Additional Resources

Education, Prevention, Research & Advocacy

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Resources For Parents & Children

Research Study Recruitment: Congenital Lyme Disease

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Pregnant participants needed for study! Children’s National Hospital – Congenital Infection Program has launched a pilot study being led by Sarah Mulkey, MD, PhD, “Pregnancy and Early Neurodevelopmental Outcomes Following In Utero Lyme Disease Exposure.” [perfectpullquote align="left" bordertop="false" cite="" link="" color="" class="" size=""]The study is actively recruiting pregnant volunteers to participate in questionnaires, one fetal MRI and ultrasound, one infant MRI and ultrasound, two in-person neurology evaluations, and two blood draws.[/perfectpullquote] This study will assess the feasibility of evaluation for outcomes of pregnancies of women affected by Lyme disease infection. Brain development of fetuses, infants, and children exposed to Lyme disease in utero will be assessed. Infants will be followed from birth to age 18 months.       Study participants will be reimbursed for their travel up to 230 miles each...

Children & Tick-Borne Disease

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Children & Tick-Borne Disease Children are at risk of tick exposures both within Colorado and when traveling out of state, or country. Children can be exposed through play, sports, camps, school field trips, contact with pets and other family activities. Ticks that transmit Lyme and increasing numbers of co-infections are as tiny as a poppy seed and may be easily missed. Encouraging patients, especially parents, to practice prevention and conduct ticks checks for their children is a critical part of preventative health care. Pregnancy Some diseases, including Lyme, Bartonella, Babesia, Tick-Borne Relapsing Fever, and others may be transmitted congenitally from mother to child during pregnancy. In a recent case report, Tick-Borne Relapsing Fever (TBRF) in a pregnant host was complicated by Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction requiring critical care. Women are encouraged to seek...

Resources for Parents and Children

[vc_row][vc_column width="2/3"][vc_column_text] Resources for Parents and Children Families faced with Lyme or other tick-borne diseases are met with unique challenges that are not always understood by medical care providers, schools, friends or even other family members. Chronic illness that can be caused by many tick-borne diseases including Lyme, Babesia, Bartonella and others can have devastating impacts to physical, emotional, social, and financial health for you, your children and your family. Parents often face challenges in supporting the education of a chronically ill child. Some children may require accommodations through a 504 plan or Individual Educational Plan (IEP) to assure educational access and success for their children. Below we have provided resources for parents and children that can be incredibly helpful in navigating these challenges. Whether you are the parent of a sick child or a...

Tick Testing & Identification

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Save the Tick! You may wish to save the tick for identification or testing. Identification and testing of ticks cannot determine if transmission of a disease has or has not occurred, however knowing which species of tick you have been bitten by, what pathogens they may be carrying, and in which region of the country you were exposed may aid in your discussions with your medical care provider regarding diagnosis and treatment considerations. Remember NO testing is 100% reliable! Negative results do not necessarily mean no disease transmission. Ticks may carry pathogens for which tests are not yet commercially available. Never wait on results of tick testing to see a doctor, especially if experiencing any signs of illness. Never ignore signs of illness even if tick test...

Doctor Search

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Doctor Search Finding a physician or medical care provider that is experienced at recognizing, testing, diagnosing and treating Lyme and other tick-borne diseases is often difficult in Colorado as well as other parts of the country where the prevalence of disease is not highly reported.  Acute symptoms of many of the tick-borne diseases may be vague and flu-like and are easily misdiagnosed by primary care or ER physicians as flu or other viral illness. Because there are no CDC reported cases of Lyme or many co-infections known to have originated from Colorado (all reported cases are presumed to have been contracted in other states), doctors may be inexperienced about the diseases or are hesitant to test for diseases if a person does not have a recent history of travel to...

Financial Assistance

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Financial Assistance Diagnosis, testing and treatment for Lyme and other tick-borne infections are expenses often not covered by insurance. These financial burdens are frequently devastating to individuals or families dealing with these diseases and can make access to care unaffordable or even impossible for some. Below are a few resources for financial assistance:[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/3"][vc_single_image image="9412" img_size=""][/vc_column][vc_column width="2/3"][lvca_spacer][lvca_spacer][vc_column_text] LymeAid 4 Kids: In Memory of Pat Smith LymeAid4Kids In memory of the Lyme Disease Association’s (LDA) president Patricia V. Smith, the LDA has transferred ownership of their LymeAid 4 Kids (LA4K) fund to Colorado Tick-Borne Disease Awareness Association (COTBDAA) to continue the granting program to provide monies for children in need of Lyme testing and treatment. This program will remain a national level program administered by COTBDAA. Grants will be available to support children...

Patient Support

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Patient Support Those impacted by the effects of Lyme and other tick-borne diseases are often faced with a lack of understanding and support. This may come from friends, family, co-workers, or physicians that don’t understand the complexities or the impacts that many of these illnesses may have on an individual or family. This lack of understanding makes an already difficult illness even harder to cope with. Some Coloradans are quickly diagnosed and effectively treated, experiencing no further complications from Lyme disease. Others are among the estimated 10-30% who experience ongoing complications from a Lyme infection – even after antibiotic treatment. Living with Lyme disease is not easy. Some people experience chronic fatigue, headaches, and joint or muscle pain. Others have cognitive difficulties leaving them unable to continue working or safely drive a...