Lyme Science Blog

Could Dormancy Allow Lyme Disease to Survive Antibiotics? Lyme disease dormancy antibiotics research suggests that some forms of B. burgdorferi may survive treatment by entering low-activity states. Feng and colleagues from Johns Hopkins University identified FDA-approved drug combinations that may be effective against B. burgdorferi persisters in vitro. Persistence may represent one form of bacterial […]

Could Lyme Disease Cause ADHD Symptoms in Children? Lyme disease ADHD symptoms children may mimic attention deficit disorder, making diagnosis challenging. After 37 years treating Lyme disease, I have seen children diagnosed with ADHD whose symptoms improved with antibiotic treatment. This case highlights why attention problems in children may warrant evaluation for tick-borne infections. When

Stroke as a Manifestation of Lyme Disease: A Missed Diagnosis in Younger Patients Stroke as a manifestation of Lyme disease is often overlooked—especially in younger patients without traditional vascular risk factors. In clinical practice, unexplained stroke in an otherwise healthy individual should raise concern for Lyme neuroborreliosis, where infection-driven inflammation can affect cerebral blood vessels.

Johns Hopkins Study Supports Early Identification of Lyme Disease Patients for Re-Treatment Early identification of Lyme disease patients for re-treatment remains a critical clinical challenge. Even after standard antibiotic therapy, a subset of patients continue to experience fatigue, pain, and cognitive symptoms—raising important questions about who may benefit from closer follow-up or additional treatment. In

Pain and Fatigue After Lyme Disease Treatment: 3-Week Antibiotic Study Findings Some Lyme disease patients continue to experience significant symptoms even after completing standard treatment. Pain, fatigue, and depression may persist for months, affecting daily functioning and recovery. The cut-offs for fatigue and pain were chosen to reflect clinically significant levels based on the literature.

When Lyme Disease Causes a Positive Test for Mononucleosis Quick Answer: Lyme disease can cause false positive mononucleosis tests, especially Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) VCA IgM results. This cross-reactivity can delay Lyme diagnosis when fatigue, fever, and rash are mistaken for mono. In an article published in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases, Pavletic from the National

CIDP and Lyme Disease: Case Resolved with Antibiotic Treatment Lyme disease can mimic or trigger neurological conditions that do not respond to standard therapies. In some cases, treating the underlying infection may lead to resolution of symptoms previously attributed to autoimmune disease. Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) is a neurological disorder involving inflammation of nerve

Lyme Disease Diagnoses Through Winter in England: Study Findings Lyme disease is often viewed as a summer illness, but diagnoses may occur year-round. A study from England found a notable number of Lyme disease cases during the winter months, challenging assumptions about seasonal risk. In the British Journal of General Practice, Cooper and colleagues analyzed

Diplopia and Heart Block in Early Disseminated Lyme Disease Lyme disease can affect both the nervous system and the heart in its early disseminated stage. Neurologic symptoms such as double vision and cardiac conduction abnormalities may occur together, even when initial symptoms appear limited. One month prior to evaluation, a 49-year-old man removed a tick

Malaria and Lyme Disease Co-Infection: Case Report Findings Co-infections can complicate diagnosis and treatment in infectious diseases. A case report describes a patient with both malaria and Lyme disease, highlighting the importance of considering multiple infections when symptoms evolve or do not respond as expected. “As far as we are aware, we are writing the