Pulaski County officials are being told to step up their efforts when it comes to combating Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses.
Melanie Krygowski and about five other residents complained to the county commissioners last week that they have suffered various health problems caused by ticks. Most of the residents said their symptoms were not properly diagnosed right away, exacerbating the problem.
They hope that by making the public and health officials more aware of the disease, they’ll be better equipped to spot the symptoms and receive the correct treatment. Additionally, they believe it could help slow the spread of Lyme disease, by discouraging sufferers from donating blood.
However, Terri Hansen with the Pulaski County Health Department says what her department is able to do depends on the information it receives from other agencies and health professionals. “At the Health Department, we don’t diagnose,” she explained. “All we do is receive positive reports and follow up on those, and if we don’t get a positive report, we don’t have anything to do with it.”
In spite of the number of residents complaining about their complications with Lyme Disease, northern Indiana is still not considered one of the major areas for it. Commissioner Larry Brady, who’s also had difficulty getting treatment for Lyme disease, said Indiana is entering uncharted territory when it comes to tick-borne illnesses. “Indiana could be possibly – Larry Brady speaking – 20 years behind Lyme, and we are the ones that are going to have to suffer until something happens,” he said. “And it’s going to take a group effort, groundswell of letter-writing and phone calls to get someone to listen, that can make the difference down at the Statehouse.”
Many of those in the audience praised the efforts of Brady’s brother, Dr. Garry Brady, in identifying and treating Lyme and similar diseases. But now that Dr. Brady is no longer practicing medicine, they say they have to travel outside Pulaski County to get the proper treatment.
Meanwhile, Commissioner Brady called for more Pulaski County health care professionals to prepare themselves to deal with those diseases. “Garry took additional training to be able to identify and treat Lyme’s and/or babesia,” he said. “Every doctor in this community could take it upon themselves to go and get additional education, if they choose.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, some common symptoms of Lyme Disease include fever, chills, headache, fatigue, muscle and joint aches, and rash. If left untreated, it can lead to more serious complications, such as dizziness, nerve pain, and problems with short-term memory.
