Lyme Science Blog

Why Blood Smears Fail to Detect Borrelia miyamotoi Diagnosing Borrelia miyamotoi can be challenging. Some doctors have suggested that a blood smear should be used to confirm the diagnosis of BMD. But as Telford and colleagues demonstrate, a blood smear may not be so reliable for diagnosing Borrelia miyamotoi. Blood smear examination is a standard […]

Opsoclonus is typically due to an infectious disease or a form of cancer, known as neuroblastoma. In some cases, the cause is unknown. But the condition is rarely seen in Lyme disease patients, explains Gibaud and colleagues in the case report “Opsoclonus in a child with neuroborreliosis.” [1] In fact, only 2 cases have been

A one-year prospective study followed 52 adult Lyme disease patients who presented with erythema migrans (EM) rashes. Participants reported a range of somatic symptoms, including fatigue, headaches, joint pain, muscle pain, and cognitive complaints. Patients with more severe physical symptoms also had higher scores on the Beck Depression Inventory–II (BDI-II). The BDI-II is commonly used

In March 2017, a 68-year-old man was admitted to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, with symptoms suggestive of advanced heart failure. “He had a chronic cough and progressive dyspnea, which were consistent with New York Heart Association class IV symptoms of heart failure,” writes Fatima. “He also had atrial fibrillation with rapid ventricular response.”

Two studies published in 1996 and 1998 required participants to meet the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) surveillance case definition for Lyme disease. Under this definition, an erythema migrans (EM) rash must be at least 2 inches in diameter to qualify. How Common Is the Erythema Migrans Rash? The incidence of erythema migrans

A previously healthy woman presented to the emergency department with sudden-onset dyspnea and chest pain. Four days prior to admission, she experienced a syncopal episode. Electrocardiogram (EKG) findings revealed a third-degree atrioventricular (AV) heart block. The patient, a resident of Nuevo León, Mexico, reported travel within the previous four weeks to a region considered endemic

The authors reviewed the records of 1,220 young, middle-aged and elderly patients, comparing disease course and long-term outcomes for each group. The patients had been treated at an outpatient clinic at the University Medical Center Ljubljana in Slovenia. The study included 224 elderly patients, with 173 between 65-74 years old, 48 between 75-84 years old

Do standard Lyme disease prevention methods actually work? Most public health guidelines recommend tick checks, repellents, and protective clothing—but how strong is the evidence behind these recommendations? A systematic review reveals the research is surprisingly thin. What the research says about personal protective measures In the article “Interventions to prevent Lyme disease in humans: A

Following is a list of the most popular blogs for 2018! 1.) Lyme disease misdiagnosed as shingles in a 62-year-old man Case report: It appeared to be shingles but it was Lyme disease. 2.) More than 50% of mice in Kentucky infected with Lyme bacteria Study finds more than half of the mice in Kentucky

But with the emergence of different species of spirochetes and tick-borne co-infections, the one microbe, one disease Germ Theory has fallen apart. The growing number of concurrent tick-borne infections, such as Lyme disease and Babesia, demonstrates the involvement and concern of multiple microbes. One study found that an infection with both Lyme disease and Babesia