New Toolkit to Help Clinicians Better Serve Patients

Background

People with prolonged symptoms like fatigue, body aches, or difficulty thinking often seek help from healthcare providers to understand the cause of the symptoms and find treatment. These symptoms can follow different types of infections. Sometimes people wonder if Lyme disease is causing the prolonged symptoms. The American Medical Association (AMA), in partnership with CDC, developed a training and toolkit to help clinicians support their patients and address concerns and questions.

The Challenge

Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne disease in the United States, and its geographic range is expanding. Although most people diagnosed with Lyme disease recover completely when treated with a short course of antibiotics, some can have prolonged symptoms of fatigue, body aches, or difficulty thinking. Studies have found that 6 months after treatment these symptoms are 5-10% more common among people who have had Lyme disease than among people who have not.

About the Toolkit

The toolkit gathers best practices and guidance from CDC, medical professional societies including American Academy of Neurology (AAN), American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (AAPM&R), American College of Rheumatology (ACR), Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), and practicing clinicians to provide better care for patients with prolonged symptoms and concerns about Lyme disease.

The toolkit includes

• Expert interviews
• A free CME module on caring for patients with prolonged symptoms and concerns about Lyme disease
• Resources for patients and clinicians

Prolonged or recurring symptoms, no matter the cause, can lead to considerable suffering. It's important that healthcare providers engage with patients who are seeking help, thoroughly evaluate potential diagnoses, and support patients and their families as they learn how to manage these symptoms.