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Cavalier attitude towards Lyme infection
Some medical professionals and their patients have dismissed Lyme disease, believing the prevalence and potential damage a Lyme infection can cause is over-exaggerated. But what happens if your family is directly affected? A researcher from the University of Pennsylvania shares his story “Lemons and Lyme” in the Journal of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society.
Could POTS and Lyme disease patients suffer impaired cognitive function when standing?
Postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is a chronic form of orthostatic intolerance which affects circulation or blood flow. It’s typically triggered when a person suddenly stands up after lying down. The primary symptoms include lightheadedness, fainting and an uncomfortable, rapid increase in heartbeat.
No evidence single doxycycline dosage for Lyme disease prevention is effective in children
A recent article by Carriveau and colleagues recommends that a single dose of doxycycline should be prescribed to children following a tick bite to prevent Lyme disease.¹ Unfortunately, there is no evidence to support this recommendation.
Disseminated Lyme disease more likely in those with weakened immune system
Individuals with a weakened immune system are more susceptible to developing infections, such as COVID-19. A review study has also found that people with compromised immune systems are at a greater risk of developing disseminated Lyme disease. The authors of “Erythema Migrans: Course and Outcome in Patients Treated With Rituximab” investigated patients diagnosed with Lyme disease, who were also taking Rituximab, a medication known to impair immunity. [1]
New treatments for Lyme disease on the horizon?
Patients with Lyme disease are typically treated with a standard antibiotic, which may include doxycycline, amoxicillin, or cefuroxime, for a 2 to 4 week period. However, studies have shown that between 36-63% of treated patients continue to suffer with persistent symptoms. [1]
Central sensitization syndrome worsens Lyme disease symptoms?
Chronic pain, debilitating fatigue, and heightened sensory disturbances are common in Lyme disease patients. In their article, “Post-Treatment Lyme Syndrome and Central Sensitization,” Batheja and colleagues suggest that, in some cases, such symptoms may be due to central sensitization syndrome (CSS). [1]
Lyme disease increases risk of atrial fibrillation
Atrial fibrillation, the most common type of arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat), can increase your risk of strokes, heart disease or other heart-related complications. In many cases, atrial fibrillation is associated with a history of cardiac inflammation, writes Szymanska et al. in their article “History of Lyme Disease as a Predictor of Atrial Fibrillation.”
Late stage Lyme disease treatment might include azlocillin in the future.
A study by Stanford Medicine indicates that a drug called azlocillin “completely kills off the disease-causing bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi at the onset of the illness.” [1] In addition, the authors say, azlocillin “could be effective for treating [Lyme disease] patients infected with drug-tolerant bacteria that may cause lingering symptoms.”
Raccoons infected with Babesia microti in Texas
Babesiosis, caused most commonly by the tick-borne parasite Babesia microti, was first identified in the northeastern U.S. But its presence has not been recognized within Texas and “the molecular prevalence of these pathogens within the wildlife species is largely unknown,” writes Modarelli and colleagues. [1]
Is Lyme disease like the Tortoise in Aesop’s “The Tortoise and the Hare”?
Attendees at a public workshop, sponsored by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), discussed emerging tick-borne diseases and the possible threat to blood safety. During the event, Dr. David Leiby made an analogy comparing tick-borne diseases, including Lyme disease and arboviral agents/diseases to The Tortoise and the Hare, an Aesop Fable. [1]
