COLUMBUS — A surge in ticks is leading to an explosion of a serious illness in Ohio.
Cases of Lyme disease are 35 times higher than just a few years ago.
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“It’s been about five and a half years of debilitating symptoms,” Alisha Staley told our news partners at WBNS.
Staley said her son’s life came to a halt at 15 when he was diagnosed with chronic Lyme disease after being bitten by a tick.
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With thousands of dollars spent on medical testing and treatment, the 20-year-old still battles cognitive and physical pain daily.
“He couldn’t experience anything like a normal teen experienced. No high school — he was homeschooled. He can’t work, he can’t go to college. It is very heartbreaking as a mom,” she added.
As thousands are diagnosed each year, health experts suggest the disease is hard to detect.
The typical bullseye rash is not always present.
“There’s ticks that are in nymph form, and they are teeny, teeny tiny like the size of a freckle or a speck of dirt,” Staley said.
OhioHealth Physician Group family doctor Christopher Johnson spoke about the disease.
“The hallmark symptoms are fatigue and headache, body aches, lymph nodes that are swollen. That’s also what makes Lyme disease hard is those are kind of generalized symptoms we have when we don’t feel well,” he said.
The Ohio Department of Health reports an average of 262 Ohioans get Lyme disease from ticks every year.
If left untreated, complications can arise.
“He was unable to eat actual food for a year and a half and was getting all his nutrition through medical-grade drinks,” Staley said.
If you suspect you’ve been bitten by a tick or notice a rash, doctors recommend seeking medical attention immediately.
Staley is encouraging people to advocate for their health and seek answers.
“Be diligent when you are outdoors, so even when you think, ‘I wasn’t bitten by a tick,’ be sure,” Staley said.
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