Updated Guidelines On Diagnosis, Treatment Of Lyme Disease Released By The Infec

[Franky]

In response to growing concern and confusion about Lyme disease, the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) has updated its Clinical Practice Guidelines on the disease, in order to provide guidance to physicians and patients based on the latest scientific evidence.

The most significant changes in the updated version include:

* The addition of information on human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA) and babesiosis, two diseases transmitted by the same tick that transmits Lyme disease;

* Recommendations of a single dose of an antibiotic for certain high-risk patients who have been bitten by a tick but do not have symptoms of Lyme disease;

* Expanded discussion and definition of so-called "chronic" or post-Lyme syndromes.

* 95 percent of cases of Lyme disease are cured with 10 - 28 days of oral antibiotics.

* Long-term antibiotic treatment is not proven to be effective and may be dangerous.

* To be certain they get the proper medical care, patients who have lingering symptoms after proper treatment (those with so-called "chronic" Lyme disease) should ask their doctors if the diagnosis was accurate or if they may have a different or new illness.