Dr. Daniel Cameron

Lyme disease causes diaphragm paralysis, resulting in breathing problems According to the authors, diaphragm paralysis as a complication of Lyme disease was first reported in 1986. Since then, there have only been 4 cases involving bilateral paralysis of the diaphragm, which can cause breathing problems in patients.  “… the presented case will be the fifth […]

Lyme-induced cardiac problems persist despite antibiotic treatment The young woman was admitted to the emergency department with acute pleuritic chest pain and shortness of breath. (Pleuritic chest pain is characterized by sudden and intense sharp, stabbing, or burning pain in the chest when inhaling and exhaling.) The woman exhibited only mild tachycardia (100/min). However, “Considering

Case report: Meningitis secondary to Lyme disease Lyme disease aseptic meningitis can present as normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) with dementia, confusion, and gait disturbance — leading doctors to miss the underlying infection. An 80-year-old man in Pennsylvania developed progressive weakness, confusion, nausea, and fatigue over several days. CSF studies showed aseptic meningitis, CT scan revealed

Borrelia antibodies found in patients with coronary heart disease How many patients who underwent surgery for coronary heart disease (CHD) had evidence of a prior infection with Borrelia burgdorferi (the bacterium which causes Lyme disease)? A study by Pietruszka and colleagues, “Serologic Status of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in Patients with Cardiovascular Changes,” sought to

Can Lyme Disease Trigger Autoimmune Disease Like Lupus? Lyme disease may trigger autoimmune disease in some patients, including conditions such as lupus. In rare cases, infection with Borrelia burgdorferi may contribute to immune dysregulation and the development of new autoimmune symptoms. Can Lyme Disease Trigger Autoimmune Disease? In their article “Lyme Borreliosis as a Trigger

Lyme Carditis and Heart Block: A Case You Don’t Want to Miss Can Lyme disease affect the heart? It can cause sudden heart block. Even in young, otherwise healthy patients. Lyme carditis heart block is a serious complication that can develop rapidly—and may be missed if symptoms are nonspecific. Lyme carditis often presents with symptoms

Lyme Disease and Vision Loss: When It Mimics Giant Cell Arteritis Sudden vision loss is a medical emergency. But the cause is not always clear. This is where Lyme disease can be missed. Lyme disease can cause vision problems, including rare cases of sudden vision loss—sometimes mimicking other serious conditions such as giant cell arteritis

Inside look at Lyme disease in Canada Murison and colleagues discuss the findings in their report “Epidemiology and clinical manifestations of reported Lyme disease cases: Data from the Canadian Lyme disease enhanced surveillance system.”¹ “The results from this analysis describe the clinical manifestations associated with Canadian [Lyme disease] cases from the LDES system and show

Bartonella and Lyme Disease Mimicking ALS and MS: A Misdiagnosis Case Bartonella and Lyme disease can cause severe neurological symptoms that mimic ALS and MS. Bartonella and Lyme disease mimicking ALS and MS is a recognized clinical challenge, particularly when neurologic symptoms evolve and testing is inconclusive. For an overview, see Bartonella. In their article,

RMSF in Pregnancy Without Rash: A Missed Diagnosis Risk No rash. No tick bite Symptoms escalate quickly Diagnosis is often delayed Quick Answer: RMSF in pregnancy can occur without a rash or known tick bite. Atypical presentations may delay diagnosis, increasing the risk of severe complications if treatment is not started promptly. RMSF in pregnancy