Lyme Science Blog

Lyme Carditis Diagnosis: Study of 18 Cases Reveals Broader ECG Patterns A study of 18 Lyme carditis cases shows that the condition can present with a wider range of ECG abnormalities than previously recognized. The findings suggest clinicians should expand their diagnostic thinking beyond classic atrioventricular (AV) block when evaluating cardiac patients in Lyme-endemic areas. […]

Top 10 Lyme Disease News and Research Stories of 2019 Lyme disease news continues to highlight the complexity of diagnosing and treating tick-borne infections. New Lyme disease research and clinical studies help explain persistent symptoms, testing limitations, and coinfections. Many of the studies highlighted in this review focus on the wide range of Lyme disease

Doctors have also shared their frustration in a survey taken by Dr. Lynora Saxinger, an infectious disease specialist and associate professor at the University of Alberta’s medical school. Lyme disease myths may lead to frustrations for doctors. The survey reported that “30% [of doctors] said they have been pressured to give antibiotics and almost 90%

Following is a list of the top blogs on Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses for 2019 according to our readers.  (Please click on the headline to read the complete Lyme disease blogs.) 1.) First report of Lyme disease causing mitral valve endocarditis There have been multiple reports documenting cardiac manifestations of Lyme disease, including

Can Controlled Burns Reduce Tick Populations? Researchers continue to explore ways to reduce tick populations and lower the risk of tick-borne diseases such as Lyme disease. One strategy that has received attention is the use of controlled burns in forested areas. In a study examining tick populations in eastern Texas, Hodo and colleagues evaluated whether

Can Lyme Disease Be Fatal? When Untreated Lyme Carditis Leads to Death Quick Answer: Lyme disease is rarely fatal, but untreated Lyme carditis can lead to dangerous heart rhythm abnormalities and sudden death. When cardiac symptoms appear, antibiotics should not be delayed. Can you die from Lyme disease? While uncommon, untreated Lyme carditis can cause

Bannwarth Syndrome and Weight Loss: An Atypical Case of Neurologic Lyme Disease Bannwarth syndrome is a neurologic manifestation of Lyme disease most commonly described in Europe. However, cases are increasingly recognized in the United States. Physicians from the Mayo Clinic previously described several patients with neuroinvasive Lyme disease living in Minnesota and Wisconsin. In those

Lyme Disease Treatment Guidelines Strike Out: An Editorial There is growing evidence supporting the existence and severity of chronic manifestations of Lyme disease despite recent treatment guidelines for Lyme disease. Treatment guidelines influence how physicians diagnose and treat patients across the United States, and when they fail to reflect emerging clinical evidence, patients with persistent

Study Identifies 189 Children With Lyme Carditis Heart complications from Lyme disease extend far beyond classic heart block. A national study identified 189 children with Lyme carditis showing a broad spectrum of cardiac problems — from myocarditis to cardiac arrest — with median treatment costs exceeding $9,000 per child. By Dr. Daniel Cameron The Growing

Brain MRI in Lyme Disease: What Imaging May Reveal Brain imaging can help evaluate neurological symptoms in Lyme disease. However, MRI findings are often nonspecific, and a normal brain MRI does not rule out neurologic Lyme disease. By Dr. Daniel Cameron Brain MRI and Neurologic Lyme Disease Neurologic Lyme disease can affect the brain, spinal