Lyme Disease Support Group
Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne disease in the Northern Hemisphere. It is now one of the fastest growing infectious diseases in the U.S. Lyme disease is caused by infection with the Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria, and is primarily transmitted to humans as well as dogs, horses and other domesticated animals by the bite of infected ticks.
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A six-year-old Newcastle girl is at the centre of a major medical storm over whether a debilitating tick-borne disease exists in Australia.
Laura France was diagnosed with Lyme disease late last year following tests done on her blood in the US.
Her family and several doctors are convinced she has the illness, caused by a tick bite, but NSW Health disagrees.
The department says the disease does not exist in Australia and will not fund any treatment for it.
The family is paying A$3000 a month for medication typically used to treat Lyme disease.
Laura has trouble walking, struggles to catch her breath, suffers from severe headaches and is lucky to make it through a full day of school.
Michelle France said that at night her daughter had trouble sleeping, cried and complained of constant aches and pains.
"On a daily basis it's hard, we have had to buy a stroller to get her around, she is exhausted after walking short distances," Mrs France said.
[...]
GP Peter Mayne, who is treating Laura, said NSW Health had its "head in the sand".
Dr Mayne published a paper in the International Journal of General Medicine last year detailing at least 28 positive tests for Lyme disease from Australian-based patients, the majority of whom had never travelled abroad.
"The proof is irrefutable ... there are a very considerable amount of unrecognised and undiagnosed cases in Australia," he said. "The problem is far greater than anyone has acknowledged."
Laura's test results have been reviewed by controversial US-based paediatrician Dr Ray Jones, who has treated more than 10,000 children for Lyme and chronic Lyme disease.
Dr Jones confirmed Laura's diagnosis and urged her parents to travel to the US if appropriate treatment could not be found in Australia.
Friends of the France family are hosting fundraising night on March 17.
A six-year-old Newcastle girl is at the centre of a major medical storm over whether a debilitating tick-borne disease exists in Australia.
Laura France was diagnosed with Lyme disease late last year following tests done on her blood in the US.
Her family and several doctors are convinced she has the illness, caused by a tick bite, but NSW Health disagrees.
The department says the disease does not exist in Australia and will not fund any treatment for it.
The family is paying A$3000 a month for medication typically used to treat Lyme disease.
Laura has trouble walking, struggles to catch her breath, suffers from severe headaches and is lucky to make it through a full day of school.
Michelle France said that at night her daughter had trouble sleeping, cried and complained of constant aches and pains.
"On a daily basis it's hard, we have had to buy a stroller to get her around, she is exhausted after walking short distances," Mrs France said.
[...]
GP Peter Mayne, who is treating Laura, said NSW Health had its "head in the sand".
Dr Mayne published a paper in the International Journal of General Medicine last year detailing at least 28 positive tests for Lyme disease from Australian-based patients, the majority of whom had never travelled abroad.
"The proof is irrefutable ... there are a very considerable amount of unrecognised and undiagnosed cases in Australia," he said. "The problem is far greater than anyone has acknowledged."
Laura's test results have been reviewed by controversial US-based paediatrician Dr Ray Jones, who has treated more than 10,000 children for Lyme and chronic Lyme disease.
Dr Jones confirmed Laura's diagnosis and urged her parents to travel to the US if appropriate treatment could not be found in Australia.
Friends of the France family are hosting fundraising night on March 17.
It is so sad to me that people get so stuck in their narrow paradigms of what "is possible", to the point where they would deny a little girl medical treatment because of it. :(