Lyme Science Blog

PERSPECTIVE A growing number of specialties have described a shift to utilizing telemedicine in their practices. “The global pandemic of COVID-19 has dramatically altered the delivery of rheumatology outpatient services because of the redeployment of staff and efforts to minimize infection risk to patients and clinicians in line with physical distancing guidance,” writes Yeoh and colleagues. “Departments […]

I have identified several factors that might have contributed to treatment delays in 15 Lyme disease patients. All 15 subjects failed their initial antibiotic treatment. In many cases, their illness could have been mitigated had diagnosis and treatment occurred in the early stages of the disease. These 15 patients were part of a case series

In their article, published in the journal Cancer Cell,¹ the authors explain, “One of the dozens of unusual symptoms that have emerged in COVID-19 patients is a condition that’s informally called ‘COVID brain’ or ‘brain fog.’ It’s characterized by confusion, headaches, and loss of short-term memory. In severe cases, it can lead to psychosis and even

The authors described eye problems in lyme disease presenting with the following ophthalmologic findings: Follicular conjunctivitis Periorbital edema and mild photophobia Bell’s palsy, cranial nerve palsies and Horner syndrome Argyll Robertson pupil Keratitis Optic neuritis, papilledema, papillitis and neuroretinitis Myositis of extraocular muscles and dacryoadenitis Episcleritis, anterior and posterior scleritis Anterior, intermediate, posterior and panuveitis

This case series describes a broad range of Babesia symptoms in elderly patients, making the diagnosis particularly challenging. Case 1: A 78-year-old white female was admitted with fever, chills, lethargy, fatigue, and marked changes in sensorium. “She had a maximum temperature of 100.6° F (38.1° C); sepsis was considered for this patient,” writes Paparone, a

Tetracyclines, including doxycycline, are typically not recommended for treating young children with lyme disease because the antibiotic may cause permanent staining of the teeth, explains Wormser and colleagues in a recently published article, “Is Doxycycline Appropriate for Routine Treatment of Young Children With Erythema Migrans?” ¹ In the article, Wormser discusses the risk to benefit

In 2014, a small study found that some people may, in fact, develop strain-specific immunity to Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacteria causing Lyme disease. “Once infected with a particular strain of the disease-causing bacteria, humans appear to develop immunity against that strain that can last six to nine years,” the authors wrote. [1] Ask the Lyme

When a Lyme disease flare occurs, patients will notice a return of the symptoms they have experienced before or a worsening of existing symptoms. Some patients may also develop new symptoms. A flare-up can come and go and vary in intensity.  What does a Lyme flare-up feel like? The symptoms of a flare-up can include:

Can Lyme disease stay with you forever? Although many patients will improve with appropriate treatment, others will experience ongoing Lyme disease symptoms that may stay with them forever. A growing number of case studies continue to document patients with chronic illnesses associated with Lyme disease. Following are several examples: Chronic neurologic Lyme disease In the

In a recently published paper, Nykytyuk and colleagues describe the case of a 13-year-old boy with Lyme arthritis, a common manifestation of Lyme disease, who developed a Herxheimer reaction when treated with doxycycline. [1] “A 13-year-old boy was admitted to the regional hospital with complaints of left knee swelling, hip, ankle and cervical spine pain,”