NEW TREATMENT GUIDELINES FOR LYME DISEASE
WORLD-WIDE STANDARDS ARE BASED ON EVIDENCE
Bethesda, MD January
28, 2004
The International
Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS) has published new guidelines
for diagnosing and treating Lyme disease, to help physicians combat the
fastest growing vector-borne disease in the United States. By conservative
estimates, hundreds of thousands of US victims alone may be infected with
Lyme every year, yet there is no evidence-based comprehensive system for
diagnosing or treating Lyme disease and there is no “standard of
care” for managing the disease.
The stories of Lyme
sufferers range from sad to tragic. Their symptoms range from headache,
fatigue, and joint pain, to the extremes of hallucinations, paralysis,
and blindness. The 13-page “evidence-based” guidelines provide
physicians solid direction on which patients to evaluate, which tests
to order, what antibiotics to use, and what steps to take to ensure concerns
over antibiotic use are addressed.
According to ILADS
president, Dr. Steven Phillips, “these guidelines will provide physicians
with vital encouragement and validation as well as confidence they’ve
sometimes lacked when trying to detect and treat the disease. Misinformation
and conflicting views have caused inconsistencies and confusion; sometimes
at great costs to patients. ILADS’ guidelines come from some of the most
respected, published, and experienced medical experts in the industry.
These guidelines should make a big and positive difference in patients’
lives.”
ILADS comprises more
than 200 medical experts specializing in the direct treatment of Lyme
disease patients. The ILADS members who created the guidelines include
primary care clinicians, researchers, community health care providers,
and patients advocates.
The peer-reviewed
guidelines are being published by the prestigious British-based Ashley
Publications Ltd.
For
more information and a copy of the guidelines go to:
ILADS’
website:
www.ilads.org
Patients
and medical experts available for interviews
ILADS
thanks Turn the Corner Foundation and the LDA for their
non-profit financial support.
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