$Unique_ID{BRK00581}
$Pretitle{Musculoskeletal System and Connective Tissue, Ill Defined Symptoms
and Rare Diseases, Infections or Parasites}
$Title{Is There Any Connection Between Lyme Disease and Gout?}
$Subject{lyme arthritis rash}
$Volume{M-17, N-17, A-17}
$Log{
Figure 1*0005201.scf
Figure 2*0005202.scf
Figure 3*0005203.scf}

Copyright (c) 1991   Tribune Media Services, Inc.


Is There Any Connection Between Lyme Disease and Gout?


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QUESTION:  There are several golf courses here in my area where white-tailed
deer roam freely.  This is considered an asset and some courses incorporate
that information in their name.  An ever increasing number of players and
maintenance personnel have symptoms resembling gout.  Deer tick borne Lyme
Disease is endemic in this region.  Is there any connection between Lyme
Disease and gout?  Please respond by mid-May, start of the deer tick season.

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ANSWER:  Doesn't the good golfing season start about the same time in your
area?  Humor aside, your question has much merit, and it is important to make
all my readers aware of the facts about Lyme disease.  To answer your specific
question, there is no connection between true gout, (an arthritic condition
due to crystals derived from high levels of uric acid, being deposited in
joints and tendons) and Lyme disease, EXCEPT for the symptoms!  The slow
development of the arthritic like symptoms of Lyme Disease may resemble those
of gout, and so it is important that all are alerted to the possibility of
this infectious disease, passed on by the bite of the deer tick.  The history
of a tick bite helps enormously, but frequently the bite goes undetected.  The
arthritic symptoms may not develop until weeks after, and if there has been no
typical rash or symptoms that we now know are Lyme related, the diagnoses may
be missed.  It would well advised for your "gout" sufferers to be rechecked,
keeping the possibility of a Lyme Disease diagnoses in mind.
ÿ
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The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace 
the counsel and advice of your personal physician.  Promptly consulting your 
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical 
problem.
