Maryland Online Lyme Support is a virtual meeting place and source of information and emotional support for people with Lyme and other tick-borne diseases living in Maryland.

The Maryland Health Dept. reported 1,235 cases of Lyme disease in 2004, making the state #8 in the nation. Reported cases reflect the "tip of the iceberg,” There may be 1000 times more actual cases than are reported. The Upper Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay and counties north and east of Baltimore have higher risk.

Maryland hosts three kinds of tick that may carry Lyme and/or several other tick-borne diseases, including Rocky Mountain spotted fever, ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis, and babesiosis. From 11 -20% of the nymphal black-legged ticks are infected with Lyme.

If the tick that bites you is infected, it can inject Lyme bacteria into your bloodstream within hours of attachment (less than 6 hours has been reported). If you don't notice the tick, infection will occur in almost 100%. The bacteria invade your brain in less than 24 hours.

Lyme disease is under-diagnosed, under-treated, and under-reported. Many people do not remember being bitten by the poppy-seed-sized tick. Doctors often prefer more familiar diagnoses like chronic fatigue, MS, rheumatoid arthritis, or mental illness - all Lyme disease mimics. Too strict interpretation of insensitive tests leaves many people in a diagnostic limbo, getting sicker and without proper treatment. Most cases are not reported, leading to artificially low numbers, less recognition of the true costs of the disease and less funding for research.

Please use this group to inform yourself and help others.

DISCLAIMER: All information posted on this site is the opinion of the author(s)alone and is provided for educational purposes only. It is not to be construed as medical advice regarding the treatment of any symptoms or disease. You should obtain medical advice of your personal physician before pursuing any treatment mentioned here.