Lyme Disease:
Lyme disease is an infection caused by the spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi. It is often transmitted by infected ticks and can present with a multitude of symptoms that may include fatigue, headache, joint pain, and cognitive complaints, among many others. Laboratory tests can help confirm diagnosis, but a negative test does not rule it out entirely. There are two standards of care in Lyme disease, with two different opinions in the medical community about how to best diagnose and treat Lyme disease.
Tick Borne Co-Infections:
Ticks can carry and transmit multiple infectious agents, including Babesia spp, Bartonella spp, Ehrlichia, Anaplasma, Rickettsia, and Tick-borne Relapsing Fever bacteria. Symptoms may include fatigue, headaches, cognitive complaints, and joint pain, among others. Although these infections can be stand-alone, they must be evaluated for in the presence of Lyme disease.
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS):
ME/CFS is a complex illness with multiple systemic complaints, including chronic fatigue not improved by rest and post exertional malaise. There is no specific diagnostic test to confirm ME/CFS; therefore medical providers must take into consideration a patient’s medical history and symptoms. We use an integrated approach treating infections, mold, mitochondrial, metabolic, and genetic factors contributing to this syndrome. Patients are not able to function at the same capacity as prior to their illness. The Institute of Medicine reports that an estimated 836,000 to 2.5 million Americans suffer from ME/CFS, and that about 90 percent of people with ME/CFS have not been diagnosed.
Fibromyalgia:
Fibromyalgia is a condition described as widespread pain, often times with fatigue, sleep problems, cognitive complaints, and headaches. There is no one specific test to diagnose fibromyalgia, rather it is diagnosed with one’s medical history and physical exam.
Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS):
CIRS is a multi-systemic illness caused by exposure to biotoxins and neurotoxins. These toxins may be from water-damaged buildings, tick and spider bites, ingestion, or from directed contact of contaminated water. Some are genetically susceptible to these toxins, leaving the exposure to cause an inflammatory response, leading to chronic illness.
Autism Spectrum Disorder:
Autism Spectrum Disorder is a developmental disorder characterized by a wide variance of one’s ability to communicate and his/her behavior. Many children with autism have been found to have a multitude of conditions, including heavy metal toxicity, food intolerances, and chronic infections – bacterial, viral, parasitic, and fungal.
Pediatric Acute-Onset Neuropsychiatric Syndome (PANS):
PANS is a syndrome which is characterized by neuropsychiatric symptoms including obsessive-compulsive behavior, tics, anxiety, fear, mood swings, personality changes, decline in school performance, and sleep disturbances. Exposure to various agents may trigger the immune system to react inappropriately, resulting in an inflammatory, autoimmune response in the brain.