$Unique_ID{BRK00581}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Is There Any Connection Between Lyme Disease and Gout?}
$Subject{lyme disease arthritis rash Ill Defined Symptoms symptom joint joints
Infections Parasites gout Infection Parasite}
$Volume{N-17}
$Log{
Lyme Disease*0005200.tid
Ticks Transmit Lyme Disease*0005201.scf
Protection from Ticks*0005202.scf
The First Sign of Lyme Disease*0005203.scf}

Copyright (c) 1991-92,1993   Tribune Media Services, Inc.


Is There Any Connection Between Lyme Disease and Gout?


------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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 diagnosis may be
missed.  It would well advised for your "gout" sufferers to be rechecked,
keeping the possibility of a Lyme Disease diagnoses in mind.

----------------

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.