Lyme Science Blog

Can Babesia Be Fatal? How Delayed Diagnosis Turned Deadly Can Babesia be fatal if it is not diagnosed early? Yes—and while most infections are treatable, delayed recognition can allow the parasite to destroy red blood cells and lead to life-threatening complications. In rare cases, a missed diagnosis can turn a treatable infection into a fatal […]

Lyme carditis diagnosis during a COVID-19 quarantine A 42-year-old man from New York City received a Lyme carditis diagnosis after quarantining in upstate New York during the COVID-19 pandemic. The case is discussed in the article “A curious case of Lyme carditis in an urban hospital,” by Brissett et al. 1 “Lyme carditis was a surprise

Powassan Virus: A Rare but Dangerous Tick-Borne Infection Powassan virus is a rare but serious tick-borne infection that can cause severe neurologic disease, including encephalitis and meningitis. Unlike Lyme disease, which may require prolonged tick attachment, Powassan virus transmission can occur rapidly. For a broader overview of tick-borne infections, see our coinfections hub. In their

Can Lyme Disease Trigger an Autoimmune Disease? Can Lyme disease trigger an autoimmune disease? Many patients are given an autoimmune diagnosis after months of unexplained symptoms—but the underlying cause may not be autoimmune at all. In clinical practice, infections like Lyme disease can produce symptoms and laboratory findings that closely resemble autoimmune conditions. The challenge

Can Lyme Disease Trigger Sarcoidosis? The relationship between Lyme disease and sarcoidosis has drawn increasing interest among researchers. Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory disorder characterized by granulomas—clusters of immune cells that can affect multiple organs, most commonly the lungs and lymph nodes. According to the American Lung Association, an “infection or exposure to something in the

Tick Bite Prevention in Children: Why It Often Fails Tick bite prevention in children often falls short in real-world settings. Despite widespread recommendations such as tick checks and protective clothing, studies show that children remain at high risk for tick exposure and Lyme disease. Understanding what actually works to prevent Lyme disease is especially important

Powassan Virus Encephalitis: Does It Affect Everyone? Can Powassan virus encephalitis or other neurologic damage affect everyone who becomes infected? The Powassan virus (POWV) can be transmitted in as little as 15 minutes and is spread primarily through the bite of an infected deer tick. There is currently no specific treatment for Powassan virus infection,

How Long Does It Take to Get Lyme Disease After a Tick Bite? A study by Eisen and colleagues addressed a frequently asked question: How long does it take to get Lyme disease? According to their findings, the probability of becoming infected with Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb)—the bacterium that causes Lyme disease—increases the longer an infected

Maine woman dies from deer tick virus This case report describes an elderly woman from Maine, who was diagnosed post-mortem with a rare deer tick virus, known as the Powassan virus. The 72-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital with myalgias, chills, and an erythema migrans rash on her left scapula. She reportedly had 2

Can Ticks Be Tested for Lyme Disease? Ticks can be tested for Lyme disease and other tick-borne pathogens. Laboratories may analyze a removed tick for Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacterium responsible for Lyme disease. However, the accuracy of tick testing may depend on whether the tick is engorged. A study by Gasmi et al. found that