Lyme Science Blog

Lyme Arthritis After Knee Replacement Surgery Lyme arthritis can mimic prosthetic joint infection Knee swelling after replacement may need Lyme testing Recognition may guide testing and treatment decisions In their article, “Medically Managed Lyme Periprosthetic Joint Infection: A Case Report,” Saar et al. describe a patient with acute Lyme arthritis complicated by a previous total […]

Lone Star Tick Bites: Woman Finds 30 Ticks After Walk in Park Lone star ticks are spreading geographically. Multiple bites may trigger rash, fatigue, and headaches. Recognition remains important during tick season. A young woman developed fatigue, headaches, joint pain, and multiple erythematous papules after walking her dog in a wooded park near Washington, D.C.

Can Lyme Disease Cause Pericarditis and Chest Pain? Lyme disease pericarditis may cause chest pain and heart symptoms Cardiac symptoms can appear even with early negative testing Prompt recognition may reduce serious complications Lyme disease pericarditis is an uncommon but important complication of Lyme disease that may present with chest pain, palpitations, shortness of breath,

Can Lyme Disease Affect the Brain? Autopsy Findings Explained Autopsy findings identified Borrelia species in brain tissue Different species were detected in separate brain regions The findings raise questions about neurologic Lyme symptoms Can Lyme disease affect the brain? In their article, “Concurrent Infection of the Human Brain with Multiple Borrelia Species,” Golovchenko and colleagues

Lyme Disease or Dementia? A Case of Reversible Cognitive Decline Cognitive decline may not always be dementia Behavioral changes and hallucinations can occur in Lyme neuroborreliosis Some dementia-like symptoms may improve with antibiotic treatment Lyme disease or dementia? In some cases, symptoms that resemble dementia — such as confusion, hallucinations, and behavioral changes — may

Atypical Lyme Disease Rash With Negative Testing A Lyme disease rash may not look like a bull’s-eye Negative testing does not always exclude early Lyme disease Recognition of atypical rashes may improve diagnosis and treatment An atypical Lyme disease rash may appear very different from the classic bull’s-eye rash many clinicians expect. Khanna and colleagues

Muscle Weakness and Constipation—Could It Be Lyme Disease? Muscle weakness and constipation in Lyme disease may be caused by neurologic and autonomic nervous system dysfunction—even when imaging and gastrointestinal testing appear normal. This pattern can be confusing because patients often undergo extensive gastrointestinal evaluations before Lyme disease is considered. For a broader overview, see Lyme

Does Lyme Disease Affect the Brain? Brain Damage and Brain Fog Lyme disease can affect cognition, memory, and brain function Brain fog and slower processing are common complaints MRI and imaging studies may reveal measurable changes Does Lyme disease affect the brain? Many patients report brain fog, slowed thinking, memory problems, dizziness, headaches, and difficulty

Lyme Disease Diaphragm Paralysis: A Rare Cause of Breathing Problems Diaphragm paralysis as a complication of Lyme disease was first reported in 1986. Since then fewer than five cases of bilateral diaphragmatic paralysis from probable Lyme neuroborreliosis have been documented — making this a rare but important presentation to recognize. For a broader overview of

Lyme Carditis Causing Chest Pain and High-Grade AV Block Lyme carditis can affect the heart’s electrical system. Chest pain and shortness of breath may signal cardiac complications. A young woman developed persistent high-grade AV block after Lyme disease. Lyme carditis can present with chest pain, shortness of breath, heart rhythm abnormalities, and high-grade atrioventricular (AV)