The recent lyme disease guidelines published by the Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA) states: "there is no convincing biologic evidence for the existence of symptomatic chronic B. burgdorferi infection among patients after receipt of recommended treatment regimens for Lyme disease."
The society can be reached at: http://www.idsociety.org/ [email protected] 66 Canal Center Plaza Suite 600 Alexandria, VA 22314 Phone: (703) 299-0200 Fax: (703) 299-0204
Below are more excerpts from the guidelines which are also available on their website.
These guidelines have real world consequences because they can and will be used in legal proceedings to punish any doctor who steps out of line.
Objective clinical manifestations are uncommon after treatment of patients with Lyme disease. A much more likely scenario after treatment is the persistence or development of subjective symptoms without any residual or new objective manifestation
In many patients, posttreatment symptoms appear to be more related to the aches and pains of daily living rather than to either Lyme disease or a tickborne coinfection.
it is apparent that the term "chronic Lyme disease" is also being applied to patients with vague, undiagnosed complaints who have never had Lyme disease.
Several open-label studies have reported individual practitioner's experiences in treating chronic Lyme disease [318, 333, 334]. Open-label studies for an illness that has no objective findings need to be viewed with a high degree of skepticism.
To date, there is no convincing biologic evidence for the existence of symptomatic chronic B. burgdorferi infection among patients after receipt of recommended treatment regimens for Lyme disease. Antibiotic therapy has not proven to be useful and is not recommended for patients with chronic (⩾6 months) subjective symptoms after administration of recommended treatment regimens for Lyme disease (E-I).
Posted by bigmamma (Member # 7181) on :
What the heck is your point for copying these IDIOT guidelines here??
Are you agreeing with them?? The developers of these guidelines are STUPID and cannot read and understand scientific evidence that even lay people can understand.
Chronic persistent Lyme Disease DOES exist and there is substantial evidence of persistence of lyme disease and there is sound scientific evidence of the neuronal damage that Bb causes and that the inflammatory cascade it causes contributes to severe neurological disease and death.
These IDSA babies need to go back to kindergarten and start over and learn how to read.
You say "These guidelines have real world consequences because they can and will be used in legal proceedings to punish any doctor who steps out of line."
Bull. These guidelines have no teeth and it says right in them they are "voluntary". Legal proceedings will punish the doctors who created and those who follow these guidelines and cause a lifetime of suffering and even Lyme fatalities. The IDSA and their followers WILL be made accountable for Lyme deaths!!
Posted by bradj2571 (Member # 10643) on :
Guidelines like this do have weight because they support medical board decisions to suspend or remove a doctor's license. A state medical board may not be very knowledgeble about lyme disease and simply rely on an organization like IDSA that seems credible to them.
If you disagree with their opinions you should call the number and speak to them about it.
Posted by bradj2571 (Member # 10643) on :
It seems like you're already familliar with these folks so I apologize if I needlessly inflamed your passions. But other folks might want to call the ISDA. I did.
Posted by Lioness (Member # 10655) on :
Reading it gets me upset! I think it makes it harder for us to get the treatments and support we need!
Posted by sizzled (Member # 1357) on :