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Why Lyme disease is so hard to diagnose
Tuesday, August 18, 2015 8:08
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You may have been hearing more and more about Lyme disease as the summer presses on. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently put out a report indicating cases of Lyme disease are on the rise in certain parts of the U.S.
Lyme disease is an illness caused by being bit by a deer tick. Symptoms of Lyme disease include fatigue, headache, muscle spasms, chills, fever, skin rash and numbness. Lyme disease continues to be difficult to diagnose. But with medical advancements why is getting to the bottom of this illness so hard?
As of late many celebrities have opened up about their Lyme disease. Many shared their experiences detailing how afraid they were when they didn’t know what was wrong.
As awareness of Lyme disease and prevention increases, hopefully cases will begin to subside. In the meantime, let’s examine why it takes a long time for people to be diagnosed.
Two factors that make Lyme disease hard to diagnose
Lyme disease commonly presents like many other illnesses including the flu. This factor alone makes it hard to differentiate the symptoms of Lyme disease.
Another factor that makes Lyme disease hard to diagnose is the lack of training among doctors. Doctors who reside in states with a high incidence of Lyme disease cases (northeastern U.S.) are more experienced. On the other hand, in states where Lyme disease is not as prevalent (California for example) diagnoses of the illness may take much longer.
However, when a patient suffering from Lyme disease develops a bulls-eye rash, the illness is easier to spot. The problem is many patients don’t develop this rash or it’s not noticeable.
Continue reading at Factors making Lyme Disease Diagnosis difficult
