A recent review of the current Lyme disease treatment protocols has upheld the initial, yet controversial, recommendations established in 2006 by the Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA). The IDSA establishes the therapeutic guidelines for many infectious diseases in this country, and their findings are generally supported by the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

In 2006, a panel of experts with the IDSA made a series of recommendations for the treatment of Lyme disease which were intended to help doctors decide upon the best course of treatment for people suffering from the condition. Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne illness in the Unites States.

The controversy that followed was rooted in the debate over whether or not there exists a "chronic" form of the disorder. A chronic case of the disease requires long term treatment with antibiotics over the course of months or even years, resulting in substantial costs. For the record, some doctors who specialize in dealing with Lyme disease believe strongly in the existence of such a condition and are therefore in support of such costly treatments, as they believe it is the only option for suffering patients. The passionate debate led to a call for an antitrust investigation to determine if there were conflicts of interest on the part of the author's guidelines as well as a failure on their part to consider all relevant opinions on the matter.

To address the problem and avoid an investigation, the IDSA agreed to have their recommendations reviewed by an independent panel who studied them in conjunction with evidence from scientific studies. Their recent findings were in support for of the original IDSA guidelines, thus maintaining the initial recommendations for short term antibiotic regimens to treat the bacterial infections that result from tick bites. The panel apparently deemed long term antibiotic therapy "untested and potentially dangerous," thereby calling into question the existence of what has come to known as "chronic Lyme disease."

The panel's statements have led to a disappointed outcry by patients who vehemently disagree. Currently, the IDSA, CDC, and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) discourage the use of long term antibiotic treatment due to their potential toxicity as well as their skepticism about the existence of a chronic state of the disease, despite the substantial body of evidence to the contrary.

In fact, many doctors and patients are disappointed by the findings, though it is in-line with the constant challenges that they must confront in order to achieve official recognition of chronic Lyme disease. To gain support for their cause, they have formed various lobbying organizations, including the International Lyme And Associated Diseases Society. These groups fight for insurance coverage as well as access to long term antibiotic therapy, which in many instances are not covered by insurers because they are not in agreement with medical guidelines. For now, their struggle continues.

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that results from the bite of an infected deer tick. Symptoms include a swollen joints, neurological symptoms, never damage, flu-like symptoms, a skin rash in some patients that can often resemble a bulls-eye, and many other symptoms. In the early stages, Lyme disease is usually curable with antibiotics, though if left untreated, can lead to more serious problems affecting the heart and nervous system. Lyme disease is more common in the warmer seasons, when tick populations are at their peak.

If you suspect that you or your child may have Lyme disease, contact your physician as soon as possible. Make sure you seek out one that is knowledgable about Lyme disease or you may not get a fair consideration. Lab tests are not an accurate way to diagnose Lyme disease because of lack of funding for sensitive tests, so the best way to diagnose it is with a specialist who knows the disease and its many manifestations. For more information about Lyme disease, visit the International Lyme And Associated Diseases Society.