Hundreds of Facts Doctors May Not Know About Lyme Disease

Article Contents: Overview | History | Morphology | Transmission | Cyst Formation | Genetics | Geographic Location | Strains and Species | Asymptomatic Individuals | Age of Infection | Infected Areas and Symptoms | Immune System Invasion and Evasion | Diagnosis | Similar to Lyme | Co-Infections | Individual Difference | Prevention | Chronic Lyme | Biofilms | Treatment | Alternative Therapies | Prognosis | Herx Reactions | Statistics | Lyme Vaccine | Immunity | Impacts | Debate | Politics and Legal | Future Needs

Regarding Lyme disease, we have amassed a massive morass of “facts” which need to be carefully checked, and more importantly, used, to quickly and completely eradicate stealthy micoscopic snakes and their pathogenic pals. This below is a small subset of things we’ve heard and read about Lyme disease, including some things we wish all doctors knew and understood. These were collected during a time of contradictions and misinformation, even from official sources. Thus, one can only with integrity present the following as what one may find in web searches and published papers about Lyme disease.

Overview

1. Lyme disease is the most commonly reported vector-borne illness in the United States.
2. Lyme disease is caused by the spirochete bacterium named Borrelia burgdorferi.
3. Lyme disease is named after the town of Lyme, Connecticut, where the first cases were identified in 1975.
4. It is called Lyme Disease, and is not called “Lymes” disease, because it is named after a place and it is not named after any person.

Geographic Location

1. Lyme disease has been reported in all 50 states of the USA and in over 80 countries worldwide.
2. Tick populations are expanding due to factors like climate change and land-use changes, increasing the risk of Lyme disease.
3. Not all ticks carry Borrelia burgdorferi, and the risk of contracting Lyme disease can vary depending on the geographic region.
4. Individuals who spend time outdoors in wooded or grassy areas are at a higher risk of exposure to infected ticks.
5. Ticks can also be found in urban areas, such as parks and gardens, not just in rural or wilderness areas.

Strains and Species

1. Several sub-species and strains of Borrelia burgdorferi have been identified, each potentially causing variations in symptoms and severity.
2. Genetic sequencing has revealed differences between strains of Borrelia burgdorferi found in different regions.
3. Multiple strains of Borrelia burgdorferi can coexist in a single tick, increasing the potential for multiple infections with different strains.

Asymptomatic Individuals

1. Some individuals may be asymptomatic carriers of Borrelia burgdorferi, not experiencing any adverse effects.
2. It is estimated that about 25-30% of individuals infected with Borrelia burgdorferi remain asymptomatic.

Age of Infection

1. Lyme disease can affect people of all ages.
2. Children are at a higher risk of developing complications from untreated Lyme disease, such as facial paralysis or neurologic abnormalities.
3. Lyme disease can cause bone and joint abnormalities in children, affecting their growth and development.
4. Lyme disease can affect children, leading to developmental delays, behavioral problems, and learning difficulties.

Diagnosis

1. Tick-borne infections are often overlooked, and doctors may not consider Lyme disease when encountering patients with nonspecific symptoms.
2. Diagnosis of Lyme disease is primarily based on symptoms and history of exposure to infected ticks.
3. Blood tests may help confirm the diagnosis, but false negatives can occur, especially in the early stages.
4. Early diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease is crucial to prevent long-term complications.
5. There is, supposedly, ongoing research to develop more accurate diagnostic tests for Lyme disease.
6. The standard ELISA test for Lyme disease has a high rate of false negatives, leading to potential misdiagnosis.
7. Blood tests are often used to confirm the presence of Lyme disease antibodies, but they can produce false negatives because some people never make the antibodies standard tests check.
8. Antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi can persist in the bloodstream for years, making it difficult to determine if an infection is active or past.

Similar to Lyme

1. Standard Lyme antibody tests do not test for species other than one, but there are other Borrelia species which cause similar symptoms.
2. Tick-borne relapsing fever is another condition caused by spirochetes similar to those causing Lyme disease.

Co-Infections

1. Co-infections commonly associated with Lyme disease include Anaplasma, Babesia, and Ehrlichia.
2. Ticks can carry multiple pathogens, increasing the risk of co-infection.
3. The presence of co-infections in individuals with Lyme disease can complicate diagnosis and treatment.

Individual Differences

1. The severity and duration of symptoms can vary from person to person.
2. While some individuals recover fully with appropriate treatment, others may experience long-term complications.
3. Certain genetic factors in individuals may make them more susceptible to Lyme disease or more likely to experience chronic symptoms.
4. The severity of symptoms in Lyme disease can be influenced by the genetic diversity of both the pathogen and the host.

Prevention

1. Tick prevention measures, such as wearing protective clothing and using insect repellents, are essential to reduce the risk of infection.
2. Removing a tick within 24-36 hours can greatly reduce the chances of contracting Lyme disease.
3. Tick checks should be performed after spending time outdoors, and ticks should be promptly removed.
4. Tick removal should be done carefully to avoid squeezing the tick, as this can increase the risk of transmission.
5. Ticks tend to prefer warm and moist areas of the body, including armpits, groin, scalp, and behind the knees.
6. Using repellents containing DEET or permethrin on clothing can help deter ticks.
7. Tick populations are most active during the spring and summer months.
8. Outdoor workers, particularly those in forestry, landscaping, and wildlife professions, are at a higher risk of contracting Lyme disease.

