Lyme Science Blog

Bartonella Psychiatric Symptoms: Anxiety, Mood Changes, and Misdiagnosis Bartonella psychiatric symptoms can resemble primary psychiatric disease before anyone considers infection. Sudden panic attacks, rage, agitation, depression, or personality change may initially be treated as psychiatric illness alone—especially when the connection to tick bites, flea exposure, rashes, or swollen lymph nodes is overlooked. That is one […]

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever Neurologic Symptoms: A Case Report Rocky Mountain spotted fever is often difficult to diagnose early because symptoms may be atypical. Prompt treatment with doxycycline should not wait for confirmatory testing. This case illustrates why early clinical suspicion is critical. Can Rocky Mountain spotted fever cause neurologic symptoms? Yes. Although Rocky Mountain

Combination Antibiotics for Lyme Disease and Tick-Borne Co-Infections Combination antibiotics were used for Lyme disease and tick-borne co-infections. Pain and neurological symptoms declined during follow-up. The observational study cannot prove that treatment caused the improvement. Can combination antibiotics for Lyme disease and tick-borne co-infections improve persistent symptoms? Xi and colleagues examined treatment outcomes among patients

Can Anaplasmosis Cause Heart Problems? What Research Shows Rare cardiovascular complications of anaplasmosis How Lyme disease coinfection may complicate diagnosis Why early recognition and doxycycline remain important Anaplasmosis heart problems are uncommon, but published case reports have described myocarditis, myopericarditis, heart rhythm abnormalities, conduction disturbances, and pulmonary embolism associated with human granulocytic anaplasmosis. Most people

Can Lyme Disease Cause Complete Heart Block? A Lyme Carditis Case Complete heart block can occur with Lyme carditis A 21-year-old man developed severe bradycardia early in Lyme disease Prompt antibiotics and temporary pacing led to recovery Can Lyme disease cause complete heart block? Yes. Lyme carditis is an uncommon but well-recognized complication of Lyme

Can Lyme Disease Mimic Guillain-Barré Syndrome? Lyme neuroborreliosis can resemble Guillain-Barré syndrome Weakness, reduced reflexes, facial palsy, and nerve pain may overlap A 2026 case highlights Bannwarth syndrome as an important Lyme mimic Can Lyme disease mimic Guillain-Barré syndrome? Yes. Although uncommon, Lyme neuroborreliosis can produce weakness, numbness, reduced reflexes, facial palsy, radicular pain, and

Lyme Disease Should Be Considered in Culture-Negative Knee Replacement Infections Pain and swelling can develop years after knee replacement Routine cultures may fail to identify the cause Targeted Lyme testing can change diagnosis and treatment Lyme disease is not commonly included in the differential diagnosis of culture-negative prosthetic joint infection. However, a growing number of

Can Anaplasmosis Cause Neurological Symptoms? Anaplasmosis can rarely cause meningitis, encephalitis, confusion, and other neurologic symptoms Half of patients in one 2026 study had normal cerebrospinal fluid cell counts Neurologic symptoms improved within 24 to 72 hours after doxycycline Can anaplasmosis cause neurological symptoms? Yes. Although most people with anaplasmosis develop a flu-like illness, the

Can You Recover From Powassan Virus? Four Case Reports Powassan virus can cause meningitis or encephalitis Symptoms may include seizures, confusion, weakness, and difficulty walking Recovery ranges from complete resolution to persistent neurologic deficits Can you recover from Powassan virus? Yes. Published case reports show that recovery from Powassan virus ranges from complete neurologic recovery

Lyme Disease While Pregnant: Treatment, Breastfeeding, and Risks Welcome to another selection from my book An Expert’s Guide on Navigating Lyme Disease. This episode reviews pregnancy, breastfeeding, Lyme disease, and related tick-borne infections including Babesia. Pregnancy and breastfeeding are among the most common concerns raised by patients with Lyme disease. Questions often focus on pregnancy