Lyme Science Blog

Lyme Disease or Rheumatoid Arthritis? How to Tell the Difference Quick Answer: Lyme disease can mimic rheumatoid arthritis, causing joint pain, stiffness, and fatigue—but Lyme is driven by infection, not autoimmune inflammation. Clinical Insight: When joint symptoms don’t follow a typical autoimmune pattern—or don’t respond to treatment—it may be important to consider Lyme disease. Joint […]

Bullous Erythema Migrans: An Atypical Lyme Disease Rash Erythema migrans rash does not always appear as the classic bull’s-eye lesion associated with Lyme disease. Several reports have described urticarial, linear, granulomatous, and bullous variants, which can lead to misidentification, delayed diagnosis, and delayed treatment. In their article, “Vesiculobullous Lyme disease: A case series,” the authors

Doxycycline After Tick Bite: Does It Prevent Lyme? A single dose of doxycycline is often recommended after a tick bite to prevent Lyme disease. However, the evidence supporting this strategy is limited and primarily shows a reduction in the Lyme disease rash known as erythema migrans rather than reliable prevention of Lyme disease itself. Deciding

Fatal Babesiosis Without Classic Risk Factors: A Missed Warning Symptoms worsened over two weeks No tick exposure was reported Severe infection led to rapid decline and death A man presented to the emergency department with fatigue, generalized weakness, and intermittent subjective fevers that had worsened over a 2-week period. He also reported headaches, vision changes,

Meningoencephalitis Borrelia Miyamotoi: Case Report Meningoencephalitis Borrelia Miyamotoi: Case ReportMeningoencephalitis Borrelia miyamotoi can occur even in immunocompetent patients. A 73-year-old man was admitted to the hospital with a 16-day history of confusion and intermittent headaches. He was an avid gardener and reportedly had tick bites in the past but none that he noticed in the

Tick Bite Red Meat Allergy: Alpha-Gal Syndrome Explained ALLERGIC TO MEAT AFTER A TICK BITE? SYMPTOMS HOURS AFTER EATING? COULD THIS BE ALPHA-GAL SYNDROME? A tick bite can trigger a red meat allergy known as alpha-gal syndrome—a delayed immune reaction that many patients do not immediately connect to prior tick exposure. “I ate meat my

COVID-19: When Lyme disease and tick-borne illnesses may not be considered The woman presented with fever, myalgias, diarrhea, and a dry cough. The authors discuss the risk of premature closure in such cases. “Premature closure refers to forming a conclusion and stopping the diagnostic assessment too early in the diagnostic process, in which case alternative

Congenital Babesia Transmission in Twins When Vertical Transmission Affects Only One Twin Congenital babesia is rare—but this case proves it happens. The patient was born at 36 5/7 weeks by C-section. At five-weeks-old the newborn presented to the emergency department with pallor, increased lethargy and difficulty feeding. The newborn was “more difficult to arouse and

Lyme Disease and Pregnancy: Findings from an 11-Patient Case Series Lyme disease and pregnancy remain areas where clinical evidence is limited but important for maternal and fetal care. A case series of pregnant women with Lyme borreliosis (LB) provides insight into possible outcomes and treatment approaches. The first confirmed case of Lyme borreliosis in pregnancy

Tafenoquine for Relapsing Babesia: A Treatment Option When Standard Therapy Fails STILL RELAPSING AFTER BABESIA TREATMENT? WHEN STANDARD THERAPY ISN’T ENOUGH “I got better—but then it came back.” Relapsing Babesia is a frustrating pattern many patients recognize—symptoms improve, then return weeks or months later. Quick Answer: Tafenoquine may be an option for relapsing Babesia when