AI

Erythema Migrans Rash: Why Overreliance Can Harm Lyme Disease Diagnosis Two studies published in 1996 and 1998 required participants to meet the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) surveillance case definition for Lyme disease. Under this definition, an erythema migrans (EM) rash must be at least 2 inches in diameter to qualify. How Common […]

Lyme Carditis Presenting as Complete Heart Block in a Young Woman From Mexico A previously healthy woman presented to the emergency department with sudden-onset dyspnea and chest pain. Four days prior to admission, she experienced a syncopal episode. Electrocardiogram (EKG) findings revealed a third-degree atrioventricular (AV) heart block. The patient, a resident of Nuevo León,

Do standard Lyme disease prevention methods actually work? Most public health guidelines recommend tick checks, repellents, and protective clothing—but how strong is the evidence behind these recommendations? A systematic review reveals the research is surprisingly thin. What the research says about personal protective measures In the article “Interventions to prevent Lyme disease in humans: A

Babesia clinical diagnosis may be necessary when laboratory tests fail to confirm infection. Investigators from ISDH and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) examined specimens from 14 of the patients diagnosed with Lyme disease and B. microti. They tested for Babesia infection by Giemsa-stained blood smears, PCR (polymerase chain reaction), and indirect fluorescent

Babesia clinical presentations can vary widely, as one case demonstrates. The woman was admitted to the emergency room with fever, chills, lethargy, fatigue, and marked changes in sensorium. Clinicians initially believed her symptoms were due to sepsis, but she was later diagnosed with concurrent Babesia and anaplasmosis. Her case demonstrates how “patients with babesiosis show

Could a Lyme disease blood transfusion transmit infection? While the tick-borne disease Babesia is known to spread through blood transfusions, the risk with Lyme disease remains theoretical — but worth considering. Studies have found Borrelia burgdorferi in the blood of patients with early Lyme disease using culture tests. “Borrelia are likely to be found circulating

A delayed Babesia diagnosis can occur when symptoms emerge after initial Lyme disease treatment. Doctors diagnosed and 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. (The woman was allergic to doxycycline.) Near the end of her treatment, the woman developed fevers

Babesia combination therapy is essential because doxycycline — the go-to antibiotic for most tick-borne illnesses — doesn’t work against Babesia. This parasite requires a different approach, often involving multiple medications. In a recent article published in The Nurse Practitioner, Paparone discusses the various presentations of Babesia, along with treatment plans for five individuals. Babesia Combination

Heartland virus cases continue to rise, yet much remains unknown about this potentially deadly tick-borne illness. So, what do we actually know about this potentially deadly virus? Symptoms are similar to those seen with other tick-borne illnesses. Patients may experience fever, headaches, joint and muscle aches, fatigue, loss of appetite, and diarrhea. Individuals with the

Babesia risk is expanding across the United States — and citizen scientists are helping map the threat. A new study found Babesia microti-infected ticks in states where the parasite had not been previously reported. An article by Nieto and colleagues, published in PLoS One, describes a study using citizen science to gather data on human