Lyme Disease Treatment: Key Insights You Need to Know
Lyme disease can be tough to deal with, but there are shocking Lyme disease treatment secrets that most people don’t know about. Additionally, we reveal four Lyme disease prevention methods that can change how you think about Lyme disease resolution and help you manage your symptoms better.
Unique presentation of Lyme disease skin rash
An atypical presentation of a Lyme disease skin rash can lead to a misdiagnosis, as most clinicians believe that only a bull's-eye or erythema migrans (EM) rash is associated with Lyme disease. In fact, the infection can cause rashes with various appearances. Additionally, an EM rash is only present in about 50% of Lyme disease cases.
Lyme carditis and heart failure
In their article “Lyme Carditis: A Rare Case of Heart Failure in the Absence of Ischemic Heart Disease,” Mensah and colleagues describe a patient with atypical symptoms of Lyme carditis, which included new-onset heart failure (despite no history of ischemic heart disease) and uncommon EKG changes. [1]
What are co-infections? Co-Infections of Lyme Disease
Ticks often harbor multiple infectious organisms resulting in co-infections. Co-infections can be challenging to diagnose as symptoms frequently overlap with many of the other tick-borne diseases including Lyme disease.
Young boy develops Powassan encephalitis after camping trip
Although the Powassan virus is considered to be a rare tick-borne illness, the number of cases is rising, and at an alarming rate. A recent survey found, a 4-fold rise in the number of Powassan virus cases in the US from 2014 to 2023 (compared with 2004 to 2013). [3]
Abdominal pain, ileus and constipation due to Lyme disease
I will be discussing the case of a 65-year-old woman with abdominal pain, ileus/pseudo-obstruction and constipation due to Lyme disease.
Is It Lyme Disease? Unexpected Symptoms of Lyme disease
Is It Lyme Disease? We’re discussing the unexpected symptoms of Lyme disease that I've encountered in my practice.
Why Treating Lyme Disease Is More Complex Than You Think
Since opening my Lyme disease practice in 1987, I’ve witnessed significant changes in how we diagnose and treat this complex illness. Early on, I prescribed doxycycline for Lyme disease and Ehrlichia. However, my first three patients in 1987 did not respond to doxycycline, so I referred one to Boston for further consultation. They returned with a recommendation for amoxicillin, marking the first major shift in my treatment approach.
Don’t wait for a positive Lyme disease test
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends two-tier testing for Lyme disease, which includes a screening test with the ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) and confirmation with the Western Blot. However, studies have found that these tests can miss more than 50% of patients with Lyme disease. In my practice, I treat patients based on clinical symptoms and medical history.
Rifampin for Lyme Disease: When Doxycycline Isn’t Enough
The treatment landscape for Lyme disease has undergone significant evolution over the years, offering a wider array of options to manage this multifaceted illness.
