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Lyme Disease/ Co-Infections

Lyme Disease and Co-Infections (Vector Borne Disease) rates are exponentially increasing. According to the CDC, approximately 476,000 Americans are diagnosed and treated for Lyme disease each year. These Vector Borne Diseases can cause fever, fatigue, joint pain, and skin rash, as well as more serious cardiovascular and central nervous system complications. Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne disease in the United States.

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Symptoms

Acute Lyme Disease

  • Erythema Migrans Rash (Bulls-eye rash)

  • Fatigue/malaise

  • Flu-like symptoms (including fever, headache, arthralgias, myalgias)

  • Stiff neck

  • Dysesthesia (pain, itching, burning)

  • Lymphadenopathy

  • Facial nerve dysfunction leading to weakness or paralysis of facial muscles (Bell's Palsy)

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Chronic Lyme Disease

  • Fatigue

  • Multiple red rashes (EM’s)

  • Severe headaches and neck stiffness

  • Joint swelling and/or pain

  • Neuropathic symptoms - nerve pain, numbness, hot/cold sensations, tingling

  • Cognitive dysfunction/ Memory impairment

  • Unprovoked pain- worse at night

  • Palpitations or chest pain

  • Shortness of breath

  • Lightheadedness, fainting

  • Gastrointestinal symptoms

  • Psychiatric symptoms- including depression, anxiety, and mood changes

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Pediatrics

  • Fatigue

  • Migraines/Headaches

  • Joint pain/Swelling

  • Gastrointestinal symptoms

  • Behavioral Changes 

Associated Diseases

  • Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS)

  • Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

  • Arthritis

  • Rheumatoid Arthritis

  • Ankylosing spondylitis 

  • Restless Legs Syndrome

  • Fibromyalgia

  • ALS

  • Parkinsons

  • Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

  • Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS)

  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome

  • Congestive Heart Failure

Causes

  • Lyme disease and Co-Infections (Vector-Borne Disease) are caused by an infection transmitted to humans and other animals by mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas. The Infections cane be bacterial, viral, and parasitic. 

  • Chronic Vector-Borne Diseases are often a reactivated infection and not a result of recent transmission.  

Testing

The unfortunate truth is that laboratory testing is inaccurate, especially during chronic disease states.

Diagnosis of vector borne disease is a clinical diagnosis and treatment can be administered on the suspicion of infection and symptoms of the infection instead of laboratory testing.

Not only is conventional testing inaccurate, but criteria for a positive infection is often too high to be met unless the tick bite was very recent.

Better testing is available through specialty labs and often recommended for patients with an unexplained symptom profile.

Specialty Labs:

Treatment

Treatment for Tick Borne Disease can vary drastically. Treatment can include antibiotics, herbals, vitamins, supplements, IV therapy, and a variety of other treatments. Many different treatments and protocols can be successful in the resolution of symptoms. An individualized protocol based on history symptoms and testing, is the only necessity of treatment.

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