Author Archive

Lyme Disease Mimics Cellulitis Skin Infection

https://danielcameronmd.com/lyme-disease-mimics-cellulitis-skin-infection/

LYME DISEASE MIMICS CELLULITIS SKIN INFECTION

patient with lyme disease being examined for cellulitis

Lyme disease can mimic acute and chronic illness. In their article “Lyme Disease Mimics Postoperative Cellulitis,” the authors describe a patient who developed an abdominal rash, which was initially diagnosed as cellulitis, six days after a laparoscopic left salpingo-oophorectomy surgery. [1]

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The 40-year-old woman, who developed redness, swelling, pain, and a rash at the excision site, was treated with cephalexin and later switched to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX).

“Over the next 24 hours, there was a rapid expansion of abdominal redness and patchy areas of redness on her left groin and her right forearm,” the authors write. The patient had complained of muscle and joint stiffness but attributed it to recent outdoor camping and exercise.

The woman was “admitted for postoperative cellulitis remote from surgery.” She was treated with doxycycline for possible Lyme disease, due to her recent camping trip and exposure to ticks.

Within hours of starting doxycycline, the patient’s “abdominal erythema [rash] significantly receded, the forearm and leg rashes resolved, and the joint pain and stiffness improved markedly.”

The Lyme disease diagnosis was confirmed with an IgM Western blot test.

“Initial suppression of the worsening rash could have been due to a low level of TMP/SMX activity on Borrelia burgdorferi stationary phase cells,” the authors explain.

The woman’s IgG Western blot test was negative.

Although Lyme disease can present with erythema migran rashes, early rashes can be confused with cellulitis. The authors suggest, “Lyme disease should be considered in patients with cellulitis in areas of endemic Lyme.”

Lyme disease rashes have been misidentified

Lyme disease rashes were misidentified in a case series involving 88 patients who presented with an erythema migrans (EM).  In 13 of these patients, the rash had been incorrectly identified or treated.

“Rashes were often misidentified by clinicians and patients as a spider bite, cellulitis, or shingles,” wrote Aucott and colleagues. [2]

The authors concluded, “Until more accurate tests are developed for early Lyme disease, cases without a diagnostic EM rash will need to be managed carefully.

In patients with cutaneous lesions where the differential diagnosis of cellulitis is not certain, empiric antibiotics should be chosen that will have activity against both Lyme disease and common agents of cellulitis.”

Editor’s note: I have prescribed cefuroxime or amoxicillin/clavulanic acid if Lyme disease is a consideration. Neither cephalexin nor TMP/SMX are effective against Lyme disease. If I believe Lyme disease is involved, I will treat patients longer than 7 to 10 days.  You can look at the rash yourself as the journal is open access.

Related Articles:

What does a Lyme disease rash look like?

How the incidence of an EM rash can be inflated

Single dose prophylactic treatment of a tick bite only prevents a Lyme rash

References:
  1. Miles S, Mansuria S. Lyme Disease Mimics Postoperative Cellulitis. J Minim Invasive Gynecol. Nov 15 2020;doi:10.1016/j.jmig.2020.11.002
  2. Aucott J, Morrison C, Munoz B, Rowe PC, Schwarzwalder A, West SK. Diagnostic challenges of early Lyme disease: lessons from a community case series. BMC Infect Dis. Jun 1 2009;9:79. doi:10.1186/1471-2334-9-79

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Category:

Lyme, research, vaccines

Protocol Guide For Basic Ozone Therapies

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0507/7129/6441/files/Protocols_for_Basic_Ozone_Therapies.pdf  Guide Here

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Protocol Guide For Basic Ozone Therapies

  • Rectal Insufflation
  • Ear Insufflation
  • Ozone Water
  • Vaginal Insufflation
  • Limb Bagging/Cupping
  • Breathing Ozonides

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For more on Ozone:  

Category:

Treatment

1st Cases of Natural Infections With Borrelia Hispanica in European Dogs and Cat

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32824647/

First Cases of Natural Infections with Borrelia hispanica in Two Dogs and a Cat from Europe

Gabriele Margos 1, Nikola Pantchev 2, Majda Globokar 2, Javier Lopez 3, Jaume Rodon 3, Leticia Hernandez 3, Heike Herold 4, Noelia Salas 3, Anna Civit 3, Volker Fingerle 1

