Misdiagnosis of Lyme Disease
Topic Overview
Misdiagnosis of
Lyme disease
is common.
The bacteria that cause the illness are hard to detect with current lab tests.
- People often test positive for Lyme disease when in fact they have a different
bacterial illness
.
- People may test positive because they were infected with the Lyme disease bacteria at some point during their lives, but the infection may not be active and may not cause any illness.
- People may test negative when they actually have been infected.
Symptoms of Lyme disease sometimes closely resemble those of other illnesses.
Credits
Current as of: February 11, 2020
Author: Healthwise Staff
Medical Review: E. Gregory Thompson MD - Internal Medicine
Adam Husney MD - Family Medicine
Christine Hahn MD - Epidemiology
W. David Colby IV MSc, MD, FRCPC - Infectious Disease
Current as of: February 11, 2020
Author:
Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:
E. Gregory Thompson MD - Internal Medicine & Adam Husney MD - Family Medicine & Christine Hahn MD - Epidemiology & W. David Colby IV MSc, MD, FRCPC - Infectious Disease