Lyme Science Blog

Temporary Pacemaker for Lyme Carditis: Avoiding Permanent Implants A temporary permanent pacemaker allowed a 31-year-old man with Lyme carditis to recover at home during the COVID-19 pandemic, avoiding prolonged hospitalization while his heart block resolved. The approach offers a safe middle ground between traditional temporary pacing and unnecessary permanent pacemakers. By Dr. Daniel Cameron Key […]

Does Skin Color Affect Lyme Disease Diagnosis? So, how prepared are medical students to properly diagnose patients of all races and ethnicities? Do they have the diagnostic ability and confidence to recognize conditions such as Lyme disease in individuals with non-white skin? In the study “The impact of patient skin colour on diagnostic ability and

Alpha-Gal Syndrome Foods to Avoid Quick Answer: Alpha-gal syndrome foods to avoid include beef, pork, lamb, dairy, and gelatin. Safe foods include poultry, fish, eggs, and plant-based proteins. Alpha-gal syndrome foods to avoid include beef, pork, lamb, and other mammalian products. This tick-borne allergy develops after a Lone Star tick bite and causes delayed reactions

Lyme Disease and Transverse Myelitis: Case Report of Spinal Cord Inflammation SPINAL CORD INFLAMMATION? COULD IT BE LYME DISEASE? Can Lyme disease cause inflammation of the spinal cord? Quick Answer: Lyme disease can cause transverse myelitis, a rare but serious form of spinal cord inflammation that may present differently from typical cases. Clinical Insight: When

Lyme Disease Toolbox: Where to Start, What to Do Next This Lyme disease toolbox is designed as a starting point for patients trying to make sense of symptoms, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment decisions. Lyme disease often does not follow a predictable path. Symptoms can shift, overlap, and evolve over time—making it difficult to know where

Orbital Myositis in Lyme Disease: Two Case Reports Orbital myositis in Lyme disease is an unusual but recognized manifestation of Borrelia infection. Two case reports demonstrate how this condition presents and responds to antibiotic treatment. Orbital myositis is typically caused by systemic diseases such as Graves’ disease or hematological disorders like lymphomas. In these cases,

Lyme Carditis Without Typical Lyme Disease Symptoms Lyme carditis can occur without typical Lyme disease symptoms. A 70-year-old man developed heart block from Lyme carditis despite having no rash, no recalled tick bite, and no classic Lyme disease symptoms. The case highlights why clinicians in endemic areas should consider Lyme testing in patients with unexplained

Lyme Disease Biofilm: Round Bodies, Blebs, and Persistence WHY DOES LYME DISEASE PERSIST? THE BACTERIA CAN CHANGE FORM AND MAY BECOME HARDER TO TARGET Lyme disease biofilm formation may help explain how Borrelia burgdorferi persists in the body despite treatment. Quick Answer: Borrelia burgdorferi can shift into different forms—including round bodies, blebs, and biofilms—which may

Do IV Antibiotics Help PTLDS? What the Research Shows Quick Answer: Intravenous antibiotics may improve certain symptoms—particularly fatigue—in some patients with post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS), but results are mixed and not all symptoms improve. Clinical Insight: Some studies suggest benefit from IV ceftriaxone, raising important questions about whether persistent symptoms reflect ongoing infection in

Borrelia Miyamotoi Symptoms: Mild to Severe Borrelia miyamotoi symptoms can range from mild flu-like illness to severe neurologic disease depending on the patient’s immune status. This tick-borne infection, transmitted by the same ticks that spread Lyme disease, often causes fever, fatigue, and relapsing illness that can easily be mistaken for other infections. According to Cleveland