: Use search engine to find Professor Garth Nicolson (make sure of spelling) at the Institute for Molecular Medicine in California. I would recommend this reading for anyone who has any kind of illness. Make your own judgement, fact or fiction - a cure?

found exerpt from recent
Second World Congress on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Related Disorders Brussels, 9-12 September, 1999
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MICROBIOLOGY
Garth Nicolson (California) discussed diagnosis and treatment of cell-invasive mycoplasmal infections in CFS and related diseases. Consideration was given as to whether these infections are causative, cofactors or opportunistic. Mycoplasma penetrates right into the cells and plays havoc with the mitochondria. This leads to many symptoms. The most reliable and highly sensitive method of detection is by forensic PCR. 50% of those suffering from Gulf War Illness (GWI) and family members with similar symptoms had evidence of mycoplasmal infections inside the leucocytes. In non-deployed healthy adults the incidence was 0 - 6%. M.Fermentans was the most common species found.
Successful treatment of positive patients with longterm antibiotics was reviewed. Relapse was common in early cycles of treatment, but after up to seven 6-week cycles, those who were symptom free tested negative to mycoplasma. 60% CFS/FM patients tested positive for mycoplasma compared to 6% of controls. Rheumatoid arthritic patients also tested 45% positive. It was concluded that treatment of these chronic conditions with antibiotics, oxidative therapy and nutritional supplements had potential for slow recovery. There were warnings about not using penicillin because of the increasing risk of reactions, including anaphylaxis.

comment:
This may be promising but I'm not sure I can condone long term use of antibiotics, because of side effects. The thought of a trial of a six week course appears to be a new option

Dr Alpert