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Prof: Chronic Lyme Disease A Lemon
Findings Cause Treatment Controversy
Andrew Peters
Issue date: 11/27/07 Section: News
A UConn Health Center professor recently created controversy voicing his conclusion that the condition known as Chronic Lyme disease has no scientific basis and medication should not be prescribed to treat it.
Dr. Henry Feder's argument upset chronic Lyme patient advocates, who believe the disease is legitimate.
Feder's Oct. 4 article in the New England Journal of Medicine, "A Critical Appraisal of 'Chronic Lyme Disease,'" argued that chronic Lyme disease is an unfounded explanation for a variety of other symptoms that aren't caused by the Lyme bacteria.
"Chronic Lyme disease, which is equated with chronic B. burgdorferi infection, is a misnomer, and the use of prolonged, dangerous, and expensive antibiotic treatments for it is not warranted," reads the report, which was authored by Feder and five other members of the Ad Hoc International Lyme Disease Group.
Feder's article advised against prolonged antibiotic treatment for chronic Lyme patients, angering those who contest that those treatments can still help. In response to the article, a group of about 25 protesters gathered outside the Health Center, proclaiming "Lyme kills!" and calling for him to be fired.
Lyme disease, named after the Connecticut town where it was common in the 1970s, is caused by the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi and transmitted through tick bites - usually when the tick is attached for over a day, Feder said.
A large red skin rash commonly develops between three to 10 days after infection, which may be accompanied by fever, fatigue, or joint or muscle pain - but nearly all cases can be resolved quickly with antibiotics. However, for between 5 to 10 percent of people who develop the additional symptoms, the joint and muscle pains persist, Feder said.
The mysterious lingering symptoms have long been a source of debate. Feder contests that the Lyme bacteria is eliminated by the first bout of antibiotics, and there is no use in additional antibiotic treatments. But supporters of the chronic Lyme disease theory aren't so sure - and were upset by Feder's recommendation that antibiotics shouldn't be used to treat the symptoms.
Dr. Henry Feder's argument upset chronic Lyme patient advocates, who believe the disease is legitimate.
Feder's Oct. 4 article in the New England Journal of Medicine, "A Critical Appraisal of 'Chronic Lyme Disease,'" argued that chronic Lyme disease is an unfounded explanation for a variety of other symptoms that aren't caused by the Lyme bacteria.
"Chronic Lyme disease, which is equated with chronic B. burgdorferi infection, is a misnomer, and the use of prolonged, dangerous, and expensive antibiotic treatments for it is not warranted," reads the report, which was authored by Feder and five other members of the Ad Hoc International Lyme Disease Group.
Feder's article advised against prolonged antibiotic treatment for chronic Lyme patients, angering those who contest that those treatments can still help. In response to the article, a group of about 25 protesters gathered outside the Health Center, proclaiming "Lyme kills!" and calling for him to be fired.
Lyme disease, named after the Connecticut town where it was common in the 1970s, is caused by the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi and transmitted through tick bites - usually when the tick is attached for over a day, Feder said.
A large red skin rash commonly develops between three to 10 days after infection, which may be accompanied by fever, fatigue, or joint or muscle pain - but nearly all cases can be resolved quickly with antibiotics. However, for between 5 to 10 percent of people who develop the additional symptoms, the joint and muscle pains persist, Feder said.
The mysterious lingering symptoms have long been a source of debate. Feder contests that the Lyme bacteria is eliminated by the first bout of antibiotics, and there is no use in additional antibiotic treatments. But supporters of the chronic Lyme disease theory aren't so sure - and were upset by Feder's recommendation that antibiotics shouldn't be used to treat the symptoms.
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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