Chronic fatigue of Millie, outlined by her father Patrick Barcham, is heartbreaking (When my daughter became more painful and more painful, our desire for answers dragged on. How did we all miss the bacteria, capturing her body?, 28, September) Patrick says that he feels guilty, but he is not guilty: NHS failed them.
In the absence of clear explanations and effective solutions, it is quite clear that families can turn to various commercial versions of drugs. While the faith and optimism of Patrick can really help Millie to restore, there is no reliable evidence connecting chronic Borrelia infection of its symptoms; And the effectiveness of long -term antibiotics was not demonstrated.
The depletion of Millie is typical for a group of states known as “constant physical symptoms”. They arise when biological protection systems developing to save us safe, go. The approaches that work for many are based on knowledge of how the brain, thoughts, feelings and activities interact. This knowledge is explained by patients in the dialogue, connecting stressors to the danger of hazard signals generated by the brains; And this becomes an integral part of the agreed, to order a rehabilitation plan. It was shown that this approach is effective, including in two well -conducted, recent tests from Norway, one for people with Condition of post-oksAnd one for people with “From a medical point of view, inexplicable symptoms“
Unfortunately, it seems that the income of the million and body was implemented in a non-optimal way. This made her feel responsible for her symptoms, and not understand that they arise from the natural answers of the body. Such a feeling of guilt can prevent restoration and should have been carefully considered.
Professor Paul Garner Liverpool school of tropical medicine
Dr. Maria Pedersen University Hospital Oslo and University Oslo
Dr. Alaster Miller Former lead, neurological infection service, Liverpool Royal University Hospital
It was heartbreaking to read the story of Patrick Barkham about his daughter's illness, originally diagnosed as me/cfs (chronic fatigue syndrome), later discovered Lyme diseaseThe field was diagnosed with me/CFS in 2019, and I know too well the problems that medical gas and ineffective treatment options face. Nevertheless, the article says that they were “given ordinary tips about the rhythm – gradually an increase in physical exercises – which some groups of patients dispute.” This connects the stimulation (recognized and useful principle of energy management) with graduated physiotherapy (aimed at a gradual increase in the limits of the patient’s physical activity).
The latter is a mistaken principle of treatment, which is no longer part of the National Institute of Health and Care Treatment Guide From the fact that there is no proven clinical evidence of the benefit, and – worse – patients often reported that this caused their harm.
Tom Pond
London
I was intrigued that Patrick Barkham recognized his interest in nature as a medicine in his letter. I grew up in Canada during the stream of the Western Nile virus, which means that we knew that mosquitoes are a serious threat to health. Being an adult, I infected Chicunga, living in Cambodia, a grueling disease of mosquitoes that imitates rheumatoid arthritis.
I currently live on the Oxford Canal, which seeps mosquitoes at dusk. As the UK is getting warmer, we are more likely to see the invasion of mosquitoes, including those who carry tropical diseases. Cleaves are also growing. Along with this, we have a new culture of repeated green spaces, but I never hear any consideration of a changing climate, which means that this can ultimately become a medical risk.
Tropical diseases transferred by insects were historically ignored by medical research. Nevertheless, the consideration of how we can allow the biodiversity to prosper, and also given that interaction with invertebrates can mean for our health, is crucial.
Ellison Devri
Kidlington, Oxfordshire
