Letter to the Editor: More Awareness, More Cases
To the Editor:
“More Awareness, More Cases” (June 4) provides beneficial information regarding reasons for the yearly fluctuations in Lyme disease cases, basic information on disease transmission and patient symptoms, and successful prevention efforts in New Jersey. However, the article also perpetuates common but inaccurate myths about Lyme disease.
One of these myths concerns Lyme disease testing. When used appropriately, Lyme disease testing is actually highly accurate. The estimate of 50 percent accuracy is true only when testing is inappropriately used early in the disease course during the rash phase of the illness where laboratory testing is not recommended or needed for diagnosis.
In addition, the article presents one clinician's observation that chronic Lyme disease accounts for “chronic Lyme disease” have never actually had any form of Lyme disease. In one study, published in Annals of Internal Medicine, the majority of these patients actually had other treatable conditions that had gone undiagnosed and untreated.
If readers want reliable information on Lyme disease, Web sites such as medlineplus.gov may be used.
Gary P. Wormser, M.D.
Raymond J. Dattwyler, M.D.
Valhalla