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Washington, D.C. --- At a time when conflicting opinions exist on the diagnosis of Lyme disease, U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, said today that he awaits an expert review panel's recommendations to determine the appropriate course of action on Lyme disease.
The review panel was created as part of an agreement between the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) and Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal to revisit guidelines established in 2006 for the diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease. In order to avoid conflicts of interest, an independent ombudsman was also appointed to ensure that the review panel's recommendations provide accurate information based on the best available scientific and medical findings.
In a letter to Attorney General Blumenthal, the New Jersey congressman wrote that "there appear to be some strong differences of opinion in the treatment of Lyme disease, and I appreciate that all interested stakeholders will have an opportunity to have their points of view heard through planned public presentations and submission of information as part of the review panel."
A minority group of physicians support the theory of chronic Lyme disease and long-term antibiotic treatments, while the IDSA, with a membership of 8,000 medical specialists, established the guidelines that concluded Lyme disease was not chronic. Instead, IDSA found that Lyme disease is a short-term illness treatable over a six to eight week period.
"I am committed to working with my colleagues in Congress to take the appropriate action to assist in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of this devastating disease," Pallone said. "At a time when significant disagreements exist on treatment, I am hopeful that the panel's final recommendations will give us guidance on how best to proceed so that we can help all of those suffering from Lyme disease."
The New Jersey congressman is also working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to evaluate current programs on prevention, testing and treatment for Lyme disease.
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