Tick bite co-infections are more common than many realize. A single tick can transmit multiple pathogens simultaneously, leading to complex illness that’s difficult to diagnose and treat. This case demonstrates how one man developed three tick-borne infections from a single bite. “Two days after noting this ankle lesion, the patient noticed an erythematous rash on […]
Tick bite leads to multiple co-infections Read More »
Until recently, India has been considered a non-endemic region for Lyme disease, the authors point out. And, “Although it had been considered extremely rare in India, a recent study conducted in Nagarahole and Bandipur in South India surprisingly revealed a high seroprevalence (19.9%) of Borrelia burgdorferi infection in a population at risk (forest workers and
Bell’s palsy due to Lyme disease misdiagnosed, patient bedridden Read More »
In a 2003 case report, “Bone marrow manifestation of Lyme disease (Lyme Borreliosis),” Kvasnicka et al.² describe a 35-year-old man, who presented with fever, night sweats, inguinal lymph node enlargement and splenomegaly. He also exhibited neurologic symptoms including hyperkinesis and ataxia. Based on results from a lumbar puncture, doctors initially suspected the patient had infectious
Can Lyme disease cause bone loss? Read More »
The authors analyzed charts of pediatric and adult patients with heart block and a positive Western Blot test for Lyme disease, who were hospitalized at Maine Medical Center. The study included 10 children and 20 adults who were admitted for Lyme carditis between January 2010 and December 2018.¹ The children’s mean age was 12.4 years.
Does Lyme carditis differ in children vs. adults? Read More »
The authors collected data via an online questionnaire from 252 Lyme disease patients and a control group of 267 healthy individuals living in Germany to examine the clinical presentation, including neuropsychiatric and psychological symptoms. The findings revealed that “Lyme disease can cause diverse psychological and neuropsychiatric symptoms. These include limitations in quality of life, sleep,
Clinical presentation of Lyme disease in patients living in Germany Read More »
In a recent study entitled “Detecting Borrelia Spirochetes: A Case Study With Validation Among Autopsy Specimens,” researchers describe a woman with Lyme disease who was later diagnosed with Lewy body dementia.² Lyme disease diagnosed at age 54 At age 54, the woman was diagnosed with Lyme disease based upon a well-documented erythema migrans rash, along
Autopsy finds Lyme disease spirochetes in patient with Lewy body dementia Read More »
Borrelia miyamotoi (B. miyamotoi) was first reported in the United States in 2013 but has become increasingly more common. So, what is Borrelia miyamotoi? The tick-borne illness can be transmitted by the same tick that carries Borrelia burgdorferi, the Lyme disease pathogen. In their article, Della-Giustina and colleagues² address the question, “What is Borrelia miyamotoi?”
What is Borrelia Miyamotoi? Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment Read More »
Untreated babesia is a troubling reality for some patients—even when tests come back positive. In his article, Wormser discusses the case of a 61-year-old woman who went untreated for a Babesia infection, despite positive test results. The patient, who lives in Westchester, NY, a highly endemic area for Lyme disease, reportedly removed an unidentified tick
Unreated Babesia: When a Positive Test Leads to No Treatment Read More »
Babesia odocoilei has been identified in two individuals based on PCR testing and DNA sequencing of the 18S rRNA gene, writes Scott and colleagues in the study “Detection of Babesia odocoilei in Humans with Babesiosis Symptoms.” This is the first report of this species causing illness in people. According to the authors, “the same two
First report: Babesia odocoilei causes babesiosis in humans Read More »
In their article, “Contrast Sensitivity Loss in Patients With Posttreatment Lyme Disease,” Rebman and colleagues report that Lyme disease can cause eye problems, specifically a loss in contrast sensitivity.¹ Contrast sensitivity (CS) is most important when the contrast between objects and their background often is reduced such as low light, fog or glare. For example,
Lyme disease associated with eye problems Read More »
