Lyme disease and herxheimer reaction in newborn
The Herxheimer reaction, also referred to as a Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction, is "a transient clinical phenomenon that occurs in patients infected by spirochetes who undergo antibiotic treatment."¹ It was first described in patients with syphilis but has also been associated with other spirochetal infections including leptospirosis, Lyme disease, and relapsing fever. The reaction is associated with the onset of new symptoms or a worsening of existing symptoms in patients receiving antibiotic treatment.
Woman develops Lyme disease symptoms after giving birth
In their article, “An Unusual Case of Serologically Confirmed Post-Partum Lyme Disease Following an Asymptomatic Borrelia burgdorferi Infection Acquired during Pregnancy and Lacking Vertical Transmission in Utero,” Pavia et al. describe the case of a young woman who developed symptoms of Lyme disease immediately following the birth of her child. [1]
Lyme disease triggers Guillian-Barre Syndrome
In a letter to the editor entitled “Lyme Disease as an Extremely Rare Cause of Guillain‑Barré Syndrome in India,” Sudheer Varma Y and colleagues describe the case of a 50‑year‑old woman who suddenly developed difficulty swallowing, slurred speech, and weakness and numbness in both upper and lower limbs.
Lyme disease misdiagnosed as psoriatic arthritis
In their article, “Rare case of Lyme borreliosis in a patient presenting with dactylitis and skin rash,” Steppat et al. describe a patient with Lyme borreliosis, who was initially misdiagnosed with Psoriatic arthritis (PsA), a chronic inflammatory disease that occurs when your immune system mistakenly attacks healthy joints and skin. [1]
Lyme disease triggers neuropathy in the legs
It is well-recognized that Lyme disease can cause neurologic symptoms, such as peripheral neuropathy when the infection goes untreated. Patients can experience muscle weakness and/or twitching, loss of sensation in parts of the body, numbness, tingling sensations, problems with balance and bladder control, and a feeling of dizziness or faintness. But now, new research indicates that femoral neuropathy may also be due to Lyme disease.
Patient contracts Babesia from a blood donor
Babesia is most commonly transmitted through a tick bite but it can also be transmitted through a blood transfusion. To minimize the risk to the public, blood banks now screen donors for Babesia in endemic states.
Lyme Disease Rash: What Does It Really Look Like?
Learn all about Lyme disease and rashes in this informative video. In this video, I discuss the various appearances of a Lyme Disease rash, also known as an erythema migrans (EM) rash.
Lyme disease causes problems with vision
Lyme disease can cause a variety of vision problems including blurry or double vision, sensitivity to light, conjunctivitis (pink eye), eye pain, redness of the eyes and in some cases, vision loss. The infection can also trigger a condition known as papilledema, which involves inflammation of the optic nerve due to increased pressure in or around the brain.
Vision loss in teenager due to Lyme disease
In their article, “Neuroborreliosis with intracranial hypertension and visual loss in a pediatric patient: illustrative case,” Ku and colleagues present a unique case involving a teenage boy who developed progressive vision loss due to Lyme disease. [1]
Why do my Lyme disease patients feel stigmatized?
Lyme disease stigma: I will explore the stigma surrounding Lyme disease, its impact on patients, and treatments.
