Lyme disease and the controversy that surrounds it

Lyme disease is borne by a bacterial infection, relatively common in the United States. It is not unusual, not something exotic, so what is it and why is there so much controversy surrounding it.

First appeared in 1975 in the town in Connecticut, where it derives its name, Lyme disease is caused by the spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb).

The disease is characterised by the characteristic Skin lesions known as erythema migrans (EM) and maybe even systemic symptoms including neurological, rheumatologic and cardiac involvement of time (months to years). Some reports say that may also affect the optic nerve.

EM, which is the first manifestation in most cases, your mouth is red, often showing clear Center (Bull's eye). Can be seen individually or in multiples.

With or without other early symptoms of the EM may include malaise, fatigue, fever, headache and a stiff neck. Pain and joint pain, migratory may also see.

In the US, which is Lyme disease is endemic to the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, Wisconsin and Minnesota and parts of California and Oregon.

Where is the dispute?

First, the mode of transmission. It is well documented that Lyme disease is the originator of the tick. Common species are known to Harbor ticks Ixodes scapularis (Bb) and i. pacificus. Larval and nymphal ticks feed on small animals, while the adults feed on deer. Pets such as dogs can also get Lyme disease.

However, there are those who believe that the other vectors that carry disease, such as fleas, mites, and mosquitoes. Centers for disease control and prevention (CDC) said on its website that there is no credible evidence that Lyme disease can be transmitted through the air, food, water, or from the bites of mosquitoes, flies, fleas and lice.

The second issue, often expressed by Lyme affected is testing and evaluation.

Many patients complain that it's a problem to get properly diagnosed. Some say it may take years to get diagnosed for Lyme disease. Some people talk about are misdiagnosed Fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, or lupus.

The diagnosis of Lyme disease is based on two step laboratory, testing process. The first step is to use the antibody test ELISA or IFA. It is a very sensitive test and if you have Lyme disease should be positive.

There are times when someone who does not have Lyme disease may also be positive in these screening tests. Cross reacting antibodies can cause false positive results of patients with syphilis, Leptospirosis, HIV, Infectious Mononucleosis and rheumatoid arthritis, among others.

ELISA and IFA are uppercase and lowercase letters in the first weeks, and infection may remain negative, if early with antibiotics.

The second step is the western blot test. This test is designed as a "concrete", which means that usually will be positive only if that person is actually infected. If a positive ELISA or IFA, Western blot would not be tested.

Critics argue that it's a two step process testing does not work. They say that the purpose of standardization
determination of parameters for laboratory confirmation of Lyme disease monitoring cases, no
clinical diagnosis.

Also they say that the tests in step one is sufficiently sensitive, such as screening tests. It is also alleged that the interpretation of the western blot was selected on the basis of statistical, rather than clinical.
The third issue of contention is the appropriate treatment for Lyme disease.

According to studies, which are financed from the national institutes of health (NIH) can cure most patients with several weeks of antibiotics taken by mouth. Commonly used for Oral antibiotic treatment include doxycycline, amoxicillin or cefuroxime to be axetil. Patients with certain neurological and cardiac Chair forms of the disease may require intravenous treatment drugs such as ceftriaxone and penicillin.

Patients treated with antibiotics in the early stages of infection usually recover quickly and completely. A few patients, particularly those that have been diagnosed with later stages of the disease, may have persistent or recurrent symptoms.

Critics say that this treatment works only occasionally or only rarely. Sometimes they help for a while, and sometimes do nothing at all.

Most of the infectious diseases have a very unique diagnostic test and specific treatment of Lyme disease has, however, and probably will in future be a problem for doctors and patients for the above reasons, and others not listed here.