| 16 weeks 4 days 6 hours ago Does chronic Lyme Disease exist?
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(NECN: Brian Burnell, Hartford, Conn.) - The debate over chronic Lyme Disease moved through Connecticut Thursday, where patients rights groups are now picking up some support from the state's attorney general.
People who believe chronic Lyme Disease is real are vocal about it. The trouble is talk is all there is. There is no scientific proof that it does exist.
Dr. Henry Feder, Pediatric Infectious Diseases: "Complaints like headaches, joint pain, trouble functioning and the doctor's who they go to believe they have chronic Lyme. And chronic Lyme is defined as a persistent infection by the bacteria which causes Lyme, which is barillia, and that infection's very tough to get rid of and very tough to even demonstrate but they need long term antibiotics, meaning months, and a lot of times even intravenous antibiotics."
Which can be dangerous. Dr. Feder does not believe chronic Lyme is real because there is no scientific evidence of it -- only anecdotal evidence from patients and doctors who do believe. But, there is something else. Guidelines for treatment of Lyme from the Infectious Diseases Society of America or IDSA.
Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal conducted a year long investigation of the IDSA after complaints by people who say chronic Lyme is real. He found a definite bias against the disease on the panel.
The IDSA guidelines are not binding but they are important because they affect how some doctors treat diseases
and what insurance companies will pay for.
Richard Blumenthal, D-CT Attorney General: "The insurance coverage decisions, for example, relating to long term antibiotic care are heavily influenced by these guidelines. Treatment decisions of physicians based on conclusions as to whether there is chronic Lyme or whether it is non existent."
The attorney general reached an agreement with the IDSA. It must now take steps to make sure the panel looking at Lyme disease is unbiased and considers all points of view.
Blumenthal's office did not have an opinion on the existence of chronic Lyme.
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