Lyme Science Blog

Lyme Carditis Symptoms May Go Undiagnosed in Mexico Lyme carditis symptoms can be difficult to recognize, particularly in regions where Lyme disease is not widely acknowledged. Lyme carditis occurs when Borrelia burgdorferi infects the heart and disrupts the electrical conduction system. A case report from Mexico highlights how delayed recognition of Lyme carditis may lead […]

Can a Single Dose of Doxycycline Prevent Lyme Disease? A single 200 mg dose of doxycycline is sometimes recommended after a tick bite to prevent Lyme disease. In a report entitled “Doxycycline for Prevention of Spirochetal Infections—Status Report,” Wormser describes how a single oral dose of doxycycline was used to reduce the development of erythema

How Do Ticks Move When Seeking a Meal? How do ticks move when seeking a meal? Ticks are often thought to simply wait for a host to brush past them, but research shows adult blacklegged ticks (Ixodes scapularis) may actively move toward nearby hosts once they detect them. Understanding how ticks move helps explain how

Bell’s Palsy in Children: 29% Had Lyme Disease in a UK Study A retrospective review examined 93 children with idiopathic facial nerve palsy, formerly called Bell’s palsy, who were evaluated at University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust between 2010 and 2017. Facial nerve palsy can be an early sign of Lyme disease in children. Very

Single-Dose Doxycycline After a Tick Bite A pharmacist-run clinic prescribing doxycycline for tick bite prophylaxis was described in a recent article by Portman, “Implementing a pharmacist-run Lyme disease postexposure prophylaxis clinic augmented by academic detailing within the Veterans Health Administration.”¹ Programs allowing pharmacists to prescribe doxycycline for tick bite prophylaxis may improve access to care

Long-Term Lyme Disease Symptoms: What Patients Experience Long-term Lyme disease symptoms can persist in some patients even after standard antibiotic treatment, affecting neurologic, musculoskeletal, and cognitive function. Quick Answer: Long-term Lyme disease symptoms may include fatigue, joint pain, brain fog, sleep disturbance, and neurologic complaints that can last months or years after infection. While many

CDC Lyme Disease Case Definition Often Misused Many physicians mistakenly rely on the CDC Lyme disease case definition when diagnosing patients with Lyme disease. Some clinicians require that patients meet these strict surveillance criteria before making a diagnosis. However, the CDC Lyme disease case definition was developed as a public health surveillance tool designed to

Looking for a Lyme Doctor Many patients searching for a Lyme doctor do so after struggling with persistent symptoms, negative test results, or difficulty finding clinicians experienced in diagnosing tick-borne diseases. Finding a Lyme Doctor It can be difficult to find a Lyme doctor, particularly for patients who do not live in a Lyme-endemic area

What Is Chronic Lyme Disease? Chronic Lyme disease refers to a multisystem illness with persistent or recurring symptoms following infection with Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacteria responsible for Lyme disease. Shor and colleagues identified a broad range of symptoms, signs, and medical conditions present in patients with acute and chronic Lyme disease. These manifestations were observed

Lyme Disease Cluster at a North Carolina Camp A cluster of Lyme disease cases in children attending a wilderness camp in North Carolina highlights the growing risk of Lyme disease in the southern United States. The number of tick-borne diseases, including Lyme disease, has been steadily rising as tick populations expand into new territories. One