Dr. Daniel Cameron

Lyme Disease Misdiagnosis and Delayed Diagnosis Are Common Many Lyme disease patients face years of misdiagnosis before receiving the correct diagnosis. A study by Johnson and colleagues analyzed data from 3,903 participants in the MyLymeData registry, highlighting significant delays in diagnosis and frequent misdiagnosis. Long Delays Before Diagnosis More than half of patients reported prolonged […]

Babesia Clinical Diagnosis When Tests Fail Babesia clinical diagnosis may be necessary when laboratory tests fail to confirm infection. When Laboratory Confirmation Fails Clinical Reality Investigators from ISDH and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) examined specimens from 14 patients diagnosed with Lyme disease and B. microti. They tested for Babesia infection by

Severe Lyme Carditis in a 15-Year-Old Boy Severe Lyme carditis in an adolescent can present with life-threatening arrhythmias requiring emergency intervention. A 15-year-old boy with a heart rate of 300 beats per minute developed ventricular tachycardia requiring cardioversion and temporary pacing. After antibiotic treatment, his heart block resolved completely, and he remained symptom-free at one-year

Could Race Affect the Diagnosis and Treatment of Lyme Disease? Race and Lyme disease diagnosis may influence delays in care, access to treatment, and clinical outcomes. Using data from Geisinger electronic medical records, researchers identified 9,657 Lyme disease cases diagnosed between 2006 and 2014 in central and northeastern Pennsylvania. Are African-Americans less likely to be

Babesia Clinical Presentations: A Case of Variable Symptoms Babesia clinical presentations can vary widely, ranging from mild symptoms to severe neurologic and systemic illness. A woman was admitted to the emergency room with fever, chills, lethargy, fatigue, and marked changes in sensorium. Clinicians initially suspected sepsis, but she was later diagnosed with concurrent Babesia and

Could a Blood Transfusion Transmit Lyme Disease? Lyme disease blood transfusion risk remains theoretical but biologically plausible. Lyme disease is primarily transmitted through tick bites. However, researchers have questioned whether Borrelia burgdorferi could also be transmitted through blood transfusion. Studies have shown that Borrelia can survive in stored blood under certain conditions. This raises concern

How Effective Is Permethrin-Treated Clothing in Preventing Tick Bites? Permethrin-treated clothing can reduce tick contact, but effectiveness declines with wear and washing. A study by Connally and colleagues examined how wearing and repeated washing affect the ability of permethrin-treated clothing to repel and kill Ixodes scapularis nymphs. Investigators exposed ticks to treated clothing for 30

Are Southern Nymphal Deer Ticks Hiding? Southern nymphal deer ticks may behave differently than those in the Northeast, potentially reducing human exposure. In their article, Tietjen and colleagues from Texas A&M University explored whether immature stages of Ixodes scapularis reside in leaf litter or soil rather than on vegetation. Researchers collected samples of leaf litter,

Lyme Disease Mimics Prosthetic Joint Infection After Knee Replacement Lyme disease can mimic prosthetic joint infection, leading to unnecessary surgery and delayed diagnosis. An 83-year-old man from Pennsylvania was admitted with knee pain, erythema, and fever for 3 days. Examination revealed a moderate effusion and limited range of motion in a knee that had undergone

Delayed Babesia Diagnosis: Why Follow-Up Visits Matter A delayed Babesia diagnosis can occur when symptoms emerge after initial Lyme disease treatment, highlighting the importance of follow-up care. Doctors treated a 67-year-old woman for early Lyme disease with a 21-day course of amoxicillin after she presented with an erythema migrans rash. (She was allergic to doxycycline.)