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Health Services Provision

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 14 February 2018

Wednesday, 14 February 2018

Ceisteanna (156)

Eugene Murphy

Ceist:

156. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Health the progress that has been made in regard to the inadequacies of the diagnosis, testing and treatment of Lyme disease here since the public rallies on the issue in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7556/18]

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Freagraí scríofa

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection transmitted to humans by bites from infected ticks infected. The infection is generally mild affecting only the skin but can occasionally be more severe and highly debilitating. Lyme disease is diagnosed by medical history and physical examination and can be a difficult diagnosis to make in cases which do not develop the characteristic rash. The infection is confirmed by blood tests which look for antibodies produced by an infected person's body in response to the infection. These normally take several weeks to develop and may not be present in the early stages of the disease.

Testing for Lyme disease is available in each of the HSE’s Hospital Groups, who have a number of Infectious Disease Consultants who are expert in the diagnosis and management of the disease. Laboratories in Ireland generally follow the laboratory testing recommendations of the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, the Infectious Disease Society of America, the European Federation of Neurological Societies, and the British Infection Association. Irish laboratories have their own quality assurance methods to make sure the tests are working correctly as well as being accredited by the Irish National Accreditation Body to perform the test correctly. In undertaking Lyme testing, it is essential that the results are interpreted in the light of the clinical condition of the patient. If the result of this initial screen is equivocal, the patient's samples are referred to the U.K.'s Rare and Imported Pathogens Laboratory. This laboratory uses a two-tier system recommended by American and European authorities which involves a screening test followed by a confirmatory test. Testing which is performed abroad may be performed in laboratories which have not met National or International Accreditation (Quality Standards) and these tests may be more likely to give a “false positive” result.

Lyme disease can be very successfully treated using common antibiotics by General Practitioners. In Ireland, treatment by most clinicians is based on that laid out in evidence-based guidelines published by the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) in 2006. Antibiotics are effective at clearing the rash and helping to prevent the development of complications, and are generally given for up to three weeks. If complications develop, intravenous antibiotics may be considered.

As accredited testing and treatment are readily available in Ireland, there is no need for anyone to travel abroad for diagnosis or treatment.

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