Pediatric Lyme Disease

The diagnosis process for Lyme disease is unfortunately not the end of the obstacle field confronting Lyme disease sufferers.
Even if diagnosed early and accurately, a Lyme disease sufferer faces sizable challengers in the treatment process. Current antibiotic guidelines set forth by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) are vastly inadequate and based on antiquated, inaccurate, and unreliable data.
While some people do get well by following these guidelines, a significant percentage do not. Many people remain sick despite a two- or three-week course of doxycyline or penicillin, the length and choice of antibiotic therapy which the CDC dogmatically and ignorantly insist is adequate treatment.
Recent estimates suggest that up to 30 percent of Lyme disease cases do not get resolved after following these CDC guidelines. A preponderance of research establishing the necessity of extended courses of antibiotic therapy for the unlucky 30 percent has been completely ignored by medical regulatory agencies. As a result, symptoms and misery can continue for them even though the "right treatment" was given.
People who are still infected despite antibiotic therapy have what is referred to as chronic Lyme disease. The chronic form of the disease is becoming an epidemic in the United States. Or is it? A significant percentage of doctors and regulatory agencies do not recognize the existence of chronic Lyme disease. The prevailing belief is that if someone has Lyme disease and is treated with a several week long course of antibiotics, they must, by definition, be cured.
The conclusion that chronic Lyme disease is not a valid medical condition is so preposterous, so irrational, so unscientific that one can't help but question whether the presiding research organizations are actually pursuing truth or instead, acting as puppets beholding to a political or medical agenda. There is simply too much research to ignore.
The doctors who recognize chronic Lyme disease, and are willing to treat it, are few and far between. Lyme Literal Medical Doctors (LLMDs) use extended courses of very powerful antibiotics, sometimes in combinations of two or three drugs simultaneously, at much higher than FDA approved dosages, to try to help people with chronic Lyme disease.
Doctors who treat chronic Lyme disease are heroes with good intentions, coming to the rescue when no one else will. However, increasing persecution and legal danger has led to the decision by many doctors not to treat Lyme disease patients, or at least, to adhere to the inadequate treatment guidelines established by the government.
The bottom line on diagnosing and treating Lyme disease is that there are many ways to end up with the infection but not many ways to get rid of it. This, as you may have guessed by now, is why we need breakthrough therapies for Lyme disease.
In closing, as I have been saying for the past 18 years, if you as a parent think that your child has been bitten by a Tick, go to a doctor, have the Tick tested, and demand a blood test and start immediately on antibiotics. If you are lucky enough to know a LLMD doctor go to him first.

Column Posted on Web Site May 5, 2018