Can Lyme disease cause cognitive dysfunction or dementia?
Welcome to another Inside Lyme Podcast with your host Dr. Daniel Cameron. In this episode, Dr. Cameron will be discussing a paper that addresses the question, “Can Lyme disease cause objective cognitive dysfunction or dementia?”
One year after infection, patient shows signs of Lyme meningitis
Sudden sensorineural hearing loss can be due to various factors but most often, the exact cause is unknown. This case report describes how undiagnosed Lyme disease with neuroborreliosis could induce sudden sensorineural hearing loss and facial nerve palsy – as long as one year after the infection with Borrelia burgdorferi.
Use of disulfiram for Lyme disease
Disulfiram, a drug intended to deter alcohol abuse, has been introduced as a potential treatment for Lyme disease. In their review article, “Disulfiram: A Repurposed Drug in Preclinical and Clinical Development for the Treatment of Infectious Diseases,” Custodio and colleagues examine studies regarding the use of disulfiram as an antimicrobial agent for post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome, as well as an intervention for COVID-19 infections and as an HIV latency reversal agent. [1]
Neurological manifestations of Babesiosis
Babesiosis is an infectious disease caused by Babesia, microscopic parasites that infect a person’s red blood cells. Babesia can be transmitted through the bite of an infected deer tick. In their study, Venigalla and colleagues highlight the severe neurologic symptoms which occurred in two individuals with the disease. [1]
Mother describes challenges in getting treatment for newborn with Lyme disease
In the Canadian Medical Association Journal, Victoria Saigle, a nurse, described the difficulties in getting the care she needed for her newborn child (only 4 lbs.) with Lyme disease. [1] She is not alone.
Can Lyme disease trigger a cascade of costly, unnecessary tests?
In an article published in JAMA Internal Medicine, Dr. Meredith Niess described a case where routine medical tests triggered a cascade of costly, unnecessary care.
Anesthetic concerns for Lyme disease patients
Some Lyme disease patients require anesthetic evaluation before a procedure. Tammy Smit, MSNA, CRNA discussed a helpful approach for patients who required anesthesia for a surgical procedure in the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA) journal. [1]
Lyme disease and herxheimer reaction in newborn
The Herxheimer reaction, also referred to as a Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction, is "a transient clinical phenomenon that occurs in patients infected by spirochetes who undergo antibiotic treatment."¹ It was first described in patients with syphilis but has also been associated with other spirochetal infections including leptospirosis, Lyme disease, and relapsing fever. The reaction is associated with the onset of new symptoms or a worsening of existing symptoms in patients receiving antibiotic treatment.
Successful removal of pacemakers in patients with Lyme carditis
Some patients with Lyme carditis may require a pacemaker for conduction abnormalities. In a recent study, investigators described the successful removal of pacemakers in two patients with Lyme carditis who recovered normal atrioventricular node conduction.
Neck pain in a child with Lyme disease due to radiculoneuritis
Doctors typically look for Bell’s palsy or erythema migrans rash when diagnosing Lyme disease. However, Baker and colleagues described a 10-year-old boy with Lyme disease with neck pain without Bell’s palsy or an erythema migrans rash. [1]
