LETTERS: FAMILY DEVASTATED BY LYME DISEASE

To the editor:

Having grown up in Cape, I was home recently for a visit and read your July 17 article stating "the risk of getting any disease from the bites of mosquitoes and ticks is very small." Add to that the tendency that people often adopt the "it can't happen to me" philosophy, and readers may not take adequate precautions or educate themselves to the symptoms of both early and undiagnosed late Lyme disease.

Let me tell you in human terms what 300-1 odds against contracting a disease through a tick bite can mean. Ten years ago my husband contracted Lyme disease at a construction site. Nine years ago my daughter and I contracted it in our back yard. And last summer our son contracted it in our front yard. Besides much suffering, the disease has cost over $50,000 in medical expenses. We do not live near a wooded area but rather in an older residential neighborhood eight miles from downtown Nashville.

The Center for Disease Control has confirmed cases of Lyme disease in 49 states. If not diagnosed and treated appropriately, it can be a devastating disease often imitating other illnesses or chronic conditions. Even though one may perceive the risk to be low, heed Dr. Masters warnings when enjoying the outdoors: Be sensible and be careful. NORMA UELEKE ENGELHARDTNashville, Tenn.