Category: Lyme Science Blog

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…

“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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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.…

An 84-year-old man was admitted to the hospital due to an altered mental status. He had a history of stroke and mild to moderate dementia. According to his wife, he had been having hallucinations 3 to 4 days prior to his hospitalization. And although he suffered from dementia, his symptoms had recently worsened. Four weeks…

Investigators describe the case of a patient with acute babesiosis who prior to treatment tested positive for HIV. The 60-year-old man was admitted to the emergency department with intermittent fever, fatigue, anorexia, and worsening jaundice for three weeks. He was referred by his primary care doctor due to abnormal laboratory values and parasites in the…