JWismille
2004-01-05 05:16:37 UTC
"Herxing"
Many patients who believe they have chronic Lyme disease are willing to endure
considerable discomfort in their effort to get rid of their symptoms. This
behavior is fostered by the misguided belief that antibiotic therapies are not
working unless they make the patient feel worse. These patients typically refer
to this condition as "herxing," a colloquial term for the Jarisch-Herxheimer
(J-H) reaction. This reaction is an acute response thought to be caused by a
sudden release of allergy-causing or toxic substances when certain organisms
(most notably the spirochete that causes syphilis) are attacked with
antibiotics.
About 10% of patients treated for early Lyme disease experience a J-H reaction
involving chills, fever, muscle pains, rapid heartbeat, and slight lowering of
blood pressure during the first 24 hours of antibiotic therapy. These usually
last for several hours, and require little more than aspirin and bed rest. Yet
many Lyme newsgroup participants write about a "herx" beginning days or weeks
after the start of antibiotic therapy, and "herxing" for weeks at a time --
often in a cyclic fashion." Herxing" events have even been likened to an
"exorcism" that is "a necessary evil to be endured." Some of these patients are
likely to be suffering from the side effects of their inappropriately
prescribed antibiotics. It is also safe to assume that the mistaken belief that
Lyme treatment involves temporary worsening will lead some people to neglect
other illnesses. Neurological symptoms, blurred vision, gastrointestinal upset,
vomiting, and palpitations, for example, should be reported to a physician, not
posted on the Internet with a request for comments.
WWW.QUACKWATCH.COM
Many patients who believe they have chronic Lyme disease are willing to endure
considerable discomfort in their effort to get rid of their symptoms. This
behavior is fostered by the misguided belief that antibiotic therapies are not
working unless they make the patient feel worse. These patients typically refer
to this condition as "herxing," a colloquial term for the Jarisch-Herxheimer
(J-H) reaction. This reaction is an acute response thought to be caused by a
sudden release of allergy-causing or toxic substances when certain organisms
(most notably the spirochete that causes syphilis) are attacked with
antibiotics.
About 10% of patients treated for early Lyme disease experience a J-H reaction
involving chills, fever, muscle pains, rapid heartbeat, and slight lowering of
blood pressure during the first 24 hours of antibiotic therapy. These usually
last for several hours, and require little more than aspirin and bed rest. Yet
many Lyme newsgroup participants write about a "herx" beginning days or weeks
after the start of antibiotic therapy, and "herxing" for weeks at a time --
often in a cyclic fashion." Herxing" events have even been likened to an
"exorcism" that is "a necessary evil to be endured." Some of these patients are
likely to be suffering from the side effects of their inappropriately
prescribed antibiotics. It is also safe to assume that the mistaken belief that
Lyme treatment involves temporary worsening will lead some people to neglect
other illnesses. Neurological symptoms, blurred vision, gastrointestinal upset,
vomiting, and palpitations, for example, should be reported to a physician, not
posted on the Internet with a request for comments.
WWW.QUACKWATCH.COM