Lyme Science Blog

Will Eliminating Deer Help Stop the Spread of Infected Ticks? Reducing deer populations alone is unlikely to stop the spread of Lyme disease—and in some cases, may even increase infection rates in ticks. Efforts to control Lyme disease have long focused on reducing deer, a primary host for adult Ixodes scapularis ticks. However, research findings […]

Unexplained Stroke: Look for Lyme Disease Lyme disease should be considered in patients with unexplained stroke—especially when standard risk factors are absent. Moreno Legast and colleagues describe the case of an 83-year-old man in whom Lyme neuroborreliosis was strongly suspected as the cause of stroke. Stroke Without a Clear Cause The patient presented with right-sided

Preventing Unnecessary Surgery for Children With Lyme Arthritis Lyme arthritis in children is frequently mistaken for septic arthritis—leading to unnecessary surgery that could be avoided with early recognition and testing. This diagnostic challenge is especially important in emergency settings, where children present with an acutely swollen, painful joint and rapid decisions must be made. Lyme

Babesia urban cases are on the rise — and this South Bronx case shows why clinicians must consider tick-borne diseases even in patients living in cities. A single day trip to a state park was enough to cause a serious Babesia infection. While many of these cases may be due to infections acquired when travelling

Lyme Disease in Travelers: A Missed Diagnosis Abroad Lyme disease in travelers is often missed when clinicians in non-endemic regions fail to consider exposure history. This case highlights how easily Lyme disease can be overlooked when symptoms present outside of North America or Europe. A Misleading Presentation in Japan A woman living in New York

When Lyme Disease Mimics a Brain Tumor in Children Lyme disease can mimic a brain tumor when it presents as increased intracranial pressure, leading to delayed diagnosis if not considered early. This case highlights how neuroborreliosis can present with alarming neurologic symptoms—even when imaging appears normal. A Concerning Presentation: Headache and Papilledema A 9-year-old boy

Five Cases of Lyme Carditis in Canada: Multiple Hospital Visits to Diagnose Lyme carditis diagnosis delay can lead to repeated emergency visits, worsening heart block, and avoidable pacing procedures. Lyme carditis with heart block can present with nonspecific symptoms and be difficult to diagnose. But early recognition matters. “Recognizing this early would curtail the progression

Can Different Lyme Strains Cause Reinfection? Reinfection with a different strain of Borrelia burgdorferi may increase infectivity and raise the possibility of superinfection. New research in mice suggests that not all Lyme exposures behave the same—especially when different strains are involved. What Happens With Reinfection? In a study by Bhatia and colleagues, researchers examined how

Persistent Lyme Symptoms: Patients Pay a High Price in Quality of Life Patients with persistent Lyme symptoms experience significantly reduced quality of life—even after standard antibiotic treatment. A Netherlands study highlights the burden faced by these patients and raises important questions about treatment limitations. Quality of Life Was Severely Impaired Before treatment, patients reported poor

Lyme Endocarditis: A Rare but Serious Cardiac Manifestation Lyme disease can affect the heart in ways beyond conduction abnormalities, including rare cases of endocarditis involving heart valves. This case highlights how Lyme infection can mimic more common cardiac conditions—and why it should be considered in the differential diagnosis. A Severe Valve Presentation A 68-year-old man