By Chelsea Ashworth / Special

Earlier this month at the Georgia State Capitol, May was declared Lyme Disease Awareness Month by a Georgia State Proclamation issued by Governor Sonny Perdue. Several Lyme patients shared their stories with hopes of raising awareness about tick-borne illnesses in our region.

Three days later a group of Georgia Lyme Disease Association volunteers met with Roswell’s Mayor, Jere Wood who promptly signed a Proclamation declaring May "Lyme Disease Awareness Month" in Roswell. 

Other Metro cities have that proclaimed May "Lyme Disease Awareness Month" include Alpharetta, Kennesaw, Peachtree City, Fayetteville, Conyers, Smyrna and Norcross. 

Lyme disease is the fastest growing vector-borne disease in the country today and is often unrecognized, underreported and undertreated.  In states across the Southeast and in Georgia, citizens who contract the disease often report being misdiagnosed; therefore, many don’t receive adequate therapy. Untreated Lyme disease can lead to serious problems.

In November 2003, Alpharetta resident Tracy Ashworth spotted a mysterious, softball-size bull’s-eye rash on her daughter’s chest. A precautionary trip to the pediatrician only led to more confusion as the possibility of ringworm was dismissed and another explanation was provided: “it’s probably just something she picked up outside.” Little did the Ashworth family, then residing in Tuxford, realize that the rash was the telltale sign of Lyme disease, the infectious disease transmitted via tick bite.

Unaware of the presence of Lyme in Georgia – much less in their own backyard – the Ashworth family suffered through a year of a mysterious, debilitating illness that caused stomach paralysis in

their eldest child, Chelsea, and grand-mal seizures in their youngest, Mark. After a year of unsuccessfully searching for diagnoses, both children were finally diagnosed with Lyme disease in December 2004.

Sometimes more than one family member may be infected, as roaming deer can transport over a thousand ticks at any given time. Chelsea and Mark played in a backyard not unlike many in North Fulton County: heavily wooded, with a creek running through it and shared with a family of deer.  That warm fall of 2003 they had repeatedly rolled in leaf piles in their back yard, as children like to do. Ticks that fall off of the deer find refuge in brush and leaf piles so it is likely that this is where the children picked up the ticks.

The Ashworth Family could have avoided many years of poor health and financial hardship had they known more about tick-borne illnesses. They are now dedicated to helping others learn more. 

Many cases of Lyme and tick-borne diseases are reported to the Georgia Lyme Disease Association from people across the State. Patients report suffering because these diseases often go unrecognized and may be misdiagnosed, therefore, may not treated in the crucial early stages.  GALDA volunteers, including the Ashworth family, hope to further educate local residents and medical providers about preventative measures, proper tick removal, signs and symptoms of tick-borne diseases, and the importance of seeking early diagnosis and treatment.

The Roswell area Lyme Disease support group meets on the first Tuesday of each month at 7pm at Christ United Methodist Church, 1340 Woodstock Road, Roswell, GA 30075 (first white building on right).

For more information about this and tick-borne diseases in Georgia visit: www.GeorgiaLymeDisease.org