Lyme Science Blog

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,

The authors describe a 70-year-old male who presented to the hospital without any typical Lyme disease symptoms, but exhibited generalized symptoms of progressive orthopnea and dyspnea on exertion. The man had a medical history of hypertension and calcific aortic stenosis. His lab results were “significant for an increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate of 136, white blood

Lyme Disease Biofilm: Round Bodies, Blebs, and Persistence Clusters of bacteria protecting themselves? Reduced response to treatment? Biofilms are one possible explanation under study. 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 in Some, Severe in Others Symptoms may be mild or missed Flu-like illness is common Severe neurologic disease can occur Risk is higher if immunocompromised Borrelia miyamotoi symptoms can range from mild flu-like illness to severe neurologic disease, depending on the patient’s immune status. According to Cleveland and colleagues, immunocompetent individuals

Fatal Heartland Virus Infection in the Mid-Atlantic Region Heartland virus infection is an emerging tick-borne disease that can lead to severe illness and death. Although most cases have historically been reported in the Midwest and southern United States, investigators have now documented a fatal Heartland virus infection acquired in the Mid-Atlantic region. In their article