by Daniel J. Cameron, MD MPH In a review, published in Cochrane, entitled Antibiotics for the neurological complications of Lyme disease, Cadavid and colleagues identify several trials investigating the effectiveness of antibiotic treatments for neurological Lyme disease in Europe. The authors describe generally favorable outcomes for treating neurologic complications of Lyme disease. “The majority of people […]

by Daniel J. Cameron, MD MPH Older hybrid Ixodes scapularis ticks did not do so well. “Four month old larvae resulting from a cross between Wisconsin males and South Carolina females died faster under southern than under northern conditions in the lab,” explains Ginsberg. But then again, it is unlikely that an individual would be […]

by Daniel J. Cameron, MD MPH The findings of this double-blinded placebo controlled clinical trial were published in The Lancet Infectious Disease. In a post hoc analysis of 134 subjects, the authors were able to prevent 6 rashes if the gel was applied after a tick bite. The gel delayed the onset of EM rashes […]

by Daniel J. Cameron, MD MPH The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have been charged with identifying counties endemic for Lyme disease (LD). But how accurate is the information provided to the public? As of 2016, 50% of the counties in the USA have been designated as endemic for the disease. [2] “The […]

by Daniel J. Cameron, MD MPH 1. Growing list of eye problems in Lyme disease Ophthalmic manifestations of tick-borne diseases are increasing. And, “although ocular involvement can be self-limited, delays in diagnosis may result in vision impairment and even blindness,” stated Sathiamoorthi from the Mayo Clinic. 2. Study raises concerns for Babesia patients and blood banks Babesiosis, an […]

Questing black-legged ticks (I. scapularis) associated with Lyme disease (LD) were collected at several locations on the Outer Banks of North Carolina between 1991 and 2009.  The authors found that in October 1991, Borrelia burgdorferi-infected I. scapularis ticks were detected at 50% of the sites (four of the eight). “The spirochetes were consistently detected in […]

by Daniel J. Cameron, MD MPH “Knowledge of systemic and ophthalmic manifestations combined with an understanding of the epidemiology of disease vectors is crucial for the diagnosis of tick-borne diseases,” she explains. While manifestations may be present with LD and Rocky Mountain spotted fever, ocular involvement is rare in other tick-borne diseases such as babesiosis, […]

A recent study published in Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases examined the seroprevalence of B. microti infection in individuals who tested positive for Lyme disease (LD). The authors found that nearly 30% (28.6%) of serum samples taken from individuals with LD tested positive for Babesia. However, since the study was retrospective, the authors could not be […]

by Daniel J. Cameron, MD MPH The case of a 79-year-old man whose symptoms were initially attributed to idiopathic Parkinson’s disease but later found to be due to Lyme meningitis was described by Patel and colleagues in “Atypical Lyme Meningitis with Parkinson Disease-Like Manifestations.” [1] The man’s condition was “fully reversible” with intravenous ceftriaxone.  The […]

by Daniel J. Cameron, MD MPH In a recent issue of the American Journal of Dermatopathology, Lynch and colleagues report on the case of a 21-year-old man who suffered hair loss following a tick bite to the scalp. [2] The man presented with nonscarring alopecia, a pattern of hair loss similar to alopecia-areata, also known […]

by Daniel J. Cameron, MD MPH The case report describes an uncommon adverse drug reaction which occurred in a 45-year-old woman who was prescribed antibiotics for Lyme disease and Babesia. Following her diagnosis, the patient received three months of treatment which included doxycycline, minocycline, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. According to the authors, the patient’s “clinical presentation was […]

Studies have found that patients with Lyme disease (LD) experience “exaggerated responses to pain and non-painful stimuli” despite antibiotic treatment. [1, 2] Lopez-Sola and colleagues describe those same responses in patients with fibromyalgia (FM), a condition associated with widespread musculoskeletal pain and tenderness accompanied by fatigue, cognitive, emotional and sleep-related symptoms. [3] “In addition to […]

by Daniel J. Cameron, MD MPH The authors take an in-depth look at BYS and how it compares to Lyme disease (LD) found in the United States. Although there are slight differences between the diseases, BYS and LD share similarities on many fronts. [1] “Despite the increasing number of suspect cases, this disease [BYS] is […]

by Daniel J. Cameron, MD MPH The article, Hemifacial spasm from Lyme disease: Antibiotic treatment points to cause, examines the case of a 44-year-old patient who was diagnosed with Lyme disease as a result of her rapid improvement following antimicrobial therapy. “Antibiotic administration for diagnostic purposes is not a recommended medical practice, of course, but the […]

The patient, who had been well until 5 days prior to her admission into the hospital, displayed atypical symptoms. Her illness was never attributed to a tick-borne disease, although she had reported removing a tick from her groin two weeks prior to being admitted to the hospital. The patient’s husband reported she began slurring her […]