A closer look at Lyme disease

Diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease can be rather intricate. Early recognized Lyme disease following a tick bite responds well to treatment with antibiotics. However, the picture becomes more complex in patients who suffer from later and more severe stages of the disease, or in patients who exhibit long-term complaints that are not typical of Lyme disease. A differentiated approach based on carefully weighed treatment options for different groups of patients is therefore indicated. This is one of the main points contained in the Dutch Health Council’s report A closer look at Lyme disease, that has been presented to the Lower House of the Dutch Parliament on 26 June 2013. It is based on the best available knowledge and uses the experiences of all those involved.

Committee

Prof. S.W.J. Lamberts, Emeritus Professor of Internal Medicine, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, chairperson
Prof. P.J. van den Broek, Emeritus Professor of Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden
Dr. N.D. van Burgel, medical microbiologist, HagaZiekenhuis (Haga Hospital), The Hague
Prof. H. van der Horst, Professor of General Practice and Elderly Care Medicine, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam
Dr. K.E. Hovius, veterinary surgeon, ‘t Heike animal clinic, Veldhoven
Prof. M.J.H. Huibers, Professor of Empirically-driven Psychotherapy, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam
B. van Kooten, Neurologist, Gelreziekenhuizen (Gelre Hospitals), Apeldoorn
Prof. B.J. Kullberg, Professor of Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen
Prof. J.W.M. van der Meer, Emeritus Professor of Internal Medicine, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen
Dr. H. Sprong, Project Leader, tick-transmitted diseases, Centre for Infectious Disease Control Netherlands, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven
J. Leek, deputy, Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, The Hague, observer
C. Schenk, Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, The Hague, observer
Dr. M.F.M. Langelaar, Health Council, The Hague, scientific secretary (till 01-04-2012)
C.A. Dondorp, Health Council, The Hague, scientific secretary
Dr. K. Groeneveld, Health Council, The Hague, scientific secretary
Dr. V.W.T. Ruiz van Haperen, Health Council, The Hague, scientific secretary

This publication may be cited as follows

Health Council of the Netherlands. A closer look at Lyme disease. The Hague: Health Council of the Netherlands, 2013; publication no. 2013/12. ISBN  978-90-5549-999-1