Harvard study identifies symptom clusters in Lyme patients with persistent symptoms
A retrospective study of 270 post-treatment Lyme patients identified the most debilitating neurological symptoms, paving the way for future studies on root causes of disease and better treatments.
The largest study to-date characterizing ongoing symptoms [1] of Lyme patients after antibiotic treatment has been published by a group of investigators at Harvard-affiliated hospitals and Invisible International, a non-profit organization. They also examined the relationship between symptom severity and perceived disability, identifying five of the most debilitating symptom categories — fatigue, cognitive deficits, neuropathy (nerve numbness or weakness in the extremities), migraine headaches, and mood disorders.
The study lays a scientific foundation for future research that will help the growing ranks of post-treatment Lyme patients suffering from lingering symptoms. Lyme disease is the fastest vector-borne illness in the United States,