Chronic Lyme Disease: A Survey of Connecticut Primary Care Physicians

• Published in: The Journal of pediatrics 2010-12, Vol.157 (6), p.1025-1029.e2
• Main Authors: Johnson, Michael, MD, Feder, Henry M., MD
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bacterial diseases; Biological and medical sciences; Borrelia; Borrelia infections; Child; Chronic Disease; Connecticut; Family Practice; General aspects; Health participants; Human bacterial diseases; Humans; Infectious diseases; Internal Medicine; Lyme Disease - diagnosis; Lyme Disease - epidemiology; Lyme Disease - therapy; Medical sciences; Pediatrics; Primary Health Care; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Tropical bacterial diseases
• ISSN: 0022-3476; 1097-6833
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2010.06.031

Objective To determine how frequently Connecticut primary care physicians are diagnosing and treating patients with chronic Lyme disease. Study design A survey was mailed to a random 33% sample of primary care physicians in Connecticut, which asked how many cases of Lyme disease and chronic Lyme disease they diagnosed and treated in the last 3 years. Results The survey had a response rate of 39.1%. Physician respondents (n = 285) fit in one of 3 groups. Group 1 included 6 of 285 (2.1%) physicians who diagnose and treat patients with chronic Lyme disease. Group 2 included 137 of 285 (48.1%) physicians who are undecided on the existence of chronic Lyme disease, but did not diagnose or treat any patients with chronic Lyme disease. Group 3 included 142 of 285 (49.8%) physicians who do not believe in the existence of chronic Lyme disease. Conclusion A small percentage (2.1%) of primary care physicians diagnose and treat patients for presumed chronic Lyme disease.