Some individuals with Lyme disease do not trust the COVID-19 vaccine. They are not alone. As the author points out, a December poll by the Pew Research Center reported that 71% of Black respondents knew someone who had been hospitalized or died from Covid-19, yet fewer than 50% of Black Americans polled would get the […]
Opinion: Low COVID-19 vaccine trust among Lyme disease patients Read More »
Welcome to another edition of Inside Lyme Podcast with Dr. Daniel Cameron. I will be discussing a case featuring a 16-year-old boy who exhibited cardiac symptoms, including palpitations and chest pain, due to Lyme disease. The boy was later diagnosed with Lyme carditis. By Dr. Daniel Cameron A 16-year-old male with Lyme disease presenting with
16-year-old male with Lyme disease presenting with palpitations and chest pain Read More »
Lyme disease patients often describe suffering from brain fog. So do COVID-19 patients. Sara Harrison wrote about COVID-19 brain fog in the online journal Wired. What are examples of COVID-19 brain fog? Dr. Aluko Hope from Montefiore Hospital in New York City described what he has learned from listening to COVID-19 patients. “About a third
Brain fog in COVID-19 and Lyme disease patients Read More »
COVID and Lyme disease symptoms overlap. The authors described complications reported in 153 COVID-19 patients in the UK, who had been admitted to the hospital with acute neurologic or psychiatric complications. Treating clinicians included specialists in neurology, stroke, psychiatry, and intensive care. More than 9 out of 10 patients had a positive COVID-19 test. The
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Changes in smell have been described in COVID-19 and Lyme disease. According to Parma and colleagues, “A sudden loss of smell [and] taste is consistent with the now typical presentation of COVID-19 symptoms, it is highly probable that COVID-19 infection is the main reason of their smell and taste change.” [2] Patients with other illnesses,
Changes in smell can be a sign of COVID-19 and Lyme disease Read More »
A broad range of factors associated with mental health problems in COVID-19 that have been seen in individuals with Lyme disease were identified in an epidemiologic review. “Age, gender, marital status, education, occupation, income, place of living, close contact with people with COVID-19, comorbid physical and mental health problems, exposure to COVID-19 related news and
Perspective: Lyme disease patients’ mental and physical health in a COVID-19 pandemic Read More »
The Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA) and the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS) have each published their own set of evidence-based treatment guidelines. IDSA guidelines recommend a short course of antibiotics, typically 14 to 30 days. IDSA argues that the Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria does not persist in a patient beyond this timeframe
What are treatments for Lyme disease? Read More »
The symptoms of Lyme disease can be severe and persist for year. Patients often report having extreme fatigue, sleep disturbances, mood disturbances, poor memory and concentration, headaches, dizziness, neck pain, tingling in hands and feet, and joint pain. Chronic and debilitating manifestations have been described, such as: Lyme encephalopathy 1,3 Lyme neuropathy 4 Neuropsychiatric Lyme disease 5
How long do symptoms of Lyme disease last? Read More »
COVID-19 long-haulers can individuals with Lyme disease can share frustrations. “I have all the symptoms of a COVID-19 long-hauler — but I’m hesitant to identify myself as one,” writes Pooja Yerramilli in StatNews.¹ His symptoms were typical of patients with COVID-19. “The relentless dry cough and fatigue were followed by shortness of breath.” But his
COVID-19 long-haulers and Lyme disease patients share similar frustrations Read More »
In their study, “Frequent neurologic manifestations and encephalopathy‐associated morbidity in Covid‐19 patients,” Liotta and colleagues describe neurologic manifestations in 509 patients with confirmed COVID-19.¹ The authors sought to identify the incidence of neurologic complications in COVID-19 patients. The study found: More than 8 out of 10 COVID-19 patients suffered from neurologic complications. Nearly 1 out
Opinion: Neurologic problems in Lyme disease also seen in COVID-19 Read More »
