.S.: B. divergens, B. CA1, B. MO1, B. duncani , and a newly discovered species from Tennesee, B. TN1. However, people who travel out of the country could be exposed to several other species of Babesia.

Because the Red Cross study only looked for B. microti, it is likely the actual number of cases of Babesia contamination is much higher than stated.

Donate Samples To Lyme Disease Biobank To Aid Research

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A biobank, also known as a biorepository, is a collection of biological specimens or samples created for medical researchers to study a specific disease or condition.

Scientists need blood and tissue samples from people impacted by a disease in order to conduct research to better understand the mechanism of that disease, and to further the development of new diagnostics and treatments.

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Key Points For Healthcare Providers

  • Antibody-based Lyme disease tests have excellent sensitivity in patients with Lyme arthritis. PCR can be used as an adjunctive diagnostic test to identify DNA in synovial fluid but should not be the first lab test used.
  • Lyme arthritis can be mistaken for septic arthritis, especially in children. Whereas septic arthritis may require surgical intervention, Lyme arthritis generally does not.
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    Completion Of Lyme Disease Test Request Form

    Diagnostic samples must be submitted with a completed RIPLLyme disease test request form . Please use a single request form for each patient even when sending several samples.

    Please provide details of the sample type, patients symptoms and onset date, tick bite or exposure history and, if relevant, travel and treatment history. Symptom onset date is particularly important for interpretation of laboratory results.

    When sending CSF, please provide the cell count and total albumin, IgG and IgM levels for the CSF and serum pair, if available.

    Ideally the clinician who sees the patient should print out and complete the appropriate request form . Send the request to the local laboratory with the clinical sample along with a local laboratory request form, whether this is paper or electronic.

    The local laboratory should complete the senders information on the request form and then forward the completed form and sample to RIPL. Before sending samples, clinicians are advised to liaise with their local laboratory because local arrangements may vary.

    If only immunoblot confirmation is required because the local laboratory has already obtained a positive Lyme screening test result on the serum sample being submitted, tick the Line blot confirmation only box and write the positive screening test result below.

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    What Are The Dos And Donts Before Donating Blood

    Have you explored the ins and out of giving blood restrictions, know youre eligible to donate, but not sure how to proceed with preparing to donate? There are several steps you can take to ensure that your donation goes smoothly. The American Red Cross provides a guide for first-time donors and a FAQ list. Complete Care has also created a handy guide for what to do before giving blood.

    Register Now For Future Organ Donation

    Telegraph: Most people complaining of Lyme disease are actually ...

    To make a difference in the future, please register now for our tissue program. All patients with Lyme disease are encouraged to register with Lyme Disease Biobank Tissue Program through our partner NDRI, and please also register with MyLymeData. Registering for the Lyme Disease Biobank Tissue Program through our partner NDRI as a future donor of post-mortem organs is critical, as it is rarely possible to evaluate how tick-borne disease may infect vital organs such as a persons heart and/or brain. By also providing information about your symptoms and medical history to MyLymeData, you can assist researchers in understanding the disease. More information can be found by visiting NDRIs Private Donor Program website or by calling NDRI at 800-222-NDRI , Option 5.

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    Questions To Ask Your Doctor

    • I found a tick embedded in my skin, but I cant get it out. What should I do?
    • Ive been bitten by a tick. Do I need to be seen?
    • Do I need a blood test to confirm Lyme disease?
    • Which antibiotic is best for me?
    • How long will I have to take the antibiotic?
    • What tick or insect repellent should I use for me or my child?
    • How long will the symptoms last?
    • What should I do if I still dont feel well a long time after I was bitten?

    Is Lyme Disease Contagious

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    “Throughout the visit I felt like the staff really cared. The Doctor took his time talking with me about my symptoms, and I felt like he listened to all my concerns and took that into consideration when recommending the right treatment. Thank you!”

    “I had to take my son in for an ear infection following a sudden change in temperament at daycare. He was inconsolable the entire car ride but when we got there and by the time we left this care facility he was back to his normal happy go lucky little two year old boy. I highly recommend PhysicianOne Urgent Care.”

    “I wanted to take a moment to thank you for the attention you gave me last week. My son was started on antibiotics and ear drops. Within 24 hours he began to feel better. The poor kid had been going to school in tears because he was afraid of missing any more days, but feeling just awful! He’s not been able to even think about lacrosse practice, but thanks to starting him on antibiotics, he was thrilled to return to practice today.”

