Lyme Science Blog

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 Lyme disease can sometimes be mistaken for shingles when patients present with rash and severe nerve pain. Hansen and colleagues describe a case illustrating this pattern of Lyme disease misdiagnosis: a 62-year-old man with abdominal pain and rash who was initially treated for shingles but later diagnosed

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

Treatment for Lyme Arthritis After Knee Replacement Treatment for Lyme arthritis typically involves antibiotic therapy and may prevent unnecessary orthopedic surgery. Doctors described a 67-year-old avid outdoorsman who developed Lyme arthritis after knee replacement surgery and was successfully treated with antibiotics. Ten months earlier, the patient had received a partial knee replacement of the left

Can Lyme Disease Cause Jaundice? Can Lyme disease cause jaundice? Although uncommon, Lyme disease has been reported to cause hyperbilirubinemia and jaundice in rare cases. Several case reports describe patients who developed severe jaundice before Lyme disease was recognized as the underlying cause. Lyme disease can affect multiple organ systems. In addition to common symptoms

Atypical Symptoms of Lyme Disease: Numbness, Paresthesia, and Abdominal Wall Weakness Lyme disease does not always present with classic symptoms such as joint pain, fever, or fatigue. In some patients, atypical symptoms of Lyme disease—including numbness, paresthesia, and abdominal wall weakness—may be the first signs of neurologic infection. Reda and colleagues describe a case highlighting

Subacute Transverse Myelitis Caused by Borrelia Infection Subacute transverse myelitis is a rare but serious neurologic complication that can occur with Lyme disease. The condition results from inflammation of the spinal cord and can be triggered by infections, including Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacterium responsible for Lyme disease. This rare complication falls within the broader spectrum

Lyme Carditis Heart Block in a Young Man: A Case Report Lyme carditis heart block can occur even in otherwise healthy young adults. In some cases, the first sign of Lyme disease is a disturbance in the heart’s electrical system that slows the heartbeat dangerously. When doctors dismiss symptoms as anxiety or assume someone is

Lyme Disease and Depression: A Case of Treatment-Resistant Depression in a Teenager Lyme disease and depression can be closely linked. Treatment-resistant depression in teenagers rarely prompts Lyme disease testing—even when accompanied by cognitive decline, academic failure, and a history of tick exposure. Neuropsychiatric symptoms—including depression, anxiety, irritability, and cognitive impairment—are increasingly recognized manifestations of neurologic