Lyme Science Blog

Why Are Doctors Reluctant to Treat Lyme Disease? Why are doctors reluctant to treat Lyme disease? Many clinicians face regulatory pressure, professional stigma, insurance barriers, and the clinical complexity of managing persistent Lyme symptoms. Doctors may be reluctant to treat Lyme disease when symptoms persist beyond standard treatment—especially when care requires time-intensive, individualized evaluation. These […]

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