Turning a Blind Eye on Lyme Disease
Lyme disease is often dismissed when it presents without classic signs—leading some patients to be overlooked despite significant, persistent symptoms.
“Our ignorance is often unbearable and may lead us to turn a blind eye on non-lesional diseases,” writes Raoult.
He argues that throughout medical history, some conditions were incorrectly labeled as psychiatric when they were, in fact, underlying medical illnesses that could be treated.
When Symptoms Are Dismissed
Lyme disease can present without visible lesions or a known tick bite, making diagnosis more difficult.
In these cases, patients may be mischaracterized as having non-medical or psychological conditions.
This diagnostic uncertainty can lead to delayed care and prolonged suffering.
Evidence of Non-Lesional Lyme Disease
In 1990, Logigian and colleagues described patients with chronic neurologic Lyme disease who lacked typical signs such as rash.
Instead, they experienced symptoms including:
- Fatigue and sleep disturbance
- Poor concentration and memory issues
- Irritability and mood changes
- Headaches and lightheadedness
- Paresthesias and joint pain
These symptoms persisted for years in some patients.
Many had seen multiple physicians before receiving a diagnosis.
The Burden of Medical Dismissal
Patients often consult multiple clinicians in search of answers.
“Patients consulting numerous physicians to obtain a therapeutic solution are truly sick,” Raoult writes.
The process of repeated consultations without answers can be physically and emotionally exhausting.
While some cases may be misattributed, most patients with persistent symptoms are not “phony”—they are seeking relief from real illness.
Limits of Diagnostic Testing
Some clinicians attribute persistent symptoms to other conditions when standard diagnostic tests are negative.
However, diagnostic tools are not perfect.
“One must admit that in some diagnostic fields the sensitivity of our tools is not 100%,” Raoult notes.
This limitation is particularly relevant in conditions like Lyme disease, where testing may fail to capture all cases.
A Call for Clinical Humility
Raoult emphasizes that scientific progress depends on openness to new evidence.
“Scientists must remain skeptical, modest, and ready to change their mind in light of new data.”
Recognizing uncertainty is essential to improving patient care.
Clinical Takeaway
Lyme disease does not always present with classic signs. When symptoms are dismissed due to lack of visible findings or negative tests, patients may be overlooked. Maintaining clinical openness and acknowledging the limits of current diagnostics are critical to avoiding missed or delayed diagnoses.
Dr. Daniel Cameron, MD, MPH
Lyme disease clinician with over 30 years of experience and past president of ILADS.
Symptoms • Testing • Coinfections • Recovery • Pediatric • Prevention
There exists mounting scientific evidence to the complexity of Lyme and other tick-borne diseases. These stealth pathogens altar our quality of life and activities of daily living. The emotional, physical, psycho-social and financial impact cannot possibly be fully understood except by the millions of people worldwide who suffer from these “invisible illnesses.”
Thank you, Dr. Cameron for your continued strides to provide education, awareness and advocacy. In my opinion, Lyme is a health care disaster, and with the current research and evidence, no health care professional should be turning a blind eye! Shame on them!!!
Dear Doctor,
Would you please consult with me on the case of 22 yo woman who had positive serological studies at age three, based on a target lesion. She was given 3 weeks of oral amoxicillin at that time.
She presents now as having extreme fatigue, chronic joint pain of the large joints e.g. hips, knees, shoulders; muscle pain with no exertion; hypersomnia,; intermittent sleep; with frequent awakenings, and palpitations.
She has back pain and shoulder pain every day. She also has bilateral sharp knee pain, lasting for several minutes at a time, infrequently.
Shoulder pain, is again, bilateral, and frequently she has neck pain as well.
She has been treated for sleep apnea, but that diagnosis was made without a sleep study. Unsurprisingly, a CPAP machine in use for 3 months, yielded no benefit. An actual sleep study revealed no abnormalities. She is being treated for possible hypothyroidism, mild depression, and extreme anxiety. Her current meds are:
Other medical issues are limited to seasonal allergies with sinus pain, She also has been diagnosed as having interstitial cystitis, frequent urination when not taking solifenacin 10mg/ daily.
Propranolol LA 120 mg is given for anxiety and Propranolol 20 mg as needed for anxiety. However she only is prescribed this for anxiety, it is not given for her heart or blood pressure, but for her anxiety. She has no other cardiac issues at this time, excepting palpitations with a HR below 100 bpm.
Solifenacin 10 mg/ daily
Levocetrizine 10 mg/day rhinitis and sinus pain
Singuair 10mg/daily for rhinitis and sinus pain
Luvox CR 300 mg/daily for anxiety
Vitamin D 5,000 IU supplement
MVT
She is trying to complete college at this time, and I am very concerned about her.
Sincerely,
KMM
contact my office at 914 666 4665