Author: Dr. Daniel Cameron
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How effective is combination antibiotic treatment for tick-borne infections?
In their article “A Longitudinal Study of a Large Clinical Cohort of Patients with Lyme Disease and Tick-Borne Co-Infections Treated with Combination Antibiotics” Xi and colleagues looked at 140 individuals who tested positive for tick-borne infections (TBI) with 33% of those patients infected with multiple TBIs.¹ The authors found that out of the 140 participants:…
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Anaplasmosis associated with cardiac complications
Over the last several years, there has been a three-fold increase in the number of anaplasmosis cases in the United States. The tick-borne illness can be transmitted through the bite of an infected blacklegged (deer) tick and causes flu-like symptoms, similar to those seen in Lyme disease. Anaplasmosis has only rarely been associated with cardiac…
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Acute Lyme disease causes complete heart block
“A suspected case of Lyme disease causing complete heart block,” by Isha and colleagues describes a unique case of Lyme carditis in a 21-year-old man, in which symptoms emerged early on in the disease. “Although such manifestations occur late, our case report describes an interesting case where the patient developed a complete heart block in…
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Lyme neuroborreliosis mimics Guillain-Barré Syndrome
In this case report, the authors describe a 33-year-old man with Lyme neuroborreliosis, who was initially diagnosed with Guillain-Barré Syndrome based on his clinical, radiographic and neurodiagnostic test results. Guillain-Barré Syndrome “can range from a very mild case with brief weakness to nearly devastating paralysis, leaving you unable to breathe independently.”1 GBS typically develops after…
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Borrelia burgdorferi causes prosthetic joint infection
The 68-year-old woman presented to the orthopedic clinic with pain and swelling in her right knee, which had been ongoing for 2 weeks. Eight years earlier, she had a total knee replacement but lived pain free following the surgery. One month prior to her knee pain, the patient had been treated with steroids for pain…
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Anaplasma phagocytophilum infection triggers encephalitis
Anaplasmosis is a tick-borne disease caused by the bacterium Anaplasma phagocytophilum. Symptoms typically start 1 to 2 weeks after a tick bite. And while some patients may be asymptomatic, others can experience life-threatening complications, including encephalitis. In fact, the mortality rate is higher in patients who do not immediately receive doxycycline treatment, who are immunocompromised…
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4 cases of Powassan virus encephalitis
Powassan virus (POWV) can cause severe disease, including infection of the brain (encephalitis) or infection of the membranes around the brain and spinal cord (meningitis). Symptoms may include confusion, loss of coordination, difficulty speaking, and seizures. An estimated 1 out of 10 people with POWV encephalitis or POWV meningitis will die from the disease, according…
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Pregnancy, breast feeding and Lyme
Welcome to another selection from my book “An Expert’s Guide on Navigating Lyme disease.” The book highlights the findings of my first 600 Lyme disease Science blogs. In this episode, I will discuss pregnancy, breast feeding, and Lyme disease. Pregnancy and breast feeding are particularly concerning topics for Lyme disease patients and their doctors. Here…
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Severe anaplasmosis leads to multi-organ complications
In their case report “Severe Anaplasmosis With Multiorgan Involvement in a Rheumatoid Arthritis Patient,” Aydin et al. describe a 66-year-old woman, residing in Connecticut, who was admitted to the emergency department with confusion and lethargy. The patient was disoriented and had been experiencing fever, chills, generalized weakness, and poor appetite over the past 2 days.…
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Disturbed hearing, sleep, and smell in Lyme
Welcome to another selection from my book “An Expert’s Guide on Navigating Lyme disease.” The book highlights the findings of my first 600 Lyme disease Science blogs. In this episode, I will discuss disturbed hearing, sleep, and smell in Lyme. By Dr. Daniel Cameron Lyme disease can lead to disturbed hearing, sleep, and smell. Lyme…