posted
Hi, are there some people out there who can tell me whether testing for co-infections should be done when Lyme is positive and there are no symptoms though or only if there are symptoms?
I have been on the net for 5 hours now and find the co-infection topic completely confusing and inconclusive. I don't know if I should push the pediatrician to run more tests or wait to see if there are issues....
Thanks ~ majesticmoos
Posts: 3 | From Shrewsbury MA | Registered: Sep 2010
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janet thomas
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7122
posted
Depends...............
A Babesia microti antibody titer is fairly reliable.
Bartonella tests aren't that good.
Sometimes a trial dose of medication is more teling and less expensive.
Rifampin or levaquin, for example for Bartonella. If herxing develops that may be an indication of Bart infection.
-------------------- I am not a doctor and this is not medical advice but only my personal experience and opinion. Posts: 2001 | From NJ | Registered: Mar 2005
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posted
I'd say get the tests done, even if they are unreliable.
The reason is, if any happen to turn up positive, you not only know you should treat them, but you have further evidence as to Lyme (just in case you have an iffy positive Lyme test).
If negative, the doctor will diagnose by symptoms.
Some meds, like levaquin or all quinolones, aren't exactly known for their safety either, so they may not be ideal trial meds. And for babesia, mepron can be insanely expensive. Malarone isn't even exactly cheap.
Posts: 584 | From NY | Registered: Feb 2009
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-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96239 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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TF
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 14183
posted
A good lyme doctor routinely tests for the coinfections. Why? Because if any of them come back positive, that is important data to have. The doc then knows he MUST treat these diseases.
I had no symptoms of babesiosis or bartonella. My final lyme doc tested me for them through Igenex and I was positive for both diseases.
Therefore, I was treated for both diseases. I think that is the most logical and best way to approach this complex disease.
If the patient absolutely cannot afford Igenex testing for coinfections, then the doc can do a test by giving some meds that treat the various diseases and see what happens.
Also, by me finding out at the start that I had these diseases, it kept me from relapsing at the end of lyme treatment because of untreated coinfections (which is what will happen).
I completed my lyme treatment over 5 years ago and I am still symptom-free, enjoying my life. I have the same life I had before lyme disease.
I went to a doc who followed the Burrascano protocol. That's the doc who got me well. The lyme docs I saw before him did NOT test me for coinfections. I wasted 2 years continuously taking their antibiotics because of this.
Every so often, the previous doc would say to stop the meds and see what happens. Within 2 weeks, I would be sick as a dog mentally and physically, in bed just as sick as I was at the start. Now I know why--undiagnosed and untreated coinfections.
Don't want that to be you.
Posts: 9931 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2007
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