ABSTRACT
It has been suggested that chronic Lyme disease infection might trigger an autoimmune response, although there is considerable controversy around this issue (Rowe, 2000). Specifically, the possibility that symptoms can persist following successful antibiotic treatment, with no objective evidence of ongoing infection, is a focus of debate. It has been proposed by some that this state of “chronic Lyme disease,” defined as persisting symptoms in the absence of objective findings of infection, can cause a constellation of nonspecific symptoms, which include chronic fatigue, depression, and cognitive impairment (Westervelt & McCaffrey, 2002). These subjective complaints sometimes lead to disability compensation claims, due to an alleged inability to work.
