Lyme Disease Vastly Underreported to CDC, Children at Risk According to Lyme Disease Association

JACKSON, N.J., Nov. 14, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The "new" numbers from Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), an estimated 300,000 Lyme cases annually, only scratch the surface of Lyme's impact. The numbers are really not new but confirmation that Lyme is vastly underreported to CDC by a factor of 10--figures that are probably not inclusive of most people who are clinically diagnosed by their doctor and do not meet strict CDC surveillance criteria-- often used by insurers to deny Lyme treatment. The 300,000 cases bring us closer to actual numbers, valuable to gain attention, but not to conveying real suffering of Lyme patients, especially children.

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According to Lyme Disease Association (LDA) President Pat Smith, "Based on CDC's Lyme reported case numbers, LDA found that 37% of reported cases are children. Thus from 1990-2011, adjusted for underreporting, 1,590,449 children have developed Lyme. More children were probably clinically diagnosed and not included in that figure-- children who often develop chronic Lyme."

According to a new Columbia University Lyme study, based upon 10-fold underreporting and on 10% of newly infected and treated patients developing symptoms  persisting for more than 6 months, "the actual incidence of new chronic cases (PTLS) is...30,000" annually-- many children, who often miss months/years of school and have their childhood destroyed. Showering, walking, talking, thinking can be a problem, and serious pain is a daily challenge.

Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial to prevent development of chronic Lyme, yet parents often lack insurance coverage. LDA created its LymeAid 4 Kids fund with support from author Amy Tan, who has Lyme. LDA has distributed almost $250,000, and thanks to generous donors, LDA still has monies available. Applications can be found on LymeDiseaseAssociation.org

In 1992, CDC presented findings of its study with NJ Health Department on NJ school children with Lyme. According to Ms. Smith, then a board of education member: "Of 64 students studied, CDC found the median duration of Lyme was 363 days; the mean number of total school days lost, 140; the mean duration of home instruction, 153 days; 78% of parents stated their children experienced grades decreasing during illness."

Two Columbia studies provide insight into children's lives. One study documents 22-point improvement in IQ in a 16-year-old after IV Lyme treatment; another found children with Lyme had significantly more cognitive and psychiatric disturbances. Parents indicated 41% of children had suicidal thoughts; 11% made a suicide gesture. Cognitive deficits were found after controlling for anxiety, depression, fatigue. Lyme in children may be accompanied by long-term neuropsychiatric disturbances, resulting in psychosocial/academic impairments.

ABOUT THE LDA: All-volunteer national nonprofit 501(c)3, dedicated to Lyme education, prevention, research, patient support. LDA's been accepted into Combined Federal Campaign 2013 as an approved national charity for Federal Workplace Giving. It's a Guidestar.org exchange gold level member, recognized for transparency and an Environmental Protection Agency PESP Partner. LDA offers LymeAid-4-Kids assistance program and has funded over 93 research grants-- funded research has been published in 33 scientific journals.

Media Contact:
Pat Smith
888-366-6611
Email

Read more news from Lyme Disease Association.

SOURCE Lyme Disease Association

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