LYME DISEASE DIAGNOSIS |
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A clear diagnosis of Lyme disease can be
difficult, and relies on information the patient provides and the
doctor's clinical judgment, particularly through elimination of
other possible causes of the symptoms. Lyme disease may mimic other
conditions, including chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), multiple
sclerosis (MS), and other diseases with many symptoms involving
multiple body systems. Differential diagnosis (distinguishing Lyme
disease from other diseases) is based on clinical evaluation with
laboratory tests used for clarification, when necessary. A two-test
approach is common to confirm the results. Because of the potential
for misleading results (false-positive and false-negative),
laboratory tests alone cannot establish the diagnosis.
Doctors generally know which disease-causing organisms are common in
their geographic area. The most helpful piece of information is
whether a tick bite or rash was noticed and whether it happened
locally or while traveling. Doctors may not consider Lyme disease if
it is rare locally, but will take it into account if a patient
mentions vacationing in an area where the disease is commonly found. |
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| LYME DISEASE RELATED ITEMS |
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