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Koleżyńska B, Solarz K, Wieczorek W, Sagan D, Boroń D, Staszkiewicz R, Sobański D, Sirek T, Janik A, Łojko P, Grabarek BO. High Prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi Antibodies in Jaworzno, Poland: A Retrospective Study Revealing Endemic Lyme Borreliosis. Med Sci Monit 2024; 30:e943203. [PMID: 38327041 PMCID: PMC10863337 DOI: 10.12659/msm.943203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND This retrospective study of 704 adult residents of Jaworzno, Poland, aimed to evaluate medical personnel awareness of episodes of Lyme borreliosis and serum antibody levels for Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato. MATERIAL AND METHODS This study included 704 residents of Jaworzno, Poland, who had no more than 12 months between tick bite and screening. The study consisted of a self-designed questionnaire survey and an analysis of IgG and IgM antibodies against B. burgdorferi sensu lato using an enzyme-linked assay (ELISA) and Western blot analysis, when necessary, to confirm the results. RESULTS A total of 558 residents (79.3%) confirmed having contact with a tick, 84 (11.9%) responded that they did not remember having contact with a tick, and 62 (8.8%) denied having contact with a tick. Regarding IgG, the ELISA showed 183 (25.99%) positive, 440 (62.5%) negative, and 81 (11.5%) equivocal results. Regarding IgM, the ELISA showed 180 (25.57%) positive, 435 (61.79%) negative, and 89 (12.64%) equivocal results. Positive and equivocal results for the IgG and IgM classes using the ELISA test were confirmed in 36 cases (13.64%) for IgG and in 53 cases (19.70%) for IgM using Western blot analysis. CONCLUSIONS The ELISA method obtained similar values for positive, negative, and equivocal results in the serological test. This was reflected in the survey conducted on residents who reported a tick bite and later received a positive result in the ELISA test as well as an approximate time between the bite and removal of the tick.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Koleżyńska
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine in Zabrze, Academy of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
- Distric Sanitary-Epidemiollogical Station in Sosnowiec, Sosnowiec, Poland
| | - Krzysztof Solarz
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences in Sosnowiec, Medical University of Silesia, Sosnowiec, Poland
| | | | - Dorota Sagan
- Department of Cosmetology, Medical Center Dormed Medical Spa, Busko Zdrój, Poland
| | - Dariusz Boroń
- Collegium Medicum, WSB University, Dąbrowa Górnicza, Poland
- Medical University of Maria Skłodowska-Curie, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Rafał Staszkiewicz
- Department of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine in Zabrze, Academy of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
- Department of Neurosurgery, 5 Military Clinical Hospital with the SP ZOZ Polyclinic in Cracow, Cracow, Poland
| | - Dawid Sobański
- Department of Neurosurgery, St. Raphael’s Hospital, Cracow, Poland
| | - Tomasz Sirek
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine in Zabrze, Katowice, Poland
| | - Anna Janik
- Collegium Medicum, WSB University, Dąbrowa Górnicza, Poland
| | - Piotr Łojko
- Medical University of Maria Skłodowska-Curie, Warsaw, Poland
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Fagen JL, Shelton JA, Luché-Thayer J. Medical Gaslighting and Lyme Disease: The Patient Experience. Healthcare (Basel) 2023; 12:78. [PMID: 38200984 PMCID: PMC10778834 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare12010078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Revised: 12/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Even though there are approximately half a million new cases of Lyme disease in the US annually, according to the CDC, it is often undiagnosed or misdiagnosed, which can result in a chronic, multisystemic condition. Lyme disease is a recognized public health threat and is a designated "notifiable disease". As such, Lyme disease is mandated to be reported by the CDC. Despite this, both acute and chronic Lyme disease (CLD) have been relegated to the category of "contested illnesses", which can lead to medical gaslighting. By analyzing results from an online survey of respondents with Lyme disease (n = 986), we elucidate the lived experiences of people who have been pushed to the margins of the medical system by having their symptoms attributed to mental illness, anxiety, stress, and aging. Further, respondents have had their blood tests and erythema migrans (EM) rashes discounted and were told that CLD simply does not exist. As a result, a series of fruitless consultations often result in the delay of a correct diagnosis, which has deleterious consequences. This is the first study that addresses an extensive range of gaslighting techniques experienced by this patient population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer L. Fagen
- Department of Sociology, Social Work, and Criminal Justice, Lamar University, P.O. Box 10026, Beaumont, TX 77710, USA
| | - Jeremy A. Shelton
- Department of Psychology, Lamar University, P.O. Box 10036, Beaumont, TX 77710, USA;
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