No Skunky, I won't argue with you that people have gone to desperate measures detailed in your link to try and get well who were
misdiagnosed for many years by physicians who read that type of information, and now have a chronic debilitating disease.
Myself being one of those people who went
years misdiagnosed.
Further, the
CDC only considers a person to have Lyme disease if they have a bulls eye rash
AND a positive Lyme disease test.
Not true.
The physicians in the know report that only
50% of Lyme disease patients actually get a bulls eye rash.
Physicians 'out of the know' such as the folks at the CDC, NIH, Academies of Infectious Diseases in both North America and Europe opine that the rash is present in about 75% of the cases.
Lyme literate physicians also do not fully rely on Lyme disease tests as a basis for diagnosis, and also use specific labs that have yield better results, not your standard Quest Diagnostics Lab. So, the figures posted for 2006 are much higher than stated.
No physician relies on a Lyme test to make a diagnosis;there is a spectrum of findings elucidated from a history and physical exam. The test can bolster a diagnosis. This is similar to diagnosing syphillis, also a spirocetal disease with a 'screening' assay that is notorious for false positives but of less import in somebody who has no clinical complaints.
It's not an easy disease to diagnose, hence its been called the grayt mimiker since the symptoms can be just about any disease.
It is a challenging diagnosis like many other 'zebras', but shouldn't be too tough for somebody that bothers to take a good history and completes a decent physical exam.
I am not a physician, but I have lived with Lyme disease and its
co-infections long enough to be in the know.
What can I say, I am a physician and trust the rationale and research of the infectious disease specialists.
Yes, the prevalence of Lyme in TN and other states is less than the NE, and like I said, I am not trying to be an alarmist, but better to be aware.
Even in low incident areas, one should take proper precautions.
I do not think you can argue with that?
Nope, I hate getting ticks on me!
My own BIL got a typical bulls eye rash who lives in GA, and was told he didn't have Lyme by his doctor. Something about there hasn't been a case of it for like forever. Came to New York to visit and at my urging got tested, and it was Positive, he was treated and is fine now.
I would have treated him if he presented to me with the rash. A few weeks of doxycycline from Wal Mart, $4 generic for the entire course, no harm done.
So Skunky, yes, there are quacks in any medical specialty, but I urge you to remain open minded. ;-)
MANgo and I look like monkeys cleaning each other after being outside. 
