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Lyme is not an 'autoimmune' disease
Friends,
Just thought I'd post this note to let anyone new coming here know that we have protested MedHelp tagging Lyme Disease as an autoimmune disease.
'Autoimmune' means that your own immune system attacks your body by mistake, instead of attacking invading viruses and bacteria.
Lyme, however, is caused by bacteria called Borrelia burgorferi (B. burgdorferi or Bb, for short).
MedHelp has indicated it will fix this error in the website, but it could take a while for reasons I don't know.
There is a possible reason that this error has been made: there is a split in the medical community over Lyme disease. The Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA) takes the position that Lyme is a hard disease to get and an easy one to cure with a couple of weeks of antibiotics; IDSA has held this position for quite a long time.
Contrary to the IDSA position is the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS), which takes into consideration more recent research that shows the Lyme bacteria can and do hide in the body in internal cyst-like areas they create, where antibiotics cannot easily penetrate. In addition, Lyme bacteria have a very slow reproductive rate that makes them less susceptible to a short course of antibiotics. When the standard antibiotics given are not capable of breaking into the cysts where the Lyme bacteria are hiding, and when treatment is stopped after a short period of time, Lyme can still be present and continue to give symptoms as before treatment.
When faced with a Lyme patient who has been treated with a short course of antibiotics but is still ill with Lyme symptoms, the IDSA position is that the Lyme was actually cured, and that the continuing symptoms are an over-reaction by the patient's immune system fighting against bacteria that are no longer there, and you are well whether you feel that way or not. End of treatment.
On the other side, ILADS says that if there are still symptoms, then the disease is not eradicated, and treatment should continue.
Logically, Lyme should be categorized as an infectious disease caused by bacteria, regardless of one's position on allegations of later-developing auto-immunity, but so far the classification has not changed here on the website, although I believe it should. Just thought you should know.
Welcome to the Lyme wars.
This battle between the IDSA and ILADS
Just thought I'd post this note to let anyone new coming here know that we have protested MedHelp tagging Lyme Disease as an autoimmune disease.
'Autoimmune' means that your own immune system attacks your body by mistake, instead of attacking invading viruses and bacteria.
Lyme, however, is caused by bacteria called Borrelia burgorferi (B. burgdorferi or Bb, for short).
MedHelp has indicated it will fix this error in the website, but it could take a while for reasons I don't know.
There is a possible reason that this error has been made: there is a split in the medical community over Lyme disease. The Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA) takes the position that Lyme is a hard disease to get and an easy one to cure with a couple of weeks of antibiotics; IDSA has held this position for quite a long time.
Contrary to the IDSA position is the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS), which takes into consideration more recent research that shows the Lyme bacteria can and do hide in the body in internal cyst-like areas they create, where antibiotics cannot easily penetrate. In addition, Lyme bacteria have a very slow reproductive rate that makes them less susceptible to a short course of antibiotics. When the standard antibiotics given are not capable of breaking into the cysts where the Lyme bacteria are hiding, and when treatment is stopped after a short period of time, Lyme can still be present and continue to give symptoms as before treatment.
When faced with a Lyme patient who has been treated with a short course of antibiotics but is still ill with Lyme symptoms, the IDSA position is that the Lyme was actually cured, and that the continuing symptoms are an over-reaction by the patient's immune system fighting against bacteria that are no longer there, and you are well whether you feel that way or not. End of treatment.
On the other side, ILADS says that if there are still symptoms, then the disease is not eradicated, and treatment should continue.
Logically, Lyme should be categorized as an infectious disease caused by bacteria, regardless of one's position on allegations of later-developing auto-immunity, but so far the classification has not changed here on the website, although I believe it should. Just thought you should know.
Welcome to the Lyme wars.
This battle between the IDSA and ILADS
Remember the new Va law: If your lyme test comes back negative the Doctor must tell the patient " it doesn't mean you don't have lyme"
That says a lot.
That says a lot.
"Lyme tests can only tell you if you have Lyme now." Check."
Backing out of a confusing back and forth where another person was thought to be me---- I'll start with one sentence.
Correct me if I'm wrong---- Do you, Jackie, agree with the declarative statement made--- "Lyme tests can only tell you if you have Lyme now."
Is that what the 'Check' meant? Or did 'Check' mean something else. I took it to mean that you agreed but only you can clear that up.
I asked, but didn't receive an answer (guess everyone was too busy or didn't notice it) if the 'Lyme tests' meant WB or ELISA or PCR of fluids or lumbar puncture with a PCR assay. (Igenex performs that PCR assay of the CNS fluid)
Confusing, isn't it?
Backing out of a confusing back and forth where another person was thought to be me---- I'll start with one sentence.
Correct me if I'm wrong---- Do you, Jackie, agree with the declarative statement made--- "Lyme tests can only tell you if you have Lyme now."
Is that what the 'Check' meant? Or did 'Check' mean something else. I took it to mean that you agreed but only you can clear that up.
I asked, but didn't receive an answer (guess everyone was too busy or didn't notice it) if the 'Lyme tests' meant WB or ELISA or PCR of fluids or lumbar puncture with a PCR assay. (Igenex performs that PCR assay of the CNS fluid)
Confusing, isn't it?
You say above:
=================================
Jackie----
"Lyme tests can only tell you if you have Lyme now." Check."
What do YOU say about people who have Lyme (see above) and the tests say they don't?
=================================
Not sure why you are asking this. False negative tests are common when using W.blot and ELISA, and that's pretty well established and commented on here.
That is why PCR testing is useful: it is direct evidence of Lyme infection, not relying on the indirect evidence of a Lyme-suppressed immune system which then gives a false negative result.
=================================
Jackie----
"Lyme tests can only tell you if you have Lyme now." Check."
What do YOU say about people who have Lyme (see above) and the tests say they don't?
=================================
Not sure why you are asking this. False negative tests are common when using W.blot and ELISA, and that's pretty well established and commented on here.
That is why PCR testing is useful: it is direct evidence of Lyme infection, not relying on the indirect evidence of a Lyme-suppressed immune system which then gives a false negative result.
As interesting and important debates are about the tests for Lyme---- all the while Bb thumbs its nose at us.
"Additional progress, however, will be slow in Lyme diagnostics, until we learn more regarding the biology of B. burgdorferi"
" Progress for better diagnosis and treatment, in this very complex disease, will come through better knowledge of the spirochete B. burgdorferi."
http://www.igenex.com/labtest.htm
"Additional progress, however, will be slow in Lyme diagnostics, until we learn more regarding the biology of B. burgdorferi"
" Progress for better diagnosis and treatment, in this very complex disease, will come through better knowledge of the spirochete B. burgdorferi."
http://www.igenex.com/labtest.htm
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