Karl McManus contracted Lyme disease from a tick bite in New South Wales, Australia. He could not get adequate care and treatment in his own country and died at the age of 43.
Below is the start of his story as told by his wife Mualla Akinci McManus, with links to the Karl McManus Foundation which she established so no-one had to suffer in ignorance like him again.
Below is the start of his story as told by his wife Mualla Akinci McManus, with links to the Karl McManus Foundation which she established so no-one had to suffer in ignorance like him again.
Karl's Story:
Karl McManus was bitten by a tick on the chest in July 2007 at a wildlife park on Sydney’s Northern Beaches. A week later he developed flu-like symptoms but, due to a lack of knowledge about Lyme disease in Australia, the tell-tale signs and the potential seriousness of the tick bite were overlooked.
Five weeks later Karl experienced the further symptoms of Lyme disease – sweat attacks, muscle twitches, mood swings and a darkening of his complexion. He became sensitive to light and noise and refused to see his friends. He began to lose dexterity in the fingers of his left hand and also started to get muscle wasting.
In November 2007 Karl saw a neurologist who acknowledged his muscle wasting and muscle twitching but, despite inconsistent diagnostic test results, diagnosed him with multi-focal motor neuropathy (MFMN). In December Karl was started on an immunosuppressive agent, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) for MFMN. After each infusion he got worse and by the eighth infusion in March, his tongue started to twitch.
Karl’s own search on the internet indicated that he may have Lyme disease, but the official website by the NSW government indicated that there was no Lyme disease in Australia, so it seemed unlikely.
My medical search of the literature found very similar clinical cases to Karl’s. They had Lyme disease....
To keep reading Karl's Story click on the Karl McManus Foundation Website
Karl McManus was bitten by a tick on the chest in July 2007 at a wildlife park on Sydney’s Northern Beaches. A week later he developed flu-like symptoms but, due to a lack of knowledge about Lyme disease in Australia, the tell-tale signs and the potential seriousness of the tick bite were overlooked.
Five weeks later Karl experienced the further symptoms of Lyme disease – sweat attacks, muscle twitches, mood swings and a darkening of his complexion. He became sensitive to light and noise and refused to see his friends. He began to lose dexterity in the fingers of his left hand and also started to get muscle wasting.
In November 2007 Karl saw a neurologist who acknowledged his muscle wasting and muscle twitching but, despite inconsistent diagnostic test results, diagnosed him with multi-focal motor neuropathy (MFMN). In December Karl was started on an immunosuppressive agent, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) for MFMN. After each infusion he got worse and by the eighth infusion in March, his tongue started to twitch.
Karl’s own search on the internet indicated that he may have Lyme disease, but the official website by the NSW government indicated that there was no Lyme disease in Australia, so it seemed unlikely.
My medical search of the literature found very similar clinical cases to Karl’s. They had Lyme disease....
To keep reading Karl's Story click on the Karl McManus Foundation Website
To go to the facebook memorial page set up for Karl click on the facebook icon below
