Covid and Lyme Blog

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 […]

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

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

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,

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

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

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

We can better understand COVID-19 chronic manifestations if we understand the lessons from Lyme disease. Lyme disease was first described as an early disease in 1977 when an epidemic of oligoarticular arthritis occurred in three Connecticut communities, which involved 39 children and 12 adults. [1] During this time, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Cortiula and colleagues express concern that the diversion of resources might stretch an already fragile system. The diversion might lead to worse outcomes. “It is well established that delayed oncologic surgery may lead to disease progressions and result in tumors no longer resectable, leading to worse survival outcomes,” the authors wrote.  Could Lyme disease in

There are reports that the COVID-19 virus can be more severe in individuals with a co-morbidity. A recent study found that out of 1,590 cases in China, 1 in 4 patients had at least one co-morbidity. [1] The study offers insight into the risks for Lyme disease patients during a COVID-19 pandemic. The most common