Lyme disease and multiple sclerosis are sometimes so similar in presentation that misdiagnosis and years of consequent suffering are not unheard of. This is frightening as both diseases have the capacity to cause extensive damage if misdiagnosed for years. For both diseases, the best chance for patients lies in correct and early diagnosis and treatment.

MS, Lyme Disease and the Possibility of Misdiagnosis

The primary overlap between Lyme disease and multiple sclerosis occurs in the area of symptoms. In both diseases, patients can present with optic neuritis, weakness, fatigue, cognitive dysfunction, depression and abnormal sensations associated with nervous system problems (e.g. prickling, burning, stabbing pains, and itching). Additionally, MRI scans can show similar results for Lyme disease and multiple sclerosis patients, namely, the appearance of lesions in the white matter of the central nervous system. Cerebrospinal fluid analyses can be equally misleading. To add to this array of …