Paula, keep up the good work, this was a great article, and I wish I could have READ MORE on the subject. I found Dr. Sisbarro's comments astounding that she had 5 patients in one week that she diagnosed and/ or treated with lyme disease. Although it doens't surprise me as I am a lyme patient, and my whole family of 4 has had since 2004. We have been on and off treatment since then. It is harder to get well after not being diagnosed in a timely manner.
I'd like to correct the good dr. who said PA was BEHIND New York. That may have been the case a few years ago, but not for 2007. Currently PA is the #1 state in reported cases to CDC as of this week. In fact PA has been in the top 5 for the past 10 years.
Also, what world does Dr. Kochel live in?? Having lyme disease is the hardest thing in the world to get diagnosed with. I found his remarks quite flippant and quite the contrary. Lots of things do LOOK like lyme disease BUT, lyme patients will tell you it took many months if not years to get a lyme diagnosis.....they just aren't given out......mostly because of the ingorance of our doctors and specialists. They just rely too much on the inaccurate screening test (ELISA) which is the least sensitive screening test ever!!! The western blot is hardly a CONFIRMATORY test either. At best it catches 50%......Lyme is a clinical diagnosis, even Johns Hopkins says so along with CDC. Perhaps Dr. Kochel needs to learn some more about Lyme disease.
It would be good to remind readers that ticks don't wear wristwatches either. .....the magical 48 hours or less of tick attachment does not preclude one from getting infected with lyme or any other tick borne disease. That was a very irresponsible comment.
Also to Dr. Kochel, since there is no test available to confirm when all bacteria are killed, how do you tell someone WHEN IT IS GONE?? I would like to know how he knows when ITIS GONE.
[color="#000099"]Wake up, there are too many sick people in Lancaster!!!!