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    How Can Lyme Disease Last For Years

    Category: Health Published: October 9, 2015

    If treated, Lyme disease does not last for years. However, for some people, the after-effects of the disease can linger for months and sometimes even years. Alternative medicine providers call this condition “Chronic Lyme disease,” but this title is simply wrong. For a person who has been infected with Lyme disease and then treated, the bacteria that causes Lyme disease is measurably no longer present in his body, even though he may still feel some symptoms. The correct title for this condition is therefore “Post-treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome.”

    Lyme disease is an infection caused by a bacteria known as Borrelia burgdorferi. This bacteria is delivered to humans through tick bites. From the bite site, the bacteria can enter the bloodstream and spread throughout the body. Usually, but not always, an infectious tick bite causes a characteristic red rash at the site of the bite. Other symptoms include fever, muscle soreness, headache, fatigue, and dizziness. In a few cases, symptoms can also include mood swings, memory loss, and sleep disturbance. If left untreated for too long, Lyme disease can lead to nerve damage, thereby causing shooting pain, numbness, and even paralysis.

    The CDC states,

    Can Lyme Disease Be Detected By A Blood Test

    Doctor explains what you should know about ticks
  • Can Lyme Disease Be Detected by a Blood Test? Center
  • Lyme disease can be detected by tests that look for antibodies in the blood or in the fluid from the joints or spine. However, antibodies can take 4-6 weeks to be detected in a blood test after becoming infected.

    Borrelia burgdorferi is the bacterium that causes Lyme disease, and there are two tests that can detect whether you have developed antibodies in response to it:

    • Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay : Detects antibodies against B. burgdorferi and is the most commonly used test.
    • Although this test may not give a positive result in the early stages of Lyme disease, doctors may make a diagnosis if the rash is distinctive enough in patients who reside in Lyme disease-infested areas.
    • However, this test is seldom used as the main basis for diagnosis because it can sometimes produce false-positive results.
  • Western blot test: Detects antibodies against B. burgdorferi and can confirm ELISA test results.
  • In the first few weeks of infection, especially when a patient has a rash of erythema migrans, diagnostic test results will be negative. Some people who take a course of antibiotics in the early stages of the disease may have a negative blood test result because the concentration of antibodies are too low.

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    Signs And Symptoms Of Lyme Disease

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    Overview

    Lyme disease is an underreported, under-researched, and often debilitating disease transmitted by spirochete bacteria. The spiral-shaped bacteria, Borrelia burgdorferi, are transmitted by blacklegged deer ticks. Lymes wide range of symptoms mimic those of many other ailments, making it difficult to diagnose .

    The blacklegged ticks can also transmit other disease-causing bacteria, viruses, and parasites. These are known as coinfections . These ticks that transmit Lyme are increasing their geographical spread. As of 2016, they were found in about half the counties in 43 of 50 states in the United States .

    Lyme is the fifth most reported of notifiable diseases in the United States, with an estimated 329,000 new cases found annually . Some studies estimate that there are as many as 1 million cases of Lyme in the United States every year .

    Most people with Lyme who are treated right away with three weeks of antibiotics have a good prognosis.

    But if youre not treated for weeks, months, or even years after infection, Lyme becomes more difficult to treat. Within days of the bite, the bacteria can move to your central nervous system, muscles and joints, eyes, and heart .

    Here is a list of 13 common signs and symptoms of Lyme disease.

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    Preventing Tick Bites And Lyme Disease

    There are several easy ways to protect yourself from an encounter with Lyme-transmitting ticks:

    • Steer clear of areas that are known to have an infestation of ticksâlike tall grasses and leaf piles.
    • If hiking in the outdoors, stay in the center of the trail.
    • Wear protective clothing, like long-sleeve shirts, pants tucked into your socks, and appropriate shoes.
    • Remove and inspect your clothing before and after moving through a high-risk area and examine yourself for ticks.

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    What Causes Lyme Disease

    Lyme disease is caused by bacteria. Infected ticks spread the bacteria by biting people or animals.

    Two types of ticks carry the Lyme disease bacteria in Canada. They are:

    • Deer ticks. They spread the disease in the eastern and south-central areas of Canada.
    • Western black-legged ticks. They spread the disease along the Pacific coast, mostly in southern British Columbia.

    Remove ticks as soon as you notice them. Infected ticks usually don’t spread Lyme disease until they have been attached for at least 36 hours.