Lyme Science Blog

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 What does brain fog feel like in Lyme disease—and why does it happen? Many patients describe difficulty concentrating, memory problems, and slowed thinking that can interfere with daily life. In some cases, cognitive symptoms may follow unrecognized or repeated tick exposures, which is why understanding how to

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

Painful Feet and Lyme Disease You stand up to walk to the bathroom at night—and wince. The soles of your feet ache like you’re stepping on broken glass. Clinical Insight: Foot pain in Lyme disease may reflect nerve irritation, inflammation, or broader multisystem patterns rather than a simple local foot problem. Painful feet can be

Lyme Persisters: Why Symptoms Can Return After Treatment You finished treatment. The antibiotics are done. Your doctor says you’re cured. So why do you still feel terrible? For many patients, the answer may lie in Lyme persisters—dormant bacteria that survive antibiotic therapy and can reignite symptoms long after treatment ends. The Role of Lyme Persisters

PANS in Teens: When Lyme Disease Triggers Sudden Change A healthy 16-year-old became unrecognizable within days. Once outgoing and confident, he suddenly developed anxiety, irritability, and repetitive rituals. His handwriting deteriorated, grades plummeted, and he withdrew from friends. Parents were told it was psychiatric. But Lyme disease had triggered PANS—an autoimmune condition where infection causes