Lyme Science Blog

Lyme Disease Mistaken for Shingles: A Case Report Quick Answer: Lyme disease can be mistaken for shingles when patients present with rash and nerve pain. If symptoms do not improve with antiviral treatment, Lyme disease should be considered — especially in endemic areas. Lyme disease can sometimes be mistaken for shingles when patients present with […]

Neurologic Lyme Disease: Bannwarth Syndrome and Severe Nerve Pain Neurologic Lyme disease may cause severe nerve pain. Bannwarth syndrome can mimic spinal disease. Symptoms may include weakness or facial palsy. Bannwarth syndrome is a neurologic form of Lyme disease characterized by severe nerve pain, radiculopathy, weakness, sensory symptoms, and sometimes facial nerve palsy. Although more

Lyme Disease Dementia: When Cognitive Decline May Be Reversible Lyme neuroborreliosis may resemble dementia. Rapid cognitive decline and gait problems are important warning signs. Some patients improve after antibiotic treatment. Can Lyme disease cause dementia? In some patients, Lyme neuroborreliosis may lead to rapidly progressive cognitive decline that resembles dementia. Unlike many neurodegenerative conditions, however,

Treatment for Lyme Arthritis After Knee Replacement Persistent knee swelling may be caused by Lyme arthritis Lyme disease can mimic prosthetic joint complications after surgery Antibiotic treatment may resolve inflammation without additional surgery A patient undergoes knee replacement surgery—but months later, the swelling returns. Imaging appears normal. There is no obvious mechanical failure. Yet the

Can Lyme Disease Cause Jaundice? Jaundice is an uncommon manifestation of Lyme disease Elevated bilirubin and liver abnormalities have been reported Diagnosis may require ruling out more common causes first Can Lyme disease cause jaundice? Although uncommon, case reports suggest Lyme disease can lead to hyperbilirubinemia, jaundice, and abnormal liver tests in select patients. Clinicians

Unusual Symptoms of Lyme Disease: Abdominal Numbness and Weakness Neurologic Lyme disease may cause unusual sensory symptoms Abdominal numbness and weakness can reflect Lyme radiculopathy Atypical symptoms may delay diagnosis and treatment Lyme disease may present with unusual neurologic symptoms that are easily mistaken for spinal disease, neuropathy, or unrelated neurologic conditions.1 Patients with neurologic

“`html Lyme Disease and Spinal Cord Inflammation: A Transverse Myelitis Case Spinal cord inflammation and neurologic dysfunction Lyme disease can rarely involve the spinal cord A case highlights transverse myelitis and optic involvement Subacute transverse myelitis is a neurologic syndrome caused by inflammation of the spinal cord. It may result from infections, autoimmune disorders, vascular

Can Lyme Disease Cause Heart Block? SILC Score and Lyme Carditis Lyme carditis can cause heart block and abnormal heart rhythms The SILC score may help identify suspected Lyme-induced AV block Early recognition may prevent serious cardiac complications Lyme disease can occasionally spread to the heart and cause Lyme carditis, a serious complication that may

Can Lyme Disease Cause Depression? Depression may occur with Lyme disease Brain fog and cognitive decline can overlap Neuropsychiatric symptoms may be missed Can Lyme disease cause depression? Research and clinical experience suggest that depression may occur in some patients with Lyme disease, particularly when neurologic symptoms such as brain fog, fatigue, sleep disturbance, and

Lyme disease can present with a broad range of symptoms. Many of them are familiar to clinicians. But in some cases, a patient may exhibit atypical symptoms, including rashes other than the well-known “bull’s eye” rash. These unique presentations of Lyme disease can make diagnosing the illness particularly difficult. For instance, Sharma reports, “Our case