Doctors complain about bad Lyme disease tests

Experts complain about deficient Lyme disease tests

05/04/2014

For the laboratory tests for the diagnosis of Lyme disease, experts demand improved quality standards. Above all, methodical deficits in the blood and nerve water tests are deplored by the German Borreliosis Society. In addition, experts recommend vaccinations against the tick-borne FSME.

Available tests are not sensitive enough
Experts call for improved quality standards in laboratory testing for the diagnosis of tick borne Lyme disease. Above all, methodical deficits in the blood and nerve water tests are deplored by the German Borreliosis Society. „The available tests are often not sensitive enough“, said the physician Karl Bechter from the Klinikum Günzburg at the annual meeting of the company in Erfurt. Therefore, especially with symptoms of the nervous system, such as nerve pain or paralysis symptoms, it is difficult to differentiate the infections from other diseases.

Lyme disease occurs nationwide in Germany
According to projections, tens of thousands of people in Germany every year suffer from Lyme disease. For Lyme disease, which is the most common tick-borne disease, there is no nationwide registration requirement. The Lyme disease cases are many times higher than the annual illnesses with tick-borne encephalitis (TBE). The Robert Koch Institute registered a total of 420 FSME cases nationwide last year. As the chairman of the professional society, Hartmut Prautzsch, said, unlike the virus disease FSME, which occurs mainly in southern Germany, the bacteria-induced Lyme disease in Germany widespread. However, not every tick is dangerous, only about every 100th tick bite is actually transmitted borreliosis.

There is no vaccine against Lyme disease
The most important early warning sign for Lyme disease is the so-called „migrans“ on the skin, this is a red rings around the puncture site. „In this case, you should go immediately to the doctor to start as soon as possible antibiotic treatment“, explained conference chair Bechter. Although there is no vaccine against Lyme disease, the disease can be treated with antibiotics. Around 150 experts from four European countries, the USA and Canada will be discussing the diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease in Erfurt until Saturday.

Experts advise to TBE vaccine
Also from Erfurt, more precisely from Jochen Süss from the Zecken Information Center Lippersdorf comes the advice, to better vaccine protection. Since the ticking season is already in full swing and with regard to the nationwide high number of meningitis after tick bites last year, he advises to TBE vaccine. Particularly in risk areas such as Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, South Hesse, South Thuringia, in the district of Birkenfeld in Rhineland-Palatinate and in the Saar-Palatinate district in the Saarland there is a risk for the uninoculated outdoors. Furthermore, there is a risk of TBE in Austria, Switzerland and the Baltic States. An infection is characterized by fever, headache, nausea and vomiting.

Three vaccinations required for basic immunization
In 1998 there were still 63 endangered regions, but by 2013 the number had increased to 241 risk areas. However, vaccination can be useful not only for people who live in such areas, but also for those who often go on holiday there. The primary vaccine against TBE requires three vaccinations. The second dose is given four to twelve weeks after the first, and about two weeks after the second vaccination, the body has enough defenses for a few months. For those who want to protect themselves for longer, the Federal Center for Health Education (BZgA) recommends that a third vaccine be administered after nine to twelve months. A refresher would then be due, depending on the age, every three to five years.

Virus is transmitted immediately
Why a vaccination can make sense, also knows the neurologist Andreas Steinbrecher from Helios Hospital Erfurt: „Everything can be too late at the sting.“ The TBE virus will be transmitted immediately. In contrast, there is the Lyme disease, in which the bacterium only after hours from the intestine of the host animal into the bloodstream of man to get. For this reason too, it is important to immediately remove ticks, ideally with fine tweezers, as far as possible without any rotational movement or pinching of the teat body. (Ad)