Dr. Daniel Cameron

Why Tick-Borne Illnesses Persist for Decades Tick-borne illnesses such as Lyme disease behave differently from many infectious diseases. Instead of appearing suddenly and disappearing quickly, these infections circulate quietly between ticks and wildlife reservoirs, allowing them to persist in nature for decades. This ecological pattern helps explain why Lyme disease tests the limits of medicine […]

Babesia Travel Cases: How Tick-Borne Infections Cross Borders Babesia travel cases are increasingly reported as international travelers carry tick-borne infections across borders. Several countries have documented imported babesiosis in travelers returning from endemic areas such as the Northeastern United States. Babesia is frequently transmitted by the same ticks that spread Lyme disease, which is why

Tick-Borne Infections and Blood Transfusions: What’s the Risk? Can tick-borne infections enter the blood supply? Some already have. Others may be underestimated. Tick-borne infections blood transfusion risk has become an increasing concern among researchers and public health experts. In a summary of a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) workshop on emerging tick-borne diseases, experts

Can Service Dogs Help Lyme Disease Patients? Service dogs can help with fatigue and balance They don’t treat Lyme disease But they may improve daily function Quick Answer: Service dogs may assist Lyme disease patients with mobility, balance, and daily tasks. They may also improve confidence and social functioning, although research specific to Lyme disease

Using Dogs to Map Lyme Disease Risk Dogs may help researchers map the geographic spread of Lyme disease. Because dogs are frequently exposed to ticks and are routinely tested by veterinarians, canine infection data can provide valuable insight into where Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacterium that causes Lyme disease, is circulating. There is often a delay

Birds Spread Lyme Disease Ticks Across Canada Millions of ticks are carried north each spring Songbirds can transport ticks hundreds of kilometers New Lyme disease risk areas may form faster than expected “We estimate that migratory birds disperse 50 million to 175 million Ixodes scapularis (deer) ticks across Canada each spring,” wrote Ogden and colleagues,

Nonflaccid Facial Palsy After Bell’s Palsy (15–30% Risk) Nonflaccid Facial Palsy After Bell’s Palsy Nonflaccid facial palsy (NFFP) is a complication that can develop after Bell’s palsy and other facial nerve injuries. Studies suggest that approximately 15–30% of patients with Bell’s palsy develop nonflaccid facial palsy. Facial nerve palsy is also one of the most

Chronic Neurological Lyme Disease or Comorbid Conditions After Treatment? PERSISTENT NEUROLOGIC SYMPTOMS AFTER LYME? ARE THEY MISLABELED AS SOMETHING ELSE? A patient completes treatment for Lyme disease—but the symptoms don’t resolve. Instead, they evolve: brain fog, headaches, neuropathy, dizziness, or cognitive slowing. New labels begin to appear—fibromyalgia, anxiety, chronic fatigue, or other comorbid conditions. But

Lyme Carditis Symptoms May Go Undiagnosed in Mexico Lyme carditis symptoms can be difficult to recognize, particularly in regions where Lyme disease is not widely acknowledged. Lyme carditis occurs when Borrelia burgdorferi infects the heart and disrupts the electrical conduction system. A case report from Mexico highlights how delayed recognition of Lyme carditis may lead

Can a Single Dose of Doxycycline Prevent Lyme Disease? A single 200 mg dose of doxycycline is sometimes recommended after a tick bite to prevent Lyme disease. In a report entitled “Doxycycline for Prevention of Spirochetal Infections—Status Report,” Wormser describes how a single oral dose of doxycycline was used to reduce the development of erythema