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Lyme Disease Conference At Danbury Hospital Emphasizes Education, Prevention

DANBURY — Educating patients constantly about the risk of Lyme disease is one of the best ways to help manage the problem.

That was the main message of the Second Annual Lyme Disease Conference for physicians, sponsored by the Danbury Hospital Medical Staff on April 2, in collaboration with the Housatonic Valley Association of Health Directors. The association includes the Departments of Health in Danbury, Newtown, Brookfield, Bethel, Ridgefield, New Milford, and Redding.

“Patients have heard the ways to prevent a tick bite, but they don’t always carry them through,” said Thomas Draper, MD, Danbury Hospital director of community medicine, director of health for Newtown and Danbury, and co-chair of the Danbury Hospital Lyme Disease Task Force.

More than 75 area doctors attended the hospital event to hear top area experts discuss the diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease. Matthew Cartter, MD, MPH, Epidemiology Program coordinator, Connecticut Department of Public Health; Gary P. Wormser, MD, chief, Division of Infectious Disease, New York Medical College; and Lawrence S. Zemel, MD, chief, Division of Pediatric Rheumatology, Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, spoke on “The Public Health Response to Lyme Disease,” “Evidence Based Guidelines for the Management of Lyme Disease,” and “The Pitfalls and Poli-ticks of Lyme Disease.”

“It’s important for physicians to constantly remind patients about the ways to prevent Lyme disease and the symptoms to look for,” said Dr Draper, who coordinated the conference with Task Force Co-Chair Ana Paula Machado, MD, Department of Pediatrics; and Medical Staff President Joan Draper, MD, Department of Surgery, Section of Ophthalmology.

 “Early diagnosis is very important,” he said, “because patients don’t always recognize symptoms.” An early symptom of Lyme disease is the distinctive rash, which is seen three to 30 days after infection with a tick. Sometimes, said Dr Draper, the rash can be in a spot on the body not always visible, like on the back or behind the neck. A febrile illness in June or July can also signal Lyme disease.

“It’s important for people to have others look for the rash, especially parents checking their children. Wearing preventative clothing and being mindful about where you place children’s toys and swing sets in the yard.”

Dr Draper reminds people that Lyme disease infection will peak in June and July, but can be a problem all year. Take preventative measures, he said, and talk to your doctor about protecting yourself and your children.

For more information, visit www.danburyhospital.org.