Millions of Americans live with infection-associated chronic conditions and illnesses, including long COVID, ME/CFS, and Lyme disease–associated chronic symptoms; conditions that are often debilitating, misunderstood, and under-recognized.
In a new Clinical Infectious Diseases viewpoint, CAPT Iskander and Dr. Haridopolos of the Office of the U.S. Surgeon General call for making these “invisible illnesses” visible through patient-centered care, stronger surveillance, multidisciplinary management, and continued research investment.
The article emphasizes the importance of validating patients’ lived experiences while advancing evidence-informed care to improve outcomes for people living with these complex chronic conditions.