Lyme Science Blog

Can Lyme Disease Affect the Thyroid? What to Know About Thyroiditis Can Lyme disease affect the thyroid? In rare cases, infection with Borrelia burgdorferi has been associated with autoimmune thyroiditis—raising important questions about how infection may influence immune function. Lyme disease and thyroid problems may occasionally occur together, particularly when infection triggers inflammation affecting multiple […]

MRI Helps Identify Lyme Arthritis, Avoid Child Surgery Fourteen children underwent knee surgery for what doctors thought was septic arthritis—but all 14 actually had Lyme disease. Yen and colleagues examined whether MRI imaging could have prevented these unnecessary surgical procedures in pediatric patients with acute knee effusion. The study reviewed medical records and MRI scans

Lyme Disease Brachial Plexopathy: Arm Weakness and Radicular Pain Lyme disease brachial plexopathy can present as progressive arm weakness, neck pain, and shock-like pains radiating from the shoulders. A 76-year-old man developed left arm weakness following what he believed was a mosquito bite. He was initially treated for presumed cellulitis with temporary improvement. However, he

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

Can Lyme Disease Cause Sudden Hearing Loss? When It May Be Reversible Can Lyme disease cause sudden hearing loss? In some cases, yes—and it can happen months or even a year after a tick bite. Sudden hearing loss, tinnitus, dizziness, or facial weakness may be signs of neurologic Lyme disease affecting the cranial nerves. This