Lyme Science Blog

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 […]

Engorged Tick: Can It Be Tested for Lyme Disease? Engorged ticks can be tested for Lyme disease bacteria Negative tick tests may not reliably rule out infection risk Clinical symptoms and exposure history still matter Ticks can be tested for the Lyme disease bacteria and other tick-borne pathogens. However, the accuracy of testing may depend

Can Lyme Disease Cause Stomach Pain? Neurologic Symptoms Explained Stomach pain may reflect nerve inflammation Neurologic Lyme disease can mimic GI disorders Standard gastrointestinal tests may appear normal Lyme disease stomach pain may result from nerve inflammation or autonomic dysfunction rather than a primary gastrointestinal disorder. Although Lyme disease is commonly associated with fatigue, joint

What Repels Ticks Naturally? DEET vs Natural Repellents Compared As the number of tick-borne diseases grows and the geographic spread of ticks continues, there is increasing interest in what repels ticks naturally and which products are both effective and safe to use. Little is known about exactly how ticks detect odors and what smells repel

Lyme Disease Protein Tricks the Immune System and Fuels Arthritis Researchers identified a Lyme disease protein linked to inflammation. NapA may help Borrelia evade the immune system. The findings may improve future Lyme arthritis diagnostics and treatments. Lyme disease patients often struggle with ongoing inflammatory symptoms including arthritis. Researchers now believe a bacterial protein called

Lyme Disease Facial Palsy Progressed Despite Treatment Facial palsy may signal neurologic Lyme disease. Hearing loss and dizziness can also occur. Symptoms may continue to evolve despite treatment. Lyme disease facial palsy can worsen despite early treatment—particularly when neurologic symptoms continue to evolve. In this case report, a 71-year-old man developed progressive facial palsy, hearing

Lyme Disease Sudden Hearing Loss: When SSNHL May Be Reversible Lyme disease may contribute to sudden hearing loss. Some patients with SSNHL test positive for Lyme disease. Early recognition may improve recovery. The study aimed to assess the prevalence of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL), particularly among Lyme disease patients. The authors explain, “Sudden sensorineural

What Do Ebola, COVID-19, and Lyme Disease Have in Common? Welcome to another Inside Lyme Podcast. I am your host, Dr. Daniel Cameron. In this episode, I discuss what Ebola, COVID-19, and Lyme disease may have in common — the potential for persistent symptoms long after the initial infection. The topic was recently explored in

Lyme Disease as a Reversible Cause of Chronic Illness Can Lyme disease be a reversible cause of chronic illness in some patients? A growing body of research suggests that it can. Studies have documented that Lyme disease may lead to persistent or chronic symptoms, including Lyme encephalopathy, Lyme neuropathy, chronic neurologic Lyme disease, and neuropsychiatric

Visual Changes in Lyme Disease: Blurred Vision, Light Sensitivity, and Visual Fatigue Visual changes in Lyme disease may affect reading, focus, and balance. Neurologic dysfunction can contribute to blurry vision, light sensitivity, and visual fatigue. Persistent visual symptoms may warrant evaluation for Lyme neuroborreliosis. Visual changes in Lyme disease may involve more than blurry vision