Lyme disease causing concern in Central Ontario

05 Jul Lyme disease causing concern in Central Ontario

Dr. Michael Yarish, ND
The Lakeside Clinic Centerfor Integrated Medicine

Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium known as Borrelia burgdorferi.

These bacteria and their related co-infections are transmitted by the bite of an infected tick. In the United States and Europe, Lyme disease has increased by more than 100 per cent since 1992. Worldwide, Lyme incidence annually outpaces AIDS and cancer combined.

In Canada, infected ticks are being found in much of the east coast, large parts of Quebec, south and central Ontario, the prairies and southern British Columbia. In some of areas of Canada, up to 50 per cent of the ticks are now infected with the Lyme bacteria. It has become a silent growing epidemic in Canada. Since 2011, I have diagnosed four people with Lyme disease; three were from the Greater Toronto Area, and one from Alcona.

Lyme disease is known as ‘The Great Imitator’, because many of its symptoms imitate other diseases.

Clinical symptoms of Lymecom disease include fatigue, low grade fevers or chills, night sweats, sore throat, swollen glands, stiff neck, migrating arthralgias, myalgia, chest pain, and palpitations, abdominal pain, diarrhea, sleep disturbance, poor concentration and memory loss, mood swings, depression, back pain, blurred vision and eye pain, jaw pain, tinnitus, vertigo, facial numbness and dizziness. Over time, and without proper diagnosis or swift treatment, chronic Lyme disease develops involving the brain and central nervous system.

Symptoms include lymphocytic meningitis, cranial neuritis, facial palsy, severe headaches, muscle weakness, unsteady gait, stiff and painful neck. If you suffer from many of these symptoms and have tested negative on virtually every diagnostic ordered by your MD, it may be prudent to consider being evaluated for Lyme disease.

In my practice, I diagnose Lyme disease by taking a thorough history including signs and symptoms, a comprehensive physical examination along with the Western Blot blood test.

The Canadian and Ontario governments, along with provincial medical authorities, mandate the totally inadequate ELISA test for making a Lyme diagnosis. This test produces 90 per cent false negatives. All negative ELISA results are regarded as infallible. The inadequate testing regime in Canada likely has caused people to suffer longer, with deeper and much more complex, serious and difficult to treat symptoms of late-stage, chronic Lyme disease.

Treatment for Lyme disease includes an integrated medical approach including prompt use of specific antibiotics tailored to the individual, as well as intravenous and other naturopathic therapeutics aiming to support organ and immune systems during bacterial die-off.

If you suspect ticks may be a problem where you live or travel, avoid walking in high grass and cover up areas that may be exposed, by tucking your pants into boots or socks and wearing closed shoes and sandals. Also, check pets to make sure they aren’t carrying ticks into your home, and keep animals out of the woods. After coming in from being outdoors, perform a self-inspection to see if any ticks have attached to your skin.

If you believe you have symptoms of Lyme disease, call our office immediately at 705-431-0859, to book an appointment for testing and evaluation.

The sooner the bacteria is identified, the sooner it can be eradicated.