Madison Area Lyme Support Group

In our prospective cohort of 192 children with a physician-diagnosed erythema migrans (EM) lesion, two-tier Lyme disease serology had higher sensitivity in children with multiple EM lesions (76.8% multiple lesions vs. 38.1% single EM; difference 38.7%, 95% CI 24.8 to 50.4%). The diagnosis of cutaneous Lyme disease should be based on careful physical examination rather than laboratory testing.

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**Comment**

Why are we spending yet more tax-payer dollars on Lyme testing when everyone and their dog knows it’s abysmal?  Further, why are we even testing those with an EM rash when the rash itself is diagnostic for Lyme disease?  To me this is a huge waste of time and money.  Move on people! 

We need effective treatments, effective tests, and research on the chronically infected.

This story is a reminder that the lack of effective testing in Lymeland is killing people and leaving thousands more miserable.

For more:

• https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2022/01/31/problematic-lyme-testing-shortchanges-patients-especially-children/
• https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/09/12/lyme-testing-problems-solutions/
• https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/01/16/2-tier-lyme-testing-missed-85-7-of-patients-milford-hospital/
• https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2020/11/05/your-lyme-disease-test-results-are-negative-but-your-symptoms-say-otherwise/
• https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2019/07/09/not-all-lyme-rashes-are-created-equal/
• Those getting the Bull’s Eye rash vary considerably – 25-80%. I never got one, my husband never got one, and hardly anyone I work with gets one….makes you wonder who on earth is lucky enough to get it!   https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2019/02/22/why-mainstream-lyme-msids-research-remains-in-the-dark-ages/
• https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2019/02/21/lyme-disease-dont-wait-for-blood-tests-where-patients-have-bullseye-rash/  Professor Saul Faust, chairman of the guideline committee, said:
  

  “Lab tests are necessary when a person’s symptoms are unclear, but they are not needed if a person presents the characteristic red rash, erythema migrans. Doctors should feel confident to prescribe antibiotics immediately for those with erythema migrans.”