Lyme Science Blog

Lyme Carditis and Pacemaker Removal: When Is It Possible? High-degree heart block led to pacemaker placement Both patients were later treated for Lyme disease Pacemakers were successfully removed after recovery In their study, “Pacemaker Explantation in Patients With Lyme Carditis,” Wamboldt and colleagues describe two cases where permanent pacemakers were later removed following treatment for […]

‘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 Linked to Low Sodium and SIADH Lyme meningitis may present with neurologic and electrolyte abnormalities. An elderly woman developed persistent hyponatremia and back pain. Her spinal tap ultimately confirmed Lyme meningitis. There are many causes of hyponatremia, including infections involving the central nervous system. Only a small number of reports have described Lyme

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: A Blistering Lyme Disease Rash Lyme disease rashes are not always flat or bull’s-eye shaped. Some patients develop blistering erythema migrans lesions. Bullous Lyme disease may lead to delayed diagnosis and treatment. Lyme disease can present with several atypical erythema migrans variants including urticarial, linear, granulomatous, and bullous lesions. As this case

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,

Borrelia miyamotoi Meningoencephalitis: Case Report Neurologic symptoms can occur even without immunosuppression. Confusion and headaches were initially mistaken for a mini-stroke. Borrelia miyamotoi should be considered when Lyme EIA is positive but Western blot is negative. Borrelia miyamotoi meningoencephalitis can occur even in immunocompetent patients. A 73-year-old man was admitted to the hospital with a

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