Chronic Lyme disease

Chronic Lyme disease is a self-applied diagnosis some people use for nonspecific symptoms such as fatigue, muscle pain and cognitive difficulty, in the absence of evidence of an actual Lyme disease infection. Mainstream medical authorities, including the Infectious Diseases Society of America, the American Academy of Neurology and the National Institutes of Health, broadly reject both the label and the claim that these symptoms stem from persistent Borrelia infection, stating there is no convincing evidence Borrelia is involved. The term is distinct from post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome, which describes documented lingering symptoms after successful antibiotic treatment of a confirmed case, whereas chronic Lyme disease is diagnosed through symptom checklists so broad that researchers note they can apply to nearly anyone. These authorities advise against long-term antibiotic treatment for the condition because it is ineffective and carries serious risks such as septic shock, and researchers instead suggest the attributed symptoms more likely stem from fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome, conditions that may be triggered but are not caused by infection and do not respond to antibiotics.