Eli5: Why is there such a big controversy about the existence of chronic lyme infections?
In: Biology
Post viral/bacterial chronic illnesses are controversial because no one is quite sure what is going on. What actual damage if any remains behind after the original disease is gone.
There even been a suggestion that there isn’t so much left over damage as the body has a sort of regulation system (that forces you conserve energy etc when ill) that has been ‘reset’ leaving normal activity to seem exhausting even though there’s nothing else left wrong with you.
But what is most controversial is the extent , if any, to which the left over effects can be characterised psychological. And whether it can be improved by the sorts of things we use in psychological cases such as maybe anti-depressants , cognitive behaviour therapy, or little steps increasing exercise. There is some deeply disposed evidence that for example cognitive behavioural therapy might help.
Why controversial – because those suffering feel like from their symptoms perhaps having been dismissed as completely imaginary or malingering in the past , they now feel like it’s being suggested that they are mentally ill or even somehow their own fault?
At least that’s what I’ve picked up.
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