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No Warranties or Representations
The data and information presented in this web site are presented in good faith and believed to be accurate. Any and all liability for the content or any omissions including any inaccuracies, errors, or misstatements in such data or information is expressly disclaimed. The web site is compiled for the sole purpose of informing community members of resources and information pertaining to Lyme Borreliosis Disease and its coinfections.
The Canadian Lyme Disease Foundation, Directors and members are not liable for any direct or indirect damages or any damages whatsoever resulting from loss of use, data or profits, whether in an action of contract, negligence or other tortious action arising out of or in connection with the use or performance of information available from this website.
Consult a qualified Lyme ( Borreliosis ) Disease literate doctor for medical advice if Lyme Disease is suspect.
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New look at Lyme Disease
Many cases of Lyme disease are misdiagnosed or go undiagnosed, says the
International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS).
Lyme disease was first recognised in 1975 and since then, tens of thousands
of people with Lyme disease have been misdiagnosed with fibromyalgia,
chronic fatigue and multiple sclerosis, ILADS says.
By the time they're correctly diagnosed, some people with Lyme disease are
in the chronic stage and treatment is much more difficult. Lyme disease can
cause health complications ranging from seizures to retinitis to sudden
cardiac death.
Detection can be difficult
Many doctors don't know how to recognize Lyme disease and have to rely on
outdated diagnosis and treatment information, ILADS says.
To address the problem, ILADS recently introduced new detection and
treatment guidelines for Lyme disease.
Doctors are often told to look for a red bull's eye rash caused by a tick
infected with Lyme disease. However, ILADS experts say less than half those
with Lyme disease develop a rash and fewer than half ever recall getting a
tick bite.
ILADS says doctors need to look for a wider range of complaints that may
indicate Lyme disease. These include fever, joint pain or arthritis, facial
palsy, headaches, dizziness, sudden weight change, fatigue, mood swings,
memory loss, depression and disorientation.
An enzyme-linked immunosorbent (ELISA) test is used by most doctors to
detect Lyme disease. However, ILADS says doctors need to do a variety of
tests to assess Lyme antigens and antibodies and to detect Lyme DNA.
More aggressive treatment necessary
The new ILADS guidelines also call for more aggressive treatment of Lyme
disease in both early and late stages. Current recommendations for early
Lyme disease call for a two to three weeks of treatment with oral
antibiotics.
ILADS says that's not sufficient and recommends six to eight weeks of oral
antibiotics to treat early stage cases of Lyme disease. People with chronic
Lyme disease may need to take antibiotics even longer and may also need to
take them intravenously.
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