Selection of Proper Physicians

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When a patient with possible Lyme-disease symptoms does not develop the distinctive rash, a physician must rely on a detailed medical history and a careful physical examination for essential clues to diagnosis, with laboratory tests playing a supportive role.

The inadequacies of the current diagnostic tests and many physicians' lack of experience with the disease and in interpreting result often prevent a correct Lyme-disease diagnosis. In the first few weeks following infection, antibody tests are not reliable because a patient's immune system has not produced enough antibodies to be detected. Antibiotics given to a patient early during infection may also prevent antibodies from reaching detectable levels, even though the Lyme-disease bacterium is the cause of the patient's symptoms.

Physicians that have had proper training in regards to the diagnosis of Lyme disease are called "Lyme literate." If you are interested in finding a Lyme literate doctor in your area, please feel free to e-mail us at info@turnthecorner.org.

Please click here to read a true story of the frustration of being misdiagnosed and not finding a Lyme-literate doctor.