Lyme Science Blog

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? Doxycycline after a tick bite is commonly prescribed to reduce the risk of Lyme disease. But how strong is the evidence supporting a single 200 mg dose? Most patients assume the answer is straightforward. It isn’t. Clinical Insight: Evidence supporting a single 200-mg dose of doxycycline after

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 Tick bites may trigger delayed allergic reactions to red meat. Alpha-gal syndrome is often missed because symptoms occur hours later. Delayed diagnosis remains common due to limited awareness. A tick bite can trigger an unexpected allergic reaction to red meat known as alpha-gal syndrome (AGS). Unlike most

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

Persistent Antigen Lyme Arthritis: Infection or Immune Response? Persistent antigen Lyme arthritis has gained attention following research suggesting that Borrelia burgdorferi peptidoglycan fragments (PG(Bb)) may drive inflammation even after antibiotic treatment. This raises a critical clinical question: are these symptoms driven by residual immune activation—or by ongoing infection? According to Jutras and colleagues, PG(Bb) fragments

Lyme Disease in Pregnancy: Risks to the Baby and What to Watch For Can Lyme disease affect your baby? Is congenital Lyme disease possible? Here’s what pregnant women need to know. Lyme disease in pregnancy raises important questions about risks to both the mother and the developing baby. While many pregnancies result in healthy outcomes,

Tafenoquine for Relapsing Babesia: When Standard Treatment Fails Relapsing Babesia may persist despite standard treatment Drug resistance and co-infections can complicate recovery Tafenoquine is being explored in difficult Babesia cases Relapsing Babesia can occur when standard treatment fails to fully eradicate infection, particularly in immunocompromised patients or individuals with resistant disease. Some patients continue to

Eye Twitching After Lyme Disease: Facial Nerve Symptoms Lyme disease can affect the facial nerve Eye twitching, tearing, weakness, and facial tightness may persist Residual symptoms may reflect synkinesis or nerve dysfunction Eye twitching after Lyme disease may occur when facial nerve inflammation or Lyme facial palsy leaves behind residual nerve dysfunction. Patients may describe