Chronic Lyme Disease or Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome (PTLDS) Is a Misnomer for Focal Infection?

The complete clinical spectrum of Lyme borreliosis has been known for nearly 50 years. However, this long period has not been sufficient to clarify the diagnosis of the disease. Lyme foundations have emerged, publishing and disseminating guidelines independent of scientific consensus on the internet. These guidelines publish a wide range of symptoms. While many of these are likely to be inaccurate, there is a cluster of symptoms that is usually referred to in scientific publications as post-Lyme or post treatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS) and is called in the popular media as "chronic Lyme disease". Among these symptoms, severe fatigue, brain fog, cognitive decline, memory impairment, joint and muscle pain, limb numbness, headaches, and low-grade fever are the most common. The scientific evidence of this disease is missing. Based on the experience of the leading author of this study, behind the diagnosis of "chronic Lyme disease" or PTLDS there is an underlying focal infection, most commonly chronic tonsillitis and chronic parodontal or periodontal disease. This paper aims to compile the supporting evidence for this hypothesis.