What are chronic infections?
Infectious diseases that do not heal acutely but persist in the body for long periods and can flare up repeatedly.
Subacute recurrent infections
By chronic infections we understand infectious diseases that do not heal acutely, but persist in the body for long periods and can flare up repeatedly (so-called subacute recurrent infections). Such infections often progress insidiously and can cause a variety of different symptoms in different organs - therefore they are often misinterpreted by the environment or even by doctors.
Zoonoses are not exotic exceptions. In our globalized world, they are the rule we often overlook.
Examples of chronic infectious pathogens
Borrelia burgdorferi
highCausative agent of Lyme borreliosis
Rickettsia species
highe.g. causative agent of spotted fever and presumably involved in CFS
Babesia
mediumA protozoan, causes babesiosis - malaria-like symptoms
Bartonella
mediumresponsible for cat scratch disease among others, can cause chronic fatigue
Ehrlichia/Anaplasma
mediuminfect white blood cells, transmitted through tick bites
Chlamydia
mediumcan trigger chronic inflammation, e.g. in joints
Mycoplasma
mediume.g. Mycoplasma pneumoniae, can cause chronic respiratory complaints
Coxiella burnetii
mediumcausative agent of Q fever, can become chronic
Borna Virus
lowcontroversial virus with neuropsychiatric symptoms
Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV)
highremains in the body after initial infection, can trigger other diseases
Co-infections are the rule
Often chronically infected patients have multiple infections. Especially with tick-borne diseases, this is more the rule than the exception. A recent survey among patients with chronic Lyme disease found that over 50% of them have laboratory-confirmed co-infections - often with Babesia, Bartonella or Ehrlichia.
Why do these infections often remain undetected?
Chronic infections pose special challenges to medicine
Multisystem progression
Affect many organs simultaneously and mimic other diseases
The great imitator
Lyme disease is called this because symptoms are non-specific and mimic other diseases
Autoimmune-like symptoms
Can produce rheumatic complaints or multiple sclerosis-like symptoms
Inadequate tests
Standard laboratory tests often not sensitive enough, especially after acute phase
Seronegative Lyme disease
Antibody tests can be negative even though pathogens persist in tissue
The problem with routine medicine
Today's routine medicine has no clear diagnostic markers for post-Lyme syndrome (persistent symptoms after antibiotic therapy) and often no therapeutic concept - many patients are then treated with painkillers or antidepressants.
The whole person in focus
We consider the whole person and the entire complexity of the infection. Every chronic infection case is different - depending on the pathogen mix, immune status and other factors.
„Chronic infections are curable, but only if they are perceived and treated in their complexity and interaction“
Learn more about our main topics
In the following sections we dedicate ourselves to our two main topics in detail
Lyme Disease Infection (Lyme Borreliosis)
Comprehensive information about the "great imitator" and its complex symptoms
CFS - Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Understand the connections between infections and chronic fatigue
You don’t have to face your questions alone.
Chronic infections require in-depth knowledge and individual solutions. Our experts guide you toward the right diagnosis.
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