Lyme Science Blog

Borrelia Miyamotoi Treatment: Which Antibiotics Actually Work? Borrelia miyamotoi can be difficult to diagnose. Relapsing fever may be absent in many patients. Treatment decisions often rely on limited clinical evidence. Borrelia miyamotoi is an emerging tick-borne relapsing fever spirochete transmitted by blacklegged ticks. Although it is related to relapsing fever organisms, many patients with Borrelia […]

Why Some Lyme Patients Are Not Treated—Even With Ongoing Symptoms Some patients are told it’s not Lyme Even when symptoms persist That decision affects treatment Quick Answer: Some patients with Lyme borreliosis are not treated because they do not meet strict diagnostic criteria. However, symptoms may persist despite negative or inconclusive findings. Some patients with

Can Lyme Disease End a Military Career? Army Officer Case Highlights Risks Military personnel may face increased tick exposure risk Delayed Lyme disease diagnosis may lead to long-term complications Persistent symptoms may affect readiness, duty status, and military careers Military personnel training outdoors may face increased exposure to ticks and tick-borne diseases. In one published

When Lyme Disease Mimics Sjögren’s Syndrome Dry eyes. Dry mouth. Fatigue. Sometimes Lyme disease looks like an autoimmune disorder. That overlap can delay diagnosis. Lyme disease can present like an autoimmune disorder—leading to delayed diagnosis and unnecessary treatment. A 43-year-old woman initially presented to an oncology clinic with lymphadenopathy and systemic symptoms including low-grade fever,

Can Larval Ticks Transmit Disease? Borrelia miyamotoi Findings Larval ticks may transmit Borrelia miyamotoi infection Unlike Lyme disease bacteria, infected female ticks may pass the infection to offspring Tiny larval ticks may pose a greater disease risk than previously recognized For years, many clinicians and patients assumed larval ticks posed little infectious risk to humans

Steroids and Lyme Disease: Are Steroid Injections Safe for Children? Steroids in Lyme disease remain controversial Persistent arthritis may require second-line decisions Timing may influence risks and outcomes Premature injection of steroids “has been reported as a potential risk factor for the development of ARLA [antibiotic-refractory Lyme arthritis] in children and adults,” writes Horton et

Scientific Community Discounts Lyme Disease Patients When patient experience is dismissed, gaps in care widen—especially in complex illnesses like Lyme disease. The authors of a review dismiss concerns about chronic manifestations of Lyme disease, stating, “The infection annual incidence is modest (< 30,000 cases) and is not supposed to be fatal.” [2] Such conclusions risk

Are Lone Star Ticks in Your Neighborhood? Lone star ticks are increasingly common in New Jersey Many bites occur close to home rather than deep woods Understanding where they live may reduce tick exposure Between 2006 and 2016, researchers received 8,608 ticks from 22 states in the U.S. [1] However, most of the ticks were

Small Fiber Neuropathy and Autonomic Dysfunction in Lyme Disease Objective findings may explain why patients with persistent Lyme symptoms experience pain, sensory changes, and dysautonomia. A retrospective study of 10 patients diagnosed with post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome found that all had small fiber neuropathy, autonomic dysfunction, and abnormal cerebral blood flow—providing measurable evidence for symptoms

Northern “Immigrant” Ticks Causing Concern in the South Changes in tick behavior may increase Lyme disease risk in regions previously considered lower risk. Ticks locate hosts through a behavior known as “questing.” According to the CDC, ticks hold onto leaves and grass with their hind legs while extending their front legs outward, waiting to latch