Could Lyme Disease Be Overlooked During COVID-19?

During the COVID-19 pandemic, much of the healthcare system focused on managing the virus. Some clinicians worried that other medical conditions—including Lyme disease—might be overlooked.

Cortiula and colleagues warned that the diversion of medical resources during the COVID-19 pandemic could stretch an already fragile healthcare system. The authors noted that delays in care can lead to worse outcomes. For example, they wrote that “delayed oncologic surgery may lead to disease progression and result in tumors no longer resectable, leading to worse survival outcomes.”

The same concern may apply to other conditions when attention is focused on a single public health crisis. Could Lyme disease be overlooked during the COVID-19 pandemic?

The authors also raised concerns about delayed preventive care. “The same risk is present for people who have scheduled screening activities,” they wrote, citing screening mammography for early breast cancer detection as one example.

During the pandemic, many families spent more time outdoors while remaining close to home. In my practice, I began seeing an unusually high number of patients with tick bites. Increased outdoor activity combined with warmer weather may have contributed to greater exposure to ticks.

Some patients were reluctant to seek medical care because of quarantine restrictions or social distancing guidelines. Others worried about burdening an already strained healthcare system.

However, prompt evaluation and treatment for Lyme disease remain important. Delayed diagnosis can increase the risk of neurologic complications, cardiac involvement, and persistent symptoms.

Recognizing early Lyme disease symptoms and seeking medical care when needed remains important—even during a public health crisis.

During the pandemic, many patients also expressed appreciation for the availability of telemedicine, which allowed them to seek medical advice without leaving home.

[bctt tweet=”Don’t forget about Lyme disease during the COVID-19 pandemic.” username=”DrDanielCameron”]