Chronic Lyme

1. Chronic Lyme disease, or post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS), can occur in some individuals despite receiving appropriate treatment.
2. Some individuals may experience recurrent symptoms even years after initial treatment which some doctors refer to post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS).
3. Evidence from research has shown that in PTLDS bacteria are still present, in other words, the antibiotic treatment never erradicated the bacteria.
4. Some patients with chronic Lyme disease experience a worsening of symptoms during periods of stress or exertion.
5. Some patients with chronic Lyme disease find relief and symptom improvement through integrative or alternative therapies, such as herbal supplements, acupuncture, or dietary changes.
6. Some patients with chronic Lyme disease experience a relapsing-remitting pattern of symptoms, with periods of exacerbation followed by periods of remission.

Treatment

1. Treatment options for chronic Lyme disease vary, and no standard protocol exists.
2. Long-term antibiotic therapy is controversial and may not always be effective.
3. Alternative treatments like herbal remedies and hyperbaric oxygen therapy are sometimes used by individuals with chronic Lyme disease.
4. Early treatment with appropriate antibiotics can usually cure Lyme disease.
5. Oral antibiotics like doxycycline, amoxicillin, and cefuroxime are commonly prescribed for the treatment of Lyme disease.
6. Intravenous antibiotics may be necessary for individuals with more severe manifestations of the disease.
7. As with other infections such as the related spirochete Syphillis, a single course of antibiotics may not always be sufficient to eliminate Lyme bacteria entirely.
8. The bacteria that causes Lyme disease can survive in the body’s tissues, even after antibiotic treatment, leading to persistent symptoms in some patients.
9. Personalized treatment plans, considering individual symptoms and co-infections, are often necessary for managing chronic Lyme disease.

Prognosis

1. The long-term prognosis for patients with chronic Lyme disease varies, with some experiencing significant improvement over time, while others continue to struggle with ongoing symptoms.
2. The most frequent cause of death in chronic Lyme patients is suicide due to the greatly degraded quality of life, pain and emotional torment the disease can bring.

Herx Reactions

1. Some individuals may experience a Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction after starting antibiotic treatment for Lyme disease, where symptoms temporarily worsen before improving.
2. Some patients with Lyme disease experience a herxheimer reaction, also known as a “die-off” reaction, when the bacteria are killed off by antibiotics, leading to a temporary worsening of symptoms.

Statistics

1. Lyme disease cases are often underreported, and the actual number of infections may be much higher.
2. The incidence of Lyme disease has been increasing over the past few decades, likely due to a combination of factors, including increased awareness and diagnostic improvements.
3. While claiming it is rarely fatal, the CDC does not provide specific statistics on Lyme disease-related deaths.

Lyme Vaccine

1. Research is ongoing to develop effective vaccines against Lyme disease.
2. There is no approved vaccine for Lyme disease available in the United States.
3. Dogs can be vaccinated against Lyme disease to reduce their risk of infection.
4. The former Lyme disease vaccine, known as LYMErix, was voluntarily withdrawn from the market by its manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) in 2002.
5. LYMErix was not pulled due to safety concerns, oh no, definitely not, no way, that didn’t happen, don’t even consider that, because instead, you see, because of declining sales (and an increasing number of lawsuits) GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) voluntarily removed took it off the market.
6. The LYMErix vaccine faced criticism and legal challenges regarding potential side effects, particularly claims of causing arthritis-like symptoms, although subsequent studies did not establish a definitive association between the vaccine and those side effects.

Immunity

1. People with a history of Lyme disease remain susceptible to reinfection if bitten by an infected tick.
2. There is currently no known case of natural immunity to Lyme disease.
3. While some individuals may have a naturally stronger immune response to the infection and experience milder symptoms, no one is completely immune to Lyme disease.
4. Opposums unique immune system allows them to resist many diseases, including Lyme disease. They have a lower body temperature than most mammals, which is believed to limit bacterial growth and they groom themselves extensively, removing and eating ticks to reduce the risk of infection.

Impacts

1. Chronic Lyme disease can significantly impact a person’s quality of life and daily functioning.
2. The economic and social impact of Lyme disease on patients can be significant, including healthcare costs, loss of work productivity, and decreased quality of life.
3. The economic impact of Lyme disease on health maintenance organizations (HMOs) and healthcare providers can be significant, especially if the disease is left undiagnosed or detected
   at later stages when treatment becomes more complex and expensive.
4. Chronic Lyme disease can be a disabling condition, affecting a patient’s quality of life and ability to work or engage in daily activities.

Politics and Legal

1. Some doctors are specifically told by their HMOs not to look for Lyme disease in patients.
2. While some doctors may wrongly dismiss or misattribute symptoms to patients’ thoughts or emotions, the medical community consensus on Lyme disease symptoms, which can include fatigue, joint pain, cognitive difficulties, and neurological manifestations, are recognized as being of physical origin.
3. There have been lawsuits against health insurers that have alleged RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act) violations with regard to Lyme disease.
4. Lyme lawsuits, with allegations of conspiracy, fraud, and racketeering, have claimed health insurers engaged in fraudulent and deceptive practices to deny coverage for Lyme disease treatments, leading to significant health and financial harm to the affected individuals.
5. Some individuals or groups have sued doctors, medical institutions, or health organizations alleging misconduct, negligence, or misdiagnosis regarding Lyme disease.

Future Needs

1. A cure for Lyme Disease!! Perhaps just break Borrelia’s ability to reproduce by convincing it that it is hotter or colder than it actually is with some chemical trick, but however we do it, let’s go!
2. Awareness campaigns and education about tick-bite prevention are crucial in reducing the incidence of Lyme disease.
3. Collaboration between medical professionals, researchers, and patients is essential in advancing our understanding and management of Lyme disease.