The delayed diagnosis of women raises their vulnerability to Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses.
Does Biological Sex Matter in Lyme Disease? The Need for Sex-Disaggregated Data in Persistent Illness
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Study on Sex-Based Differences in Lyme Disease
The present study, which was conducted by LymeDisease.org, a research and advocacy organization, assessed sex-based differences in Lyme disease patients who remained ill for six months or more after antibiotic treatment. In addition to responses from 2,170 patients enrolled in MyLymeData, the researchers reviewed other Lyme disease studies to evaluate the distribution of patients by sex, stage of illness, data source, and enrollment criteria. Analysis of the study data revealed several important insights. Women reported a higher prevalence of tick-borne co-infections, more severe symptoms, longer diagnostic delays, increased misdiagnoses, and greater functional impairment compared to men. However, no significant differences were observed in antibiotic treatment response or side effects. The majority of both men and women who were treated with antibiotics reported improvement.
Lyme Disease - Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment, Prevention
Lyme disease is acquired through the bite of a tick that is infected with the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi.
Lyme disease is acquired through the bite of a tick that is infected with the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi.
‘Lyme disease may be more likely to develop in women. #lymedisease #tickborne’
Lyme disease is a tick-borne infection caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, a corkscrew-shaped bacteria known as a spirochete. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that over 476,000 people are diagnosed with the illness each year in the United States (2✔ ✔Trusted Source How many people get Lyme disease?
Go to source). That makes new cases of Lyme disease more common than breast cancer, HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis combined in this country.
According to LymeDisease.org CEO Lorraine Johnson, lead author of the study, "We need to find out why more women than men develop persistent Lyme disease. But we must also determine whether biological variables play a role as they do in other infectious diseases."
"Science has ignored gender-based differences in research for far too long," said Dr. Raphael Stricker, the study's senior author. "Our findings underscore the need for greater consideration of gender-specific factors in Lyme disease research in order to improve outcomes for all patients."
Exploring the Benefits of Antibiotic Treatment for Lyme Disease
Antibiotic treatment for six and longer months was found to be effective in kids with Lyme disease, the vector-borne disease.
Antibiotic treatment for six and longer months was found to be effective in kids with Lyme disease, the vector-borne disease.
- Does Biological Sex Matter in Lyme Disease? The Need for Sex-Disaggregated Data in Persistent Illness - (https://www.dovepress.com/does-biological-sex-matter-in-lyme-disease-the-need-for-sex-disaggrega-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-IJGM)
- How many people get Lyme disease? - (https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/stats/humancases.html)
New Research Aims to Improve Lyme Disease Diagnostics
Raman spectroscopy technique is used to detect vibrations at the molecular level, as a diagnostic tool for Lyme disease.
Raman spectroscopy technique is used to detect vibrations at the molecular level, as a diagnostic tool for Lyme disease.
New Model Helps Notice Unreported Lyme Disease Cases
Researchers have drawn on 17 years of data to develop a new model that identifies areas in which the tick-borne illness is likely to emerge.
Researchers have drawn on 17 years of data to develop a new model that identifies areas in which the tick-borne illness is likely to emerge.
