Spring Break
Prof: Chronic Lyme Disease A Lemon
Findings Cause Treatment Controversy
Andrew Peters
Issue date: 11/27/07 Section: News
"There's not enough data for Feder to come to such a strong conclusion that there are no benefits of treatment; we can't be sure that Lyme disease is eradicated [by the initial antibiotics]," said Dr. Daniel Cameron, president of the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS). "That's a frustration. ILADS is arguing that physicians who went to medical school should be able to use personal judgment when treating Lyme patients."
But Feder refuted the notion that lingering symptoms mean the Lyme bacteria is still present.
'[Continuing to show symptoms] does not mean you're still infected," Feder said. "That's part of this controversy."
Although it can be difficult to pinpoint the causes of the chronic Lyme symptoms, Feder is fairly certain of one thing: it's not actually Lyme.
"Persistent Lyme infection unresponsive to antibiotics has not been scientifically demonstrated using hard science," Feder said.
"Chronic Lyme disease is the latest in a series of syndromes that have been postulated in an attempt to attribute medically unexplained symptoms to particular infections," his article reads.
But doctors like Cameron say that not enough is known about Lyme disease to draw such strong conclusions about treatment.
"Controversy always happens when there's very little data," Cameron said. "For now, we need to let the doctors use their own judgment. I don't think it's going to be nearly as simple as Dr. Feder and his colleagues are projecting.
"I don't understand why they had to make such a strong statement without including any of the ILADS numbers and potentially denying a patient treatment that may help them."
But continuing antibiotic treatment if there's no Lyme bacteria present can be dangerous, Feder said. Those who believe they are suffering from chronic Lyme disease often spend months and years obtaining risky treatment for an illness they don't have.
But Feder refuted the notion that lingering symptoms mean the Lyme bacteria is still present.
'[Continuing to show symptoms] does not mean you're still infected," Feder said. "That's part of this controversy."
Although it can be difficult to pinpoint the causes of the chronic Lyme symptoms, Feder is fairly certain of one thing: it's not actually Lyme.
"Persistent Lyme infection unresponsive to antibiotics has not been scientifically demonstrated using hard science," Feder said.
"Chronic Lyme disease is the latest in a series of syndromes that have been postulated in an attempt to attribute medically unexplained symptoms to particular infections," his article reads.
But doctors like Cameron say that not enough is known about Lyme disease to draw such strong conclusions about treatment.
"Controversy always happens when there's very little data," Cameron said. "For now, we need to let the doctors use their own judgment. I don't think it's going to be nearly as simple as Dr. Feder and his colleagues are projecting.
"I don't understand why they had to make such a strong statement without including any of the ILADS numbers and potentially denying a patient treatment that may help them."
But continuing antibiotic treatment if there's no Lyme bacteria present can be dangerous, Feder said. Those who believe they are suffering from chronic Lyme disease often spend months and years obtaining risky treatment for an illness they don't have.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 16
Gordon Sell
posted 11/27/07 @ 6:36 PM EST
Feder ignores the fact that Lyme bacteria often persist after the initial antibiotic treatment, especially when there has been a late diagnosis. This is the tradgedy of chronic lyme. (Continued…)
John
posted 11/27/07 @ 7:11 PM EST
Interesting article but yet once again fails to outline what infact medical science has done to prove there right and we're wrong. I would ask that Feder provide the general public with his so called findings, what tests has he done to come to such a conclusion?. (Continued…)
Common Sense
posted 11/27/07 @ 10:42 PM EST
Professors like this aren't doctors, they're people trying to gain intellectiual superiority for egos sake. Doctors try to help!
This yahoo should find a microscope and keep his mouth shut!
AJL
posted 11/27/07 @ 11:21 PM EST
What is strange about this particular disinformation campaign is that it is so very, very easily checked. There is PLENTY of scientific evidence that Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme disease, survives several weeks of antibiotic treatment. (Continued…)
Randy Sykes
posted 11/28/07 @ 11:22 AM EST
The Greater Hartford Lyme Disease Support And Action Group has posted a $20,000 reward to any MD that can prove that the Bb infection is cured in 42 days, not 21 days of treatment. (Continued…)
Dr. Feder is the Lemon
posted 11/28/07 @ 11:47 AM EST
This letter to the editor (written by me) which was published in the Oct. 11, 2007 Hartford Courant suggests that Dr. Feder's claims about the lack of hard science supporting chronic Lyme disease are dishonest:
http://www. (Continued…)
Lorraine Thompson
posted 11/28/07 @ 12:15 PM EST
[Continuing to show symptoms] does not mean you're still infected," Feder said. "That's part of this controversy."
How about getting worse, with the presentation of new symptoms? That suggests an ongoing infection. (Continued…)
Theresa Denham
posted 11/29/07 @ 12:04 AM EST
While Feder claims that ILADS is "junk science" he fails to recognize that published in prestigous journals is science in line with ILADS and out of line with his propaganda. (Continued…)
Angela Stone
posted 11/29/07 @ 7:58 PM EST
If the use of prolonged antibiotics is "not warranted", then why, exactly could doctors not figure out why I was so sick until one of them (Dr Charles Ray Jones, a LIFESAVER) tested me for Lyme? And why did I make significant progress after being put on many coctails of antibiotics?
In elementary and middle school, it was common for me to miss almost half of the year. (Continued…)
Dr. Steere Violates IDSA/NEJM Protocols
posted 11/30/07 @ 2:41 AM EST
Dr. Steere has yet again published research and made statements which contradict the short-term treatment protocols mandated by the IDSA guidelines, of which he is an author. (Continued…)
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