Lyme: "Swedish researchers first in the world with new tests"

New tests - better diagnosis

Engineer researcher Barbro Hedin Skogman have tried new antibody tests in children to diagnose neuroborrelia. The tests have been developed by researchers in Sweden and Finland.

Swedish researchers first in the world with new tests

She is the first in the world to carry out testing on the fluids found in the spine - in children.

-- The new tests are more sensitive, "says researcher Barbro Hedin Skogman.

The Borrelia bacteria can spread from the skin to the nervous system and cause neuroborrelia. Children are affected more often than adults. This is because it's easier for them to get a tick in the neck and head, because they are shorter.

The only way to make a safe diagnosis of neuroborrelia is to take samples of spinal fluids. Then measure the antibodies to the borrelia. The tests in Sweden have so far been considered very reliable.

*With high sensitivity*

But a recent study by Barbro Hedin Skogman she shows that the current test for are not as good as we thought.

She has tried the new finnish-Swedish borrelia test for spinal fluids test on children in Sweden.

Children in the study had suspected neuroborrelia.

118 of these received treatment.

• Only 60 percent of these children received a diagnosis of neuroborrelia ensured with the current tests.

• 82 percent had a diagnosis with the new.

-- Today's tests have high security but low sensitivity - while the new tests have high security and high sensitivity, "says Barbro Hedin Skogman.

*Facial paralysis*

More than half of the children in the study had facial paralysis because of the neuroborrelia.

-- They become slant in the face, and get runny eyes, and have difficulties to blink, difficulty with pronunciation, they may drool, "said Barbro Hedin Skogman.

After half a year every tenth children still had left facial paralysis - despite antibiotic treatment. In part it still remains after two years.

-- Permanent facial paralysis is one of the most common appeal after a neuroborrelia. Why paralysis persists despite antibiotics, we do not know.

*Should give antibiotics*

So people still may therefore have neuroborrelia and still have a negative test readings despite testing from the spinal fluids.

-- My thesis shows that one should treat all children who have signs of inflammation of the nervous system with antibiotivs- regardless of whether they have antibodies against borrelia or not under the current tests, "said Barbro Hedin Skogman.


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