Yes, Dr. Birkmeier acknowledges the reality of persistent infections caused by Borrelia and other vector-borne pathogens. However, she believes the term "Chronic Lyme Disease" is misleading and doesn’t fully capture the complexity of these conditions.

Rethinking the Terminology

The debate around "Chronic Lyme" is largely a matter of semantics. To put it in perspective, consider Strep Throat—caused by Group A Strep bacteria. While a simple throat infection is one form of illness, this same bacteria can also lead to serious conditions like scarlet fever, rheumatic fever, and toxic shock syndrome. We don’t call those "Chronic Strep Throat"—they are separate but related conditions.

Similarly, Lyme disease was originally defined as an acute illness—identified by a tick bite, bull’s-eye rash, fever, joint pain, and fatigue caused by Borrelia burgdorferi. But when Borrelia or other vector-borne infections persist, causing long-term health issues, calling it “Chronic Lyme” doesn’t accurately reflect what’s happening. A more precise term might be Chronic Borreliosis or Infection-Associated Chronic Illness (IACI)—a term gaining recognition in the medical field, especially since COVID.

A Better Way to Communicate with Doctors

For those seeking medical care, using the right language can make a big difference, especially with conventionally trained physicians. Instead of saying “I have Chronic Lyme,” try this approach:

✅ “I have tested positive for [specific infection] via [test name and date].”

Unless you had the classic tick bite + bull’s-eye rash + fever + joint pain + fatigue, most doctors will not recognize your case as Lyme disease. Shifting the conversation toward documented test results and symptoms helps move past the semantics and toward getting the care you need.

At the end of the day, the focus should be on recognizing and treating persistent vector-borne infections—whatever we call them—so that patients can get the help they deserve.

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