Lyme Science Blog

Can You Develop Immunity to Lyme Disease? Some patients ask whether infection with Lyme disease provides immunity against future infections. Research suggests that limited strain-specific immunity may develop after infection, but reinfection with a different strain of the bacteria remains possible. In a 2014 study, researchers found that some individuals may develop strain-specific immunity to […]

Babesia Incubation Period: A 10-Week Delayed Case The babesia incubation period can be much longer than expected—as this unusual case demonstrates. A 19-year-old man developed symptoms 10 weeks after traveling to New York, illustrating why Babesia can be missed when physicians focus only on recent tick exposure. The case was published in Cureus by Patel

After 37 years treating Lyme disease, I’ve learned that when a Lyme disease flare occurs, patients notice a return of symptoms they have experienced before or a worsening of existing symptoms. Some patients may also develop new symptoms. A flare-up can come and go and vary in intensity. Understanding what triggers these flares is essential

Can Lyme Disease Stay With You Forever? Can Lyme disease stay with you forever? Although many patients will improve with appropriate treatment, others will experience ongoing Lyme disease symptoms that may persist for years. A growing number of case studies continue to document patients with chronic illnesses associated with Lyme disease. Key Point: While many

Herxheimer Reaction in a 13-Year-Old Boy With Lyme Arthritis A recently published case report describes a Herxheimer reaction in a child treated for Lyme arthritis. Nykytyuk and colleagues reported the case of a 13-year-old boy who developed worsening symptoms after starting doxycycline for Lyme disease. [1] Key Point: A Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction can occur during treatment

Lyme Disease Mimics Cellulitis Skin Infection Lyme disease can sometimes mimic cellulitis, a common bacterial skin infection. In this case, a 40-year-old woman developed redness, swelling, pain, and a rash at the site of a surgical excision. Key Point: Early Lyme disease rashes can resemble cellulitis, leading to delayed diagnosis if clinicians do not consider

Can You Have Lyme Disease and Not Know It? Several published studies address the question: can you have Lyme disease and not know it? In some cases, patients remain undiagnosed for years before receiving appropriate treatment. Key Point: Research shows that some Lyme disease patients remain undiagnosed for years due to misdiagnosis, subtle symptoms, or

Geriatric Babesia: Why Older Patients Often Need Longer Treatment Geriatric babesia is becoming more common—and more dangerous. Babesia infections in older adults often lead to more severe illness, longer recovery, and higher mortality rates. The annual number of cases per year climbed from 4 per 100,000 to 9 per 100,000 in the U.S. between 2006

Powassan Virus Encephalitis in Children: Two Infant Case Reports Powassan virus encephalitis is a rare but serious tick-borne infection that can lead to severe neurologic disease. Although most reported cases occur in adults, Powassan virus in children has been documented, including infants who develop encephalitis after tick exposure. Although uncommon, Powassan virus infection can be

Four Proposed Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndromes Causing Persistent Symptoms Post-treatment Lyme disease syndromes describe persistent symptoms that continue after standard antibiotic therapy for Lyme disease. Although many patients recover, a significant number remain ill for months or even years. Individuals who suffer from persistent symptoms are often diagnosed with post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS) or