Lyme Science Blog

Are Lyme disease patients at greater risk for developing severe COVID-19? A new study looks at the risk of severe COVID-19 in patients with a history of exposure to Lyme disease. In their study “Correlation between COVID-19 severity and previous exposure of patients to Borrelia spp.,” Szewczyk‑Dąbrowska et al.² examined 3 groups of patients: those […]

Babesia Asplenia: Why 8 Weeks of Treatment Wasn’t Enough Babesia asplenia is one of the most dangerous combinations in tick-borne disease. In their study “Trust the Process: Prolonged Babesia Parasitemia in an Elderly Man with Asplenia from the American Midwest,” Ivancich and colleagues describe an 89-year-old man with multiple comorbidities and splenectomy, who required 8

Illinois clinicians demonstrate gaps in understanding of tick-borne co-infections Carson and colleagues surveyed clinicians between August 2020 and February 2022 and reported their findings in the article “Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of Illinois medical professionals related to ticks and tick-borne disease.” ¹ The respondents included RNs (61.3%), physicians (21.4%), and APNs/PAs (17.3%). The authors found

Powassan Encephalitis in Winter: Case Report from New York Powassan encephalitis can occur even in winter, challenging the assumption that tick-borne infections only happen during warmer months. A male patient was admitted to a New York hospital in December with altered mental status, dysarthria, and a left facial droop after reporting several recent tick bites.

3 Benefits of Telemedicine for Lyme Disease Telemedicine for Lyme disease has expanded rapidly since the COVID-19 pandemic and may help improve early diagnosis and treatment. A study entitled “The Impact of Telemedicine in the Diagnosis of Erythema Migrans during the COVID Pandemic: A Comparison with In-Person Diagnosis in the Pre-COVID Era,” compared clinical data

Lyme Disease and Sudden Hearing Loss: Signs of Lyme Meningitis Lyme disease sudden hearing loss can appear months or even a year after a tick bite. In one case report, a woman in her 40s developed sudden bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, tinnitus, and rapidly progressive facial palsy. Only after careful questioning did she recall removing

Disulfiram for Lyme Disease: Evidence, Benefits, and Risks Disulfiram for Lyme disease has drawn attention as a possible treatment for persistent infection. Originally marketed in the United States as Antabuse for alcohol dependence, disulfiram causes unpleasant physical reactions with alcohol consumption, including headache, nausea, and hypotension. More recently, several studies have examined whether it may

Neurological Manifestations of Babesiosis Neurological manifestations of babesiosis can mimic transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) with confusion, slurred speech, ataxia, and cognitive impairment — leading doctors to miss the underlying tick-borne infection. Two patients in their 70s presented with stroke-like neurologic symptoms that resolved completely after treatment for babesiosis with antibiotics and antiparasitics. Their cases highlight

Mother Describes Challenges in Getting Treatment for Newborn with Lyme Disease A newborn with Lyme disease can present with subtle symptoms that are easy to overlook. In a published case report, a mother described the frightening experience of seeking treatment for her infant after noticing a tick and early signs of illness. Her account highlights

Cascade of Unnecessary Tests: When Lyme Goes Undiagnosed Cascade of care in Lyme disease often occurs when the correct diagnosis is missed. Patients with fatigue, neurologic symptoms, joint pain, or cognitive dysfunction may undergo extensive testing across multiple specialties before Lyme disease is considered. Instead of unnecessary tests triggering the cascade, the cascade begins because