Lyme Science Blog

Relapsing Babesiosis: When Standard Treatment Fails Immunocompromised patient with recurrent symptoms Multiple treatment failures over several months Sustained recovery achieved with combination therapy including Malarone This case report highlights a critical challenge: immunocompromised patients with Babesia may not respond to standard antimicrobial therapy, leading to relapsing infection. In their article, “Atovaquone-Proguanil: A Promising Therapy for […]

Knee Swelling Years After a Tick Bite: Lyme Arthritis in a Child Joint swelling appeared years after exposure No early Lyme symptoms were reported Diagnosis depended on history and targeted testing In their article, “Ten-year-old Omani Girl with Lyme Arthritis,” Mughaizwi and colleagues describe a delayed presentation of Lyme disease in a child. A 10-year-old

Wheelchair-Bound Man Walks Again After Lyme Disease Treatment SEVERE KNEE PAIN? WHEN LYME DISEASE IS MISSED Lyme disease can worsen underlying joint disease and, in some cases, dramatically impair mobility when the infection goes unrecognized. In this case report, “Exacerbation of Osteoarthritic Joint Pain by Lyme Disease,” Bennani and colleagues demonstrate how identifying an underlying

Babesia Symptoms: When They Don’t Look Typical Babesia symptoms are not always typical. Some patients lack night sweats, chills, or shortness of breath. Atypical presentations can delay diagnosis and become severe. Babesia symptoms are not always typical—and that can delay diagnosis. While many patients develop night sweats, chills, fatigue, and shortness of breath, others present

Lyme Disease Can Affect Your Eyes Leading to Various Complications Lyme disease is typically associated with flu-like symptoms or neurologic complications, but infection with Borrelia burgdorferi can also cause problems with your eyes. In their article, “Co-infectious Uveitis With Syphilis and Lyme Disease: A Case Report,” Mandal and colleagues describe what they believe is the

Atypical Lyme Disease Rash: When It’s Mistaken for Shingles or Cellulitis An atypical Lyme disease rash doesn’t always look like a bull’s-eye. It may resemble shingles, cellulitis, or even a serious skin infection—leading to delayed diagnosis and treatment. Quick answer: Lyme disease rashes can appear in many forms. When a rash doesn’t respond to standard

Can Lyme Disease Cause Encephalitis? Lyme neuroborreliosis can rarely lead to encephalitis. A 74-year-old woman was hospitalized four times before diagnosis. MRI findings and spinal fluid testing confirmed CNS involvement. Lyme neuroborreliosis can rarely present with encephalitis, confusion, psychiatric symptoms, and MRI abnormalities. A 74-year-old woman had been hospitalized four times over a period of

Atypical Lyme Disease Symptoms: When the Diagnosis Is Delayed Lyme disease doesn’t always follow a pattern. Symptoms can appear one by one. And that can delay diagnosis. Atypical Lyme disease symptoms can make diagnosis difficult—especially when they evolve over time. As noted in a case report, Lyme disease can present with a mix of symptoms

How Fast Can a Tick Transmit Babesia? Why There Is No Safe Window How quickly can a tick transmit Babesia? In some cases, transmission can occur almost immediately after the tick begins feeding. Key Insight: Unlike Lyme disease, Babesia may be transmitted without a delay—there is no reliable “grace period” after a tick bite. Many

Atypical case of Lyme carditis in Florida woman A 42-year-old New York City man quarantining upstate during COVID-19 developed Lyme carditis that progressed to cardiac arrest within two weeks of tick bite. The case demonstrates how rapidly Lyme carditis can deteriorate when diagnosis is delayed – and how completely patients recover when treatment finally begins.