Lyme Science Blog

Lyme Disease in Connecticut: Why It Remains a Persistent Hotspot Lyme disease began in Connecticut Hotspots persist decades later Risk remains high in certain regions Quick Answer: Lyme disease in Connecticut remains highly endemic, with persistent hotspots in eastern and western regions. Despite public health efforts, cases continue due to environmental and diagnostic challenges. Lyme […]

Bell’s Palsy and Lyme Disease: Why Steroids May Worsen Outcomes Bell’s palsy is often treated with steroids. But when Lyme disease is the cause, that approach may lead to worse outcomes. A 46-year-old man developed facial palsy after frequent hiking in tick-endemic regions of New England, Quebec, and Ontario. Clinicians recognized the signs of Lyme

Can Ticks Be Used to Test for Infection? Xenodiagnosis for Lyme Disease Most Lyme disease tests look for antibodies, not the bacteria itself. Xenodiagnosis takes a very different approach: using uninfected larval ticks as a research tool to look for evidence of Borrelia burgdorferi in humans. Xenodiagnosis: Using Ticks to Test for Lyme Disease “Xenodiagnosis

CDC Expands Lyme Disease Guidance to Emerging States Lyme disease is no longer confined to traditionally high-incidence regions. As case numbers rise in neighboring states, the CDC now advises clinicians to consider Lyme disease beyond historically endemic areas. Previously, the CDC focused on 14 high-incidence states in the Northeast, mid-Atlantic, and upper Midwest. These included

Lyme Disease Patients Call for Greater Participation in Clinical Trials Advancing Lyme disease care depends on better research—and that requires greater patient participation. To date, only a small number of National Institutes of Health (NIH)-sponsored trials have included chronically ill Lyme disease patients. These studies were limited in size and often enrolled patients years after

Depression in Lyme Disease Patients: A Common but Overlooked Symptom Depression is a frequent but often underrecognized feature of Lyme disease. Zomer and colleagues found that approximately 1 in 5 patients referred to a tertiary Lyme center in the Netherlands were diagnosed with both Lyme disease and depression. Findings from the Study The study evaluated

Pseudotumor Cerebri in Lyme Disease: A Pediatric Case Lyme disease can present with neurologic symptoms that are easily overlooked. In rare cases, it may mimic pseudotumor cerebri in children. What Is Pseudotumor Cerebri? Pseudotumor cerebri is characterized by increased intracranial pressure without an identifiable mass or structural cause. Symptoms may include severe headaches, nausea, vomiting,

Persister Cells in Lyme Disease: Why Symptoms May Persist WHY DO LYME SYMPTOMS CONTINUE? SOME BACTERIA MAY SURVIVE TREATMENT AND REACTIVATE LATER Persister cells in Lyme disease may help explain why some patients continue to experience symptoms despite treatment. Quick Answer: Persister cells are a subpopulation of bacteria that can survive antibiotic exposure without being

Neonatal Babesiosis: Transfusion Risk in Premature Infants Can a single blood donor transmit infection to multiple newborns? Neonatal babesiosis is a rare but serious threat—particularly in premature infants receiving transfusions. Researchers at Yale School of Medicine described three premature infants in one neonatal intensive care unit who contracted Babesia from a single 24-year-old donor. The