Lyme Science Blog

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

Lyme Disease and Anesthesia Considerations Lyme disease anesthesia considerations are important for patients undergoing surgical procedures. Undiagnosed Lyme disease, neurologic involvement, and cardiac complications can affect perioperative management and anesthetic choices. In her article “Lyme Disease and Anesthesia Considerations,” Smit discusses several issues anesthetic practitioners should consider when caring for patients with Lyme disease. Key

Successful removal of pacemakers in patients with Lyme carditis Reversible heart block from Lyme disease means patients may not need permanent pacemakers for life. Two cases demonstrate successful removal of permanent pacemakers after antibiotic treatment restored normal cardiac conduction. Both patients maintained 1:1 conduction at heart rates exceeding 120 beats per minute during exercise stress

‘Near-universal’ negative experiences with healthcare providers reported by Lyme disease patients “Healthcare providers frequently struggle to provide effective care to patients with chronic Lyme-associated symptoms…potentially causing these patients to feel misunderstood or neglected by the healthcare system,” the authors wrote. They listed 6 themes that emerged from the participants experiences: Late diagnosis, abandonment, loss, unpredictability,

Lyme Meningitis Leading to Hyponatremia (SIADH) Hyponatremia from Lyme disease can signal underlying neuroborreliosis causing syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (SIADH) secretion. An 83-year-old woman developed persistent low sodium levels (125-126 mmol/L) initially attributed to blood pressure medication, but after one month of diagnostic confusion and medication changes, a lumbar puncture finally revealed Lyme meningitis