Lyme Science Blog

Lyme Disease Vaccine for Humans: Would You Trust It Today? Last reviewed: March 2026 | Daniel Cameron, MD, MPH A Lyme disease vaccine for humans once existed in the United States—but it disappeared from the market only a few years after approval. Lyme disease is transmitted through the bite of infected ticks carrying the bacterium […]

Ticks must balance their need to find a host with the risk of drying out while waiting in the environment. This behavior, known as questing, occurs when a tick climbs vegetation and waits for a passing host to brush against it. Questing is the behavior ticks use to locate hosts. A tick climbs onto grass

Sleep Disorders in Lyme Disease Many patients with Lyme disease describe the same pattern—exhaustion that never lifts, nights spent waking at 2 or 3 AM, and the feeling that sleep no longer restores them. Sleep disorders are among the most common yet least recognized symptoms of Lyme disease. These disturbances often reflect underlying autonomic dysfunction

Behavior Changes in Children With Lyme Disease and Parental Stress Lyme disease in children can cause behavioral and emotional changes that are difficult for families to manage. Mood swings, irritability, aggression, and emotional outbursts can appear during the illness, sometimes overwhelming parents who are trying to respond effectively. These behavioral symptoms are increasingly recognized as

Lyme Disease and Pregnancy Outcomes Lyme disease and pregnancy outcomes remain an important concern for women diagnosed with infection during pregnancy. A study by researchers in Slovenia examined whether early Lyme disease affects pregnancy outcomes in women treated for erythema migrans. In their article, “Course and Outcome of Erythema Migrans in Pregnant Women,” Maraspin and

Ticks Thrive at High Altitudes in the Alps Researchers studying ticks in the Alps found that ticks can survive and reproduce at elevations previously thought unsuitable for their survival. Because Ixodes ticks transmit Lyme disease and other tick-borne infections, the discovery of ticks thriving at higher altitudes raises questions about how climate and habitat changes

Are Doctors Reluctant to Diagnose Lyme Disease? Are doctors reluctant to diagnose Lyme disease? Investigators asked clinicians to review a series of Lyme disease case presentations to determine whether physicians might hesitate to include Lyme disease in their differential diagnosis. The study found that Lyme disease appeared on the differential diagnosis list in only 5

Lyme Disease Mistaken for Shingles: A Case Report Quick Answer: Lyme disease can be mistaken for shingles when patients present with rash and nerve pain. If symptoms do not improve with antiviral treatment, Lyme disease should be considered—especially in endemic areas. Lyme disease can sometimes be mistaken for shingles when patients present with rash and

Neurologic Lyme Disease: Bannwarth Syndrome Cases Neurologic Lyme disease can affect the brain, peripheral nerves, and spinal nerve roots. One manifestation is Bannwarth syndrome, a neurologic condition characterized by painful radiculopathy, neuropathy, facial nerve palsy, motor weakness, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) lymphocytic pleocytosis. Neurologic Lyme disease, also known as Lyme neuroborreliosis, can present with a

Can Lyme Disease Cause Dementia? Can Lyme disease cause dementia? In some patients, neurologic Lyme disease, also known as Lyme neuroborreliosis, can produce dementia-like symptoms including memory loss, cognitive decline, gait disturbance, and behavioral changes. Several case reports describe patients initially diagnosed with dementia whose symptoms were ultimately attributed to Lyme disease. In a retrospective