Lyme Science Blog

Mono or Lyme Disease? Why Symptoms Can Be Confused Quick Answer: Mono (Epstein-Barr virus) and Lyme disease can cause similar symptoms—and in some cases, patients may have both at the same time. Clinical Insight: A positive mono test does not rule out Lyme disease. Overlapping symptoms and cross-reactivity can delay diagnosis. Fatigue. Fever. Sore throat. […]

Are There Ticks in Cities in the UK? Urban Lyme Disease Risk Explained Ticks are not just in rural areas Urban parks can carry real risk Many people don’t expect this Are there ticks in cities in the UK? Yes—and the greater concern is that many people assume urban areas are safe when ticks are

Babesia Combination Therapy: First-Line Treatment Options Babesia combination therapy is required because Babesia is a parasite—not a bacterium—and does not respond to standard Lyme antibiotics. Quick Answer: Babesia combination therapy typically includes atovaquone plus azithromycin or clindamycin plus quinine. These regimens target the parasite directly and differ from standard Lyme disease antibiotics. Babesia combination therapy

Lyme Carditis Pacemaker: Can You Avoid Permanent Placement? Lyme carditis can cause dangerous heart block—but early treatment may prevent the need for a permanent pacemaker. Lyme carditis pacemaker decisions often depend on timing. When Lyme carditis is recognized early, temporary pacing and antibiotics may allow full recovery without permanent device implantation. Key Question: When can

What Are Heartland Virus Symptoms? What 10 Cases Show Symptoms can look like other tick illnesses Some cases become severe or fatal Diagnosis is often missed What are Heartland virus symptoms? Most patients develop fever, fatigue, and muscle pain—but some cases progress to severe illness with confusion or death. Heartland virus is a tick-borne infection

Lyme Disease Risk for International Travelers to the United States Lyme disease remains a significant risk for international travelers visiting the United States, particularly in endemic regions. “Despite being a top international tourist destination, few sources describe the spectrum of infectious diseases acquired among travellers to the USA,” writes Stoney in the Journal of Travel

Babesia Risk Expands: Citizen Scientists Identify Emerging Threat Babesia risk is expanding across the United States, with new data showing infected ticks in areas not previously considered endemic. A study by Nieto and colleagues used a citizen science approach to better understand human exposure to tick-borne infections, including Babesia microti. Unlike traditional surveillance, this study

Borrelia miyamotoi Diagnosis: Challenges for Clinicians Borrelia miyamotoi diagnosis remains challenging, as symptoms often overlap with Lyme disease and standard testing may miss the infection. Borrelia miyamotoi is a relapsing fever spirochete transmitted by the same ticks that carry Lyme disease. Despite this shared vector, the infection is frequently overlooked in clinical practice. Why Borrelia

Double Vision Lyme Disease: When Eye Symptoms Signal Neuroborreliosis Double vision can signal neurologic Lyme disease Cranial nerves may be affected Early treatment often leads to recovery Quick Answer: Double vision in Lyme disease may indicate neuroborreliosis affecting cranial nerves. Although rare, this condition is often reversible with timely antibiotic treatment. Double vision Lyme disease

Larval Deer Ticks Can Transmit Borrelia miyamotoi Borrelia miyamotoi transovarial transmission means larval deer ticks can be infected at birth—making them a previously underrecognized risk. Unlike Lyme disease, where larval ticks are typically not infected, Borrelia miyamotoi can be passed from adult ticks to their offspring through transovarial transmission. This means larvae may already carry