Finally, an article that summarizes many of the unorthodox treatments that I have heard about from patients seeking second or third opinions for the diagnosis and management of Lyme disease.
This recently published article in Clinical
Infectious Diseases is eye opening. This study was designed to
identify and characterize the range of unorthodox alternative therapies
advertised to patients with a diagnosis of Lyme disease.
The authors performed internet searches using the Google search engine to identify the websites of clinics and services that marketed
non-antimicrobial therapies for Lyme disease. The authors then used the PubMed
search engine to identify any scientific studies evaluating such treatments.
More than 30 alternative treatments were identified, which
fell into several broad categories including oxygen and reactive oxygen
therapy; energy and radiation-based therapies; nutritional therapy; chelation
and heavy metal therapy; and biological and pharmacological therapies ranging
from certain medications without recognized therapeutic effects on Borrelia
burgdorgeri to stem cell transplantation.
As predicted, the medical literature did not support any of these treatments.
In my experience as an infectious diseases specialist, I have seen Lyme disease both frequently misdiagnosed and mismanaged. Many practitioners offer alternative therapies on a fee-for-service (cash, not covered by insurance) basis, frequently selling products out of their offices.
When patients are suffering and in despair, these therapies are dangerously appealing.
As predicted, the medical literature did not support any of these treatments.
In my experience as an infectious diseases specialist, I have seen Lyme disease both frequently misdiagnosed and mismanaged. Many practitioners offer alternative therapies on a fee-for-service (cash, not covered by insurance) basis, frequently selling products out of their offices.
When patients are suffering and in despair, these therapies are dangerously appealing.
