Lyme Science Blog

How Long Does It Take to Get Lyme Disease After a Tick Bite? A study by Eisen and colleagues addressed a frequently asked question: How long does it take to get Lyme disease? According to their findings, the probability of becoming infected with Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb)—the bacterium that causes Lyme disease—increases the longer an infected […]

Maine woman dies from deer tick virus This case report describes an elderly woman from Maine, who was diagnosed post-mortem with a rare deer tick virus, known as the Powassan virus. The 72-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital with myalgias, chills, and an erythema migrans rash on her left scapula. She reportedly had 2

Can Ticks Be Tested for Lyme Disease? Ticks can be tested for Lyme disease and other tick-borne pathogens. Laboratories may analyze a removed tick for Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacterium responsible for Lyme disease. However, the accuracy of tick testing may depend on whether the tick is engorged. A study by Gasmi et al. found that

Can Lyme Disease Cause Stomach Pain? Stomach pain can be a symptom of Lyme disease. In some cases, severe abdominal pain is not caused by a gastrointestinal disorder at all but by neurologic Lyme disease affecting the nerves that supply the abdominal wall. In one reported case, stomach pain from Lyme disease sent a 71-year-old

What repels ticks naturally? As the number of tick-borne diseases grows and the geographical spread of ticks continues, there is an increasing interest in what repels ticks naturally and which products are effective and safe to use. Little is known about exactly how ticks detect odors and what smells repel them. “Improving our understanding of

Lyme disease protein tricks immune system, ignites arthritis Lyme disease patients often struggle with ongoing symptoms including arthritis. Findings from this latest study are a “testament to how unique this bacterium is — and how we need to keep working to understand more about what is going on behind the scenes in order to develop

Patient with facial palsy from Lyme disease fails treatment In this case report, Hareem and colleagues describe a 71-year-old man with facial palsy from Lyme disease who failed treatment. The authors offer an inside look at what led up to the failed treatment.¹ Steroids associated with treatment failure? The man was initially treated in August

Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) may be linked to Lyme disease in some patients. The study aimed to assess how often this form of sudden hearing loss occurs among patients tested for Lyme disease. The authors explain that sudden sensorineural hearing loss is defined as a hearing loss of 30 dB or more across at

What Do Ebola, COVID-19, and Lyme Disease Have in Common? Welcome to another Inside Lyme Podcast. I am your host, Dr. Daniel Cameron. In this episode, I discuss what Ebola, COVID-19, and Lyme disease may have in common — the potential for persistent symptoms long after the initial infection. The topic was recently explored in

Lyme Disease as a Reversible Cause of Chronic Illness Can Lyme disease be a reversible cause of chronic illness in some patients? A growing body of research suggests that it can. Studies have documented that Lyme disease may lead to persistent or chronic symptoms, including Lyme encephalopathy, Lyme neuropathy, chronic neurologic Lyme disease, and neuropsychiatric