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16-year-old male with Lyme disease presenting with palpitations and chest pain
Welcome to an Inside Lyme Podcast. I will be discussing the case of a 16-year-old male with Lyme disease presenting with palpitations and chest pain. Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal written by Glanternik and colleagues in 2017.
Brain fog in COVID-19 and Lyme disease patients
COVID-19 patients report having brain fog, as do patients with Lyme disease. Brain fog can be a common symptom following an infection, Marie Grill, a neurologist at the Mayo Clinic tells Wired magazine. There are several theories regarding the cause of brain fog, including immune dysfunction, a reaction to a cocktail of medications, changes in blood flow to the brain, and post-traumatic stress.
COVID-19 and Lyme disease symptoms overlap
There are a growing number of COVID-19 symptoms. Many of them, including neurological and psychiatric complications, overlap with symptoms of Lyme disease. Varatharaj and colleagues described neurological and neuropsychiatric complications of COVID-19 in an article published online in Lancet Psychiatry. [1]
Changes in smell can be a sign of COVID-19 and Lyme disease
Patients with COVID-19 often report changes in smell, including a loss of smell. In fact, an estimated 80% of patients have smell disturbances. “Smell loss is so common in people with the disease that some researchers have recommended its use as a diagnostic test because it may be a more reliable marker than fever or other symptoms,” writes Sutherland in Scientific America. [1]
Perspective: Lyme disease patients’ mental and physical health in a COVID-19 pandemic
People from around the world are gripped with worry about the COVID-19 pandemic as an increasing number of studies report long-lasting illnesses and mental health problems among some patients. Lyme disease patients can identify, as many express apprehension over their own mental health during the pandemic.
What are treatments for Lyme disease?
As the number of cases grows, knowing what treatments there are for Lyme disease is becoming increasingly important. Unfortunately, there simply isn’t a one-size-fits-all treatment protocol for patients infected with Lyme disease and/or co-infections. This is why it’s critical for physicians treating Lyme disease to invest time with patients, thoroughly understand their medical history, and closely monitor symptoms and treatment response. With that in mind, there are currently two different treatment approaches for Lyme disease.
How long do symptoms of Lyme disease last?
The symptoms of Lyme disease can last a long time. A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine indicates that patients with chronic neurologic Lyme disease were ill for up to 14 years. [1] Two additional studies sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) found that people with chronic manifestations of Lyme disease were ill an average of 4.7 and 9 years. [2,3]
COVID-19 long-haulers and Lyme disease patients share similar frustrations
As I was reviewing an opinion article by Pooja Yerramilli, a resident physician in the global medicine/internal medicine program at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, I recognized the frustrations expressed by COVID-19 patients, as many of my Lyme disease patients have found themselves in similar situations.
Opinion: Neurologic problems in Lyme disease also seen in COVID-19
Doctors have been describing neurologic problems in Lyme disease patients for decades. Thirty years ago, Lyme encephalopathy and Lyme neuropathy were discussed in the New England Journal of Medicine. Since then other neurologic problems in Lyme disease have been described including Neuropsychiatric Lyme disease and Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS). Now, patients with COVID-19 are reportedly experiencing neurologic problems.
Behaviors for the prevention of Lyme disease vary between regions
Personal protective equipment, commonly referred to as "PPE", have been introduced to minimize exposure to the COVID-19 virus. Personal Protective Measures (PPM) have been introduced to minimize exposure to ticks and assist in the prevention of Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses.
