Lyme Science Blog

The Ethics of Lyme Disease Treatment: Patient Rights and Physician Responsibility The ethics of Lyme disease treatment often arise at the intersection of diagnostic uncertainty, guideline interpretation, and patient suffering. Lyme disease does not always follow predictable timelines. When symptoms persist or testing does not align neatly with clinical presentation, ethical tension can emerge. Ethical […]

Lyme Disease Co-infections: What You Need to Know Lyme disease co-infections occur when a single tick bite transmits multiple pathogens. Up to 40% of Lyme patients in some regions also carry Babesia, Bartonella, Anaplasmosis, or Ehrlichia—yet these infections are frequently missed. When co-infections go unrecognized, patients don’t fully recover. Standard Lyme treatment won’t clear a

Borrelia miyamotoi: What You Need to Know Borrelia miyamotoi is a tick-borne bacterium that causes relapsing fever. It is transmitted by the same ticks that spread Lyme disease but can cause different symptoms. Unlike Lyme disease, Borrelia miyamotoi does not typically cause a bull’s-eye rash. Understanding Borrelia miyamotoi – What is Borrelia miyamotoi? – What

Powassan Virus: What You Need to Know Powassan virus is a rare but serious tick-borne illness that can cause inflammation of the brain (encephalitis) and the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord (meningitis). Unlike Lyme disease, Powassan virus can be transmitted within minutes of a tick bite. Understanding Powassan Virus: – What is the

Lyme Disease Loneliness Lyme disease loneliness can be one of the hardest parts of living with chronic illness. One of my patients once told me, “No one really understands what this feels like.” That quiet sentence captures the emotional burden so many people with chronic Lyme disease carry. The physical symptoms—pain, fatigue, brain fog, burning

Lyme Treatment Abandonment: Ethical or Not? Stopping Lyme treatment is often framed as a clinical decision based on guidelines—but what if it’s something more troubling? Many patients still experience symptoms like pain, brain fog, or fatigue long after standard antibiotics end. Yet they’re told, “There’s nothing more we can do.” Is stopping treatment at that

How Do You Get Lyme Disease: Ticks, Transmission, and Risk One of the most common questions patients ask is: how do you get Lyme disease? Many are surprised to learn that Lyme is caused not just by one pathogen, but often involves multiple infections transmitted by the same tick. A teacher came to me after

Lyme Disease Test Accuracy: Timing, Limitations, and Clinical Diagnosis Lyme disease test accuracy is often misunderstood. Many patients assume that a negative Lyme disease test rules out infection. In reality, Lyme disease test accuracy depends heavily on timing, and current laboratory tests have important limitations—especially early in infection. Most Lyme disease testing relies on detecting