Misconceptions about Lyme Disease: Confusions Hiding behind Ill-Chosen Terminology
Authors: Leonard H. Sigal
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2002)

Medical Writings5 March 2002Misconceptions about Lyme Disease: Confusions Hiding behind Ill-Chosen TerminologyLeonard H. Sigal, MDLeonard H. Sigal, MDDr. Sigal: UMDNJ Robert Wood Johnson Medical School; New Brunswick, NJ 08903Author, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-136-5-200203050-00024 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail "The beginning of wisdom is to call things by their right names."—Ancient Chinese proverbNomenclature influences perceptions of reality and frames ensuing discussions. Imprecision contributes to misinterpretation of observations and studies, altering clinicians' approaches. The impact of imprecision and novel reinterpretation of terminology can be seen in the Lyme disease debate. A quarter century after its initial description, a review of the terminology contributing to confusion about Lyme disease is needed.Lyme disease is treatable and curable with antibiotics (1-4), especially if treated promptly, usually with an excellent long-term prognosis. The term "promptly" taken out of context suggests one must ...References1. Steere AC, Hutchinson GJ, Rahn DW, Sigal LH, Craft JE, DeSanna ET, et al . Treatment of the early manifestations of Lyme disease. Ann Intern Med. 1983;99:22-6. [PMID: 6407378] LinkGoogle Scholar2. Steere AC. Lyme disease. N Engl J Med. 1989;321:586-96. [PMID: 2668764] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. Dattwyler RJ, Volkman DJ, Conaty SM, Platkin SP, Luft BJ. Amoxycillin plus probenecid versus doxycycline for treatment of erythema migrans borreliosis. Lancet. 1990;336:1404-6. [PMID: 1978873] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. Seltzer EG, Gerber MA, Cartter ML, Freudigman K, Shapiro ED. Long-term outcomes of persons with Lyme disease. 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Sigal, MDAffiliations: Dr. Sigal: UMDNJ Robert Wood Johnson Medical School; New Brunswick, NJ 08903Acknowledgments: The author thanks all of the patients seen at The Lyme Disease Center for helping to teach us about Lyme disease and that which has been misdiagnosed as Lyme disease; the housestaff and rheumatology fellows of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, who have been of such great assistance in the care of these patients; the Clinic staff for their service to the patients; and the Division of Rheumatology staff for making all of this care and work possible.Grant Support: By the Morris L. Sigal Medical Research Foundation; Arthritis Foundation, New Jersey Chapter; and the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey Foundation.Corresponding Author: Leonard H. Sigal, MD, 1 Robert Wood Johnson Place, MEB 484, New Brunswick, NJ 08903-0019. 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