Mentor/s
Dr. Mark Jareb Dr. Amanda Moras
Participation Type
Paper Talk
Abstract
The prevalence and difficulty in diagnosing patients with Lyme disease has generated great concern as patients are left with chronic conditions that impair their ability to function in daily activities. While there is a clear consensus surrounding acute Lyme disease, the chronic form remains highly controversial, for it is this form that comes with misdiagnoses and failed treatments. As a result, patients experience stigma, financial issues, and psychological symptoms due to the burdensome search for help. Physicians do not view chronic Lyme disease as an existing disease or do not have the education to treat chronic Lyme disease, thus patients lack support and feel isolated. The endless appointments and treatment attempts leave patients and their families with increasing medical bills. These sociological and financial impacts create this negative experience which leads to the development of psychological symptoms that only worsen one’s condition. Thus there is a need for more efficient testing to be established and to eliminate these burdens. With methods such as the Lyme multiplex PCR-dot blot assay, Lyme immunoblot, and line immunoblot, patients can finally achieve an accurate diagnosis.
College and Major available
College of Arts and Sciences, Biology
Location
Session F: West Campus West Building W223I
Start Day/Time
4-29-2022 12:00 PM
End Day/Time
4-29-2022 1:00 PM
Prize Categories
Most Scholarly Impact or Potential
Why Don’t Many Physicians Believe in Chronic Lyme Disease? The Sociological and Psychological Impact This Places on Patients and the Need for Higher Sensitive Testing
Session F: West Campus West Building W223I
The prevalence and difficulty in diagnosing patients with Lyme disease has generated great concern as patients are left with chronic conditions that impair their ability to function in daily activities. While there is a clear consensus surrounding acute Lyme disease, the chronic form remains highly controversial, for it is this form that comes with misdiagnoses and failed treatments. As a result, patients experience stigma, financial issues, and psychological symptoms due to the burdensome search for help. Physicians do not view chronic Lyme disease as an existing disease or do not have the education to treat chronic Lyme disease, thus patients lack support and feel isolated. The endless appointments and treatment attempts leave patients and their families with increasing medical bills. These sociological and financial impacts create this negative experience which leads to the development of psychological symptoms that only worsen one’s condition. Thus there is a need for more efficient testing to be established and to eliminate these burdens. With methods such as the Lyme multiplex PCR-dot blot assay, Lyme immunoblot, and line immunoblot, patients can finally achieve an accurate diagnosis.
Students' Information
Jocelyn Jernegan: Biology major, Honors and Chemistry minor, 2022