Lyme disease- a hot topic in Sweden lately

Many times I have tried to explain to my family and my friends about the dangers of parasites. I have explained why parasite-tests are inaccurate and why they should avoid ticks like the plague, and much more..
Seems like people don't understand what I am talking about, they forget it the next day.

So one night I grabbed the evening paper and found articles about Lyme and interviews with people who are heavily infested with it. Finally!! It is going out to people!

As I read those articles, sitting on a sunny balcony eating strawberries with whipped cream, I began to weep. Oh my goodness, these poor people have been through hell, just like me.

In Sweden parasite issues simply don't exist, this country is in such denial, like the rest of the world.


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I really want you to read the article, therefore I inserted the article into a Google translator program to get an english version of it. It may have some faults, but I think you can get the picture:

The original article published on the net:


http://www.aftonbladet.se/kropphalsa/article2917639.ab


"Lyme broke him down"
Is it all in their head
Or do they have lyme?
It depends who you ask, the doctor
or the patient.

This is Adam 9 yo, he was ill almost 1,5 year. He stopped playing soccer and inndoor bandy. Last summer he was diagnosed with an inflammatory condition in the brain (can't find the word for it) and neuroborrelia"


"Today Borrelia(Lyme) is diagnosed mainly by the classic symptom: a red hudring.

-- But all may not mark - and therefore do not know that it is borrelia they have. Then, they may not diagnosed, "says Christer Edlund, vice-chairman of Borrelia and TBE association.

The samples may prove wrong

-- Many doctors are not managing to make a diagnosis on borrelia today. The knowledge in primary care is too bad. There are patients who have received ointments against the red ring, "he says.

It is also possible to measure the antibodies to borrelia in the blood.

-- But the blood test are only positive in half the cases of borrelia in the skin. They are not sufficiently sensitive. Both samples and the diagnosis is problematic, "says Lars Lindquist, professor and a specialist in infectious diseases physicians and borrelia and TBE at the Karolinska University Hospital in Huddinge.

It is therefore possible to have borrelia despite negative readings from the tests.

If borrelian is not cured the bacteria can spread from the skin to the nervous system or joints - and cause neuroborrelia or jointborrelia. It can give life-long and painful inconvenience, as paralysis.

There are also patients receiving the wrong diagnosis.

-- They may get a diagnoses such as exhaustion, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, ms, als or arthritis. Many are classified as mentally ill or being "imaginary ill". But our assessment is that they have borrelia, and that they did not receive adequate treatment, "says Christer Edlund on the patients' associations 400 members.

Symptoms for 20 years

Lars Lindquist explains why some may get the wrong diagnosis:

-- The symptoms of borrelia are similar to those for other diseases, such as fibromyalgia or ms. Borrelia can settle on the nerves any time. I have had patients who had dementia, according to borrelia, "says Lars Lindquist.

Some patients may therefore proceed with the disease for years.

Borrelia and TBE association's membership is increasing daily. They are of all ages. The youngest is only four years. Some have had trouble in 20 years.

-- Some can not go. They sit in a wheelchair or have to go with crutches. Others have problems with their speaking abilites. Arms and legs grow numb. Many have pain from the hell. It has everything, "says Inger Lippman, executive director.

-- It is a diabolical disease.De majority is on sick leave or retired because of illness.

Patients suffering can be enormous.

-- Many have fought very long to obtain the assistance of the Swedish health care system, without success.

In the end they accept to become sick listed for depression. Others live on their partners, saved money, on borrowed money.

-- They live in an economic disaster and in pure misery, "he says.

Fight for a cure

But not everyone accepts the situation. In 2006 Swedes began to seek help in Germany. There, they both get diagnosis and treatment - strong doses of antibiotics for months or years, often intravenously.

But the long-term antibiotic treatment is controversial. It is not accepted in Sweden of the Medical Products Agency.

Now, patients' associations are fighting for to those who did not become healthy to have this assistance in Sweden.

-- The health care sector must take these people seriously. We want it to engage in more research on borrelia, "says Christer Edlund. Tweet