Lyme disease no longer fits the ‘one microbe, one disease Germ Theory’
Doctors typically use the one microbe, one disease Germ Theory when trying to identify diseases in their patients. Lyme disease initially fit this theory after Dr. Willy Burgdorfer discovered that a spirochete (later named Borrelia burgdorferi) was the bacterial pathogen causing Lyme disease.
Causes for under-detection of Lyme disease in Canada
Researchers in Canada describe the same struggles with under-detection of Lyme disease that are seen in the United States. “Public health information is significantly under-detecting and under-reporting human Lyme cases across Canada,” writes Lloyd and Hawkins in the journal Healthcare. [1]
Over 20% of Lyme disease patients remain ill after treatment
Studies have shown that as many as 34% to 62% of Lyme disease patients remain ill years after treatment. [1,2] Wormser and colleagues have proposed using the term post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS) for patients who remain ill after 3 weeks of antibiotics. [3]
Study finds misdiagnosis and delayed diagnosis common for Lyme disease patients
Individuals with Lyme disease are all too frequently misdiagnosed with another illness or receive a delayed diagnosis, which can lower their chances for a complete recovery. Such findings have been described in the literature. Now, patient-reported outcome data from the MyLymeData online patient registry reports the same problem.
Babesia remains a clinical diagnosis for some patients
A northwestern Indiana doctor warned the Indiana State Department of Health [ISDH] of a high prevalence of clinically diagnosed Lyme disease and Babesia among his patients. The physician said eight of his patients evaluated between 2015 and 2016 tested positive for Babesia microti (B. microti).
Lyme disease induces severe cardiac problems in 15-year-old boy
A 15-year-old boy experienced an episode of exertional syncope while at a trampoline park. “His friends called 911 immediately after the event; however, they were unsure of the duration of unconsciousness,” writes Nawrocki from Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh. [1]
Could race affect the diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease?
A recent article published in Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases by Moon and colleagues reviews individual and community risk factors and incidence rates for Lyme disease within 38 counties in Pennsylvania. [1]
Case report: Various clinical presentations of Babesia
Babesia can cause a wide range of symptoms, making a timely and accurate diagnosis challenging. An article in The Nurse Practitioner by Paparone highlights several cases where Babesia presented in various ways. [1] One case involved a 78-year-old female who was thought to have sepsis, despite the presence of multiple tick bites.
Could a blood transfusion transmit Lyme disease?
Researchers now know that the tick-borne disease Babesia can be transmitted unknowingly through blood transfusions. But what about transfusion-associated Lyme disease? The risk is unlikely, but it is a concern worth considering, writes Pavia and Plummer. [1]
How effective is Permethrin-treated clothing in preventing tick bites?
Permethrin-treated clothing is marketed as a product that will help repel insects and prevent tick bites. Several studies, including one by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), have demonstrated the effectiveness of Permethrin-treated clothing in causing ticks to become incapacitated and fall off the fabric. [1]
