Lyme FAQs (new to me at least)

February 17, 2010

Thanks to 's reference to ILADS, the International Lyme And Associated

Diseases Society, I was able to download some astonishing facts about Lyme

disease. I hope I'm not repeating info that's already been covered, but I felt

I would post these for anyone who may have overlooked a possible Lyme infection:

" The ELISA screening test is unreliable. The test misses 35% of culture proven

Lyme disease (only 65% sensitivity) and is unacceptable as the first step of a

two-step screening protocol. By definition, a screening test should have at

least 95% sensitivity. "

- This means my negative test result leaves me with a 35 percent probability

that I DO have Lyme. Great odds in Vegas maybe, but not so good when diagnosing

a crippling disease.

" Although the erythema migrans (EM) or " bull's-eye " rash is considered classic,

it is NOT the most common dermatologic manifestation of early-localized Lyme

infection. Atypical forms of this rash are seen far more commonly. " ILADS says

that the bulls-eye rash is simply a guarantee of Lyme, and that if seen

treatment should begin immediately - with no further testing required at all.

- When I went to my " doctor " with my first bite (the size of a quarter), he

said " it's not Lyme disease; Lyme is a circular rash like a bulls-eye " . That

level of ignorance in a MD who practices less than 20 miles from the town of

Lyme, CT, is sad.

" For " epidemiological purposes " the CDC eliminated from the Western Blot

analysis the reading of bands 31 and 34. These bands are so specific to Borrelia

burgdorferi that they were chosen for vaccine development. Since a vaccine for

Lyme disease is currently unavailable, however, a positive 31 or 34 band is

highly indicative of Borrelia burgdorferi exposure. Yet these bands are not

reported in commercial Lyme tests. "

- So I need to find a lab that reports the entire band. I beleive Labcorp is

one, but I need to verify that.

" This is why steroids and other immunosuppressive medications are absolutely

contraindicated in Lyme. "

- One of the several other tick-borne diseases, Bartonella, presents exactly

the type of skin condition I have now. And I have been using Cortisone, a

topical steroid, on my " bites " . As soon as I saw that I took a thorough shower

and put the corisone way in the linen closet. Not using it again until I've

seen a dermatologist with experience in Lyme and the various accompanying

tick-borne diseases.

Hope the above info is helpful to someone else. You can visit ILADS.ORG to read

the source data and much more.

, thank you so much for the information!

Bill

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