Doctors Reconsider Antibiotics for Chronic Lyme Disease Sufferers.

"Patients who believe they suffer long-term problems from Lyme disease are claiming victory over a national doctors group. The Infectious Diseases Society of America has agreed to review its guidelines, which say there's no evidence long-term antibiotics can cure "chronic Lyme" disease — or even that such a condition exists."

"It's a great victory for patients," said Pat Smith, president of the Lyme Disease Association, a national nonprofit group based in New Jersey. "It's time that Lyme patients got the respect they deserve."

"Lyme disease can be hard to diagnose with its vague, flu-like symptoms; the most obvious sign is its trademark round red rash. Usually, it's easily cured with a few weeks of antibiotics. Those not promptly treated can develop arthritis, meningitis and other serious illnesses.

About 20,000 new cases of Lyme disease are reported every year, but experts believe the annual total may be five times higher."

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'Bout darn time! It's tragic that most insurance companies will not pay for prolonged treatment, as they go with whatever the ISDA says- their guidelines for treatment - as you read - limit the amount of antibiotics given, even if symptoms come back months later. Many (if not most) Lyme doctors have to basically "forget" to tell a patient's insurance co. what the treatment is for. They made the diagnosis vague. It might be dishonest, but otherwise, patients get screwed with outrageous medical bills. Some do anyway. But there are people in much worse shape than I am, and they are benifitting from long-term antibiotic therapy. They stand to make the most from a change in the way the ISDA handles treatment.