Underdiagnosis of Lyme disease is a problem
I am your host, Dr. Daniel Cameron.
Dr. Steere addressed the problem of overdiagnosis of Lyme disease in 1993. He reported that patients referred to his Lyme disease center instead suffered from chronic fatigue or fibromyalgia.1
Dr. Steere did not address the problem of underdiagnosis.
I have Lyme disease patients in my practice have been diagnosed with another condition before being diagnosed with Lyme disease. Their diagnoses have included
fibromyalgia
chronic fatigue
mood disorder
migraines
POTS
PANS or PANDAS
The actual number of Lyme disease patients who have been underdiagnosed has not been determined.
The actual number of Lyme disease patients who have been underdiagnosed has complicated by the limitations of diagnostic tests.
Do you know anyone who has been underdiagnosed or overdiagnosed? Please join the conversation with others in the comments below.
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1. Steere AC, Taylor E, McHugh GL, Logigian EL. The overdiagnosis of Lyme disease. Jama. 1993;269(14):1812-1816.