Lyme Science Blog

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 […]

Babesia Congenital Transmission and Newborn Risks Babesia can be transmitted by ticks and rarely during pregnancy Congenital transmission may cause serious illness in newborns Anemia and thrombocytopenia can be important clues Babesia congenital transmission is rare, but this case highlights why Babesia should be considered in newborns with fever, anemia, thrombocytopenia, and possible maternal exposure

Lyme Disease in Pregnancy: Risks, Treatment, and Baby Outcomes Lyme disease in pregnancy raises important questions Pregnancy outcomes vary and evidence remains limited Early recognition and treatment may improve outcomes Lyme disease in pregnancy remains an area of active debate and ongoing research. Questions often arise about pregnancy outcomes, congenital Lyme disease, treatment decisions, and

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

Babesia and Anaplasmosis in a Child With Leukemia A CHILD WITH LEUKEMIA DEVELOPED TWO TICK-BORNE INFECTIONS BABESIA AND ANAPLASMOSIS MAY BE MORE SEVERE IN IMMUNOCOMPROMISED PATIENTS Children undergoing chemotherapy may be more vulnerable to severe tick-borne infections. This case describes a 5-year-old with leukemia who developed both Babesia and Anaplasmosis after a tick bite. “A

Anaplasmosis and Trigeminal Neuralgia: A Rare Neurologic Case Anaplasmosis may rarely present with neurologic symptoms Severe facial pain can mimic trigeminal neuralgia Tick-borne infections should be considered in endemic areas Anaplasmosis is a tick-borne infection that commonly presents with fever, headache, myalgia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, and elevated liver enzymes. Although neurologic complications are uncommon, rare cases

Bilateral Facial Palsy, Lyme Disease, and Bell’s Palsy Bilateral facial weakness is uncommon Lyme disease can affect the facial nerves Early diagnosis may improve outcomes Bilateral facial palsy is rare and may signal an underlying systemic illness. Lyme disease is one important cause of bilateral facial nerve palsy, particularly in endemic areas where tick exposure

Lyme Arthritis in Children: Knee Swelling Without Rash Lyme arthritis in children may present with swollen knees without rash Children may not recall a tick bite before symptoms develop Early recognition may help prevent delayed diagnosis and joint complications Lyme arthritis in children may appear months after a tick bite and often presents without a

Lyme Disease Optic Neuritis: Can Lyme Cause Sudden Vision Loss? Lyme disease optic neuritis may cause blurry vision and central scotoma. Inflammation of the optic nerve can affect one or both eyes in Lyme disease. Early recognition and treatment may improve visual recovery. Lyme disease optic neuritis is a rare but potentially serious neurologic complication