Lyme Science Blog

Deer Tick Season: When Lyme Disease Risk Peaks A patient came to my office in June with a bull’s-eye rash. “I checked myself after hiking,” she said, “but I never saw a tick.” She’d been bitten by a nymph — about the size of a poppy seed — but perfectly capable of transmitting Lyme disease. […]

Why Elderly Lyme Disease Patients Face Unique Challenges Treating elderly Lyme disease patients presents a hidden challenge. Older adults bring unique vulnerabilities—cognitive changes, multiple chronic conditions, and increased sensitivity to medications—that standard treatment guidelines don’t fully address. Lyme disease treatment in elderly patients requires individualized care that balances infection control with age-related risks. Elderly patients

Celebrities: Shining a spotlight on Lyme Disease The topic of celebrities suffering with Lyme disease has made headlines for years. And with good reason. When Justin Bieber announced his Lyme diagnosis in January 2020, social media erupted — not with sympathy, but skepticism. Trolls accused him of making excuses for his appearance and behavior. His

When Lyme Disease Looks Like Juvenile Arthritis It’s not juvenile arthritis. It’s Lyme disease. At 16, Emma’s rheumatologist told her she’d likely need lifelong medication for juvenile arthritis. Six months later, antibiotics cured her completely. The diagnosis was wrong from the start — because Lyme disease can mimic symptoms of juvenile arthritis more often than

Does the Size of the Tick Matter for Lyme Disease? Most people worry when they find a tick, but few realize that its size can change everything. Does a smaller tick mean lower risk — or greater danger? Yes and No. The size of the tick matters for the early detection of Lyme disease. Understanding

His Doctor Gave Up on His Lyme Disease — But He Didn’t When a Doctor Dismissed Lyme Disease Sometimes the hardest part of Lyme disease isn’t the infection itself — it’s what happens when a doctor dismisses Lyme disease before the patient truly recovers. This is one patient’s story. But it echoes thousands I’ve heard

Can I Donate Blood After Lyme? A Common Question After Recovery After treatment for Lyme disease, many patients ask: Can I donate blood if I’ve had Lyme disease? The short answer: Lyme disease is not known to spread through blood transfusions. However, blood donation centers recommend waiting until you’ve finished treatment and remain symptom-free for

Brain Fog and Lyme Disease: The Overlooked Symptom Updated January 2026 to reflect current clinical understanding of cognitive symptoms and nervous system involvement in Lyme disease. Brain fog is one of the most common and frustrating symptoms reported by patients with Lyme disease. People describe slowed thinking, difficulty concentrating, word-finding problems, short-term memory lapses, and

Babesia Testing Errors Can Delay Treatment Babesia treatment duration is one of the most misunderstood aspects of managing this co-infection. In my clinical experience, treatment often needs to go beyond the standard 7–10 days. I recently treated a patient who failed a 10-day course of atovaquone and azithromycin. He still had fatigue, sweats, and brain