25th anniversary of first study describing chronic neurologic Lyme disease
Twenty-five years ago, researchers acknowledged the existence of chronic illness due to Lyme disease with a landmark study that described chronic neurologic manifestations of the disease. The 1990 study would profoundly impact the future course of research and treatment. Once believed to be caused by an acute, self-limited infection, Lyme disease was beginning to be viewed as a more potentially damaging and debilitating illness.
Top Lyme and tick-borne disease stories of 2015
Some of the top stories on Lyme and tick-borne diseases for 2015 included a list of celebrities and wealthy businessmen stepping out publicly to share their own personal struggles with the illness. Such openness has generated global awareness about the devastating impact Lyme disease can have on any individual, regardless of your social status or income level.
Culture evidence of Lyme disease in antibiotic treated patients living in the Southeast
Findings from a new study bolster the belief that Lyme disease is a growing problem in the Southeast. For the first time, researchers have cultivated Borrelia burgdorferi strains and Borrelia bissettii-like strains from antibiotic treated patients living in the South. The findings are reported in the December 2015 issue of Clinical Microbiology and Infection.
Renewed call for dialogue on Lyme disease
"Lyme disease: time for a new approach? Many more questions than answers" is the headline of an editorial published in the December 2015 issue of the British Medical Journal (BMJ). The authors emphasize concerns physicians have over the many unanswered questions surrounding the illness and call for more dialogue within the medical and research communities.
Babesia and Lyme — it’s worse than you think
Babesia, a tick-borne infection that causes malaria-like symptoms, has been making headlines over the past two years as the number of reported cases increases, and concerns grow over the seriousness of the disease and its ability to be transmitted through the blood supply.
Treatment options for an anxious, suicidal patient with a history of Lyme disease
One of the most challenging aspects in treating Lyme disease patients lies in the ability to decipher whether a patient’s current health complaints could be attributed to a past Lyme infection. This challenge is made even greater when a person has co-existing psychiatric symptoms.
Travelers heading south cannot escape the threat of tick-borne diseases
As temperatures drop and the winter months approach, numerous retirees and vacationers will head south seeking refuge from the cold. Unfortunately, many may assume that their travels to a warmer climate will keep them safe from tick-borne diseases. But this couldn’t be further from the truth.
Time for shared decision-making when treating Lyme disease
In recent years, there's been a transformation, to some degree, within the medical establishment regarding the physician-patient relationship. Healthcare institutions have been actively trying to change the way physicians and patients interact with one another, using a shared decision-making approach to achieve patient-centered medicine.
At least 50% of patients with Lyme neuroborreliosis remain ill years after treatment
There continues to be physicians who dispute the potential severity of Lyme disease and its ability to cause chronic illness in patients, even though there are an increasing number of evidence-based studies supporting that finding.
Lyme disease diagnosis almost missed in patient with Babesia
The number of reported cases of Babesiosis has been rising steadily over the past few years. The increase is particularly concerning to health officials given that the tick-borne infection can be difficult to diagnose and can be transmitted unknowingly through blood transfusions.
