Top Lyme Disease Blogs of 2022
These top Lyme disease blogs of 2022 were the most popular articles for readers during the year. The list highlights important clinical insights about Lyme disease, Babesia, Borrelia miyamotoi, anaplasmosis, and other tick-borne illnesses.
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Top Lyme Disease Blogs of 2022
1) Tafenoquine: Treatment for relapsing Babesia
This case report describes an immunocompromised patient with Babesia microti who received treatment with tafenoquine after experiencing several relapses.
The 36-year-old man was hospitalized in 2019 due to unexplained fevers he had been having for two weeks. He was later diagnosed with Babesia with 8.5% of his blood showing the parasite.
His initial treatment included atovaquone and azithromycin. The doctors then switched treatment to include a four-drug combination.
The patient had several relapses for Babesia. Interestingly, after a 6-week regimen of tafenoquine, his symptoms resolved.
Investigators note they could not determine whether the success was from tafenoquine alone or from the weeks of therapy preceding it. Still, they suggest that this single-drug regimen may be clinically important for highly immunocompromised patients with babesiosis.
2) Meningoencephalitis due to Borrelia miyamotoi
A 73-year-old man was initially diagnosed with a “mini-stroke” after presenting with headaches, confusion, facial droop and word-finding difficulties.
The patient tested positive for Lyme disease by EIA but negative by Western blot. He was empirically treated with intravenous ceftriaxone for presumed Lyme meningoencephalitis and improved rapidly.
Clinicians ultimately identified Borrelia miyamotoi, and the patient made a nearly full neurological recovery.
3) Anaplasmosis leading to neurological symptoms of trigeminal neuralgia
Investigators described human granulocytic anaplasmosis in an 80-year-old woman with sudden severe headache affecting the trigeminal nerve distribution.
The authors concluded that anaplasmosis likely triggered the patient’s trigeminal neuralgia.
After treatment with doxycycline, the patient experienced significant improvement and normalization of laboratory abnormalities.
4) Unilateral knee swelling in a child due to Lyme disease
Investigators described a 3-year-old girl with a swollen knee who was ultimately diagnosed with Lyme arthritis.
This case highlights the importance of including Lyme arthritis in the differential diagnosis of joint swelling in children.
The child recovered completely following intravenous ceftriaxone and oral amoxicillin.
5) Lyme disease triggers vertigo and hearing loss
This study examined the frequency of vertigo and potential inner ear damage among patients with Lyme disease.
Researchers reported that vertigo, tinnitus and hearing loss can occur in Lyme disease patients.
6) Sarcoidosis triggered by Lyme disease
Investigators described a 21-year-old patient with systemic sarcoidosis whose clinical picture also revealed Lyme disease infection.
The authors recommended considering infectious causes such as neuroborreliosis before starting immunosuppressive therapy.
7) Lyme disease misdiagnosed as shingles
A 62-year-old man was initially treated for shingles but continued to deteriorate.
Further evaluation revealed Lyme disease as the underlying cause of his symptoms.
8) Lyme encephalopathy mistaken for dementia
An 80-year-old patient with confusion and cognitive decline was initially thought to have early Alzheimer’s disease.
After treatment for Lyme neuroborreliosis, his symptoms resolved.
A 64-year-old woman developed confusion and lethargy following a tick bite.
PCR testing confirmed anaplasmosis, and the patient recovered after treatment.
10) Side effects of COVID-19 vaccines in individuals with Lyme disease
A cross-sectional study examined symptom burden in individuals with Lyme disease who received COVID-19 vaccines.
The study found that vaccinated individuals had lower symptom burden than those who were not vaccinated.
Dr. Daniel Cameron, MD, MPH
Lyme disease clinician with over 30 years of experience and past president of ILADS.
Symptoms • Testing • Coinfections • Recovery • Pediatric • Prevention
Hello again Dr Cameron,
When I sleep flat in my bed, my eyes swell so large and it takes 2-4 days for the swelling to leave. So I sleep in my recliner. In the last 4 or so months even in recliner I have both sides of my face numb lately it’s face back of head moving down in the neck. I’ve also noticed that I have swelling where my glasses sit above my ears all day long plus the excessive sweating I’ve been dealing with. I have had steroid injections both side of neck July I think. It didn’t work so we had nerve burns late August early September it seems they didn’t work either and the headaches are like bombs showing up in different parts of my head at any given time. The last 6 days I’ve been totally exhausted not even getting dressed. Sleep and have dried moisture around my eyes like a drainage that’s dried up. I’m getting to a place where I fear dying. Don’t know what to do. Any help? I appreciate you answering me.
I have to each patients to determine if treatment is warranted. There area treatment other than IV that work for tick borne illness including treatment for Babesia. POTS can come from tick borne illnesses. “Air hunger” is a poorly define symptoms in some of my patients with Babesia.