Free PMC article

Abstract

Canine cases of relapsing fever (RF) borreliosis have been described in Israel and the USA, where two RF species, Borrelia turicatae and Borrelia hermsii, can cause similar clinical signs to the Borrelia persica in dogs and cats reported from Israel, including fever, lethargy, anorexia, thrombocytopenia, and spirochetemia. In this report, we describe the first clinical cases of two dogs and a cat from Spain (Cordoba, Valencia, and Seville) caused by the RF species Borrelia hispanica. Spirochetes were present in the blood smears of all three animals, and clinical signs included lethargy, pale mucosa, anorexia, cachexia, or mild abdominal respiration. Laboratory findings, like thrombocytopenia in both dogs, may have been caused by co-infecting pathogens (i.e., Babesia vogeli, confirmed in one dog). Anemia was noticed in one of the dogs and in the cat. Borrelia hispanica was confirmed as an infecting agent by molecular analysis of the 16S rRNA locus. Molecular analysis of housekeeping genes and phylogenetic analyses, as well as successful in vitro culture of the feline isolate confirmed the causative agent as B. hispanica.

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**Comment**

Our feline and canine friends are sentinels for human diseases and these cases are no different.

To date, 23 TBRF-related Borrelia species have been confirmed, but additional species are proposed (2). B. hispanica is the primary TBRF-related Borrelia species identified in Spain (3,4), where it is endemic.  It is transmitted mainly through the bite of O. erraticus ticks (5) but also can be transmitted by O. occidentalis ticks (4). B. hispanica also has been found in Portugal (6), Morocco (4,7,8), and Tunisia (4).  https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/26/5/19-0745_article?deliveryName=USCDC_331-DM26146

As of 2015, B. hispanica is considered an emerging infectious agent causing Neuroborreliosis:  https://n.neurology.org/content/84/14_Supplement/P6.310

Please keep in mind that migrating birds and animals are transporting ticks everywhere and spreading the pathogens they carry.

O. erraticus ticks feed nocturnally on multiple warm- blooded vertebrate hosts, including humans, and are found living buried in soil of traditional pigpens: https://repository.uel.ac.uk/download/ef62f8a0e6b1b15a27c35d240d126464385ad171f0be9af9d7768571b17460b0/128662/Portuguese%2520hosts%2520for%2520Ornithodoros%2520erraticus%2520ticks.pdf

Regarding O. occidentals ticks, according to this 2020 article,

“we have not sampled Ornithodoros ticks to evaluate densities and infection rates, nor have we collected samples from small mammals to investigate the reservoir of Borrelia spp.” 19-0745

Important excerpt:

Because the spirochetemia phase is short and laboratory diagnosis is exclusively dependent on the observer, we believe TBRF is underdiagnosed, even in areas where suspicion should be relatively high. 19-0745

Category:

research, Tickborne Relapsing Fever, Ticks

Wisconsin Call to Action: Support SB 4 & SB 5: Prohibiting COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates By State & Local Health Officials & Employers

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SUPPORT SB 4 and SB 5: Prohibiting COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates by State and Local Health Officials and Employers

Dear Wisconsin NVIC Advocacy Team Members, 

Your action is needed to support two good bills that are scheduled for a hearing on Thursday, January 21st at 12:00 PM in the Senate Committee on Human Services, Children and Families in the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) Room on the 4th floor of the Wisconsin State Capitol.

SB 4 would prohibit the Department of Health and local health officials from mandating COVID-19 Vaccines and SB 5 would prohibit employers from mandating COVID-19 vaccines as a condition of employment. 

ACTION NEEDED:

  1. Attend the hearing on 1/21/2021 beginning at 12:00 PM in the GAR Room and offer testimony in support of SB 4 and SB 5. Due to compliance with social distancing guidelines, seating in GAR may be limited. Additional public access will be available in room 400 Northeast.
    Click for Agenda or Information on how to testify at a public hearing. 
  2. If you are unable to attend the hearing, you can send written testimony to Senator Andre Jacques, Chair of the Senate Committee on Human Services, Children and Families at Sen.Jacque@legis.wisconsin.gov.  Copies of your written testimony will be distributed to members of the committee.  
  3. Contact Members of the Senate Committee on Human Services, Children and Families and ask them to support SB 4 and SB 5.  See contact information and talking points below.  
  4. Contact your own Wisconsin State Senator and ask him/her to support SB 4 and SB 5.  If you do not know who your State Senator is, register/login to the NVIC Advocacy Portal at http://NVICAdvocacy.org.  Click on the STATE TEAMS tab and select your state. Their names are displayed on the right side of the page and you can click on their name for contact information. You can also search here.
  5. Sign up to get NVIC’s Wisconsin “Heads Up” text alerts by texting “Wisconsin” to 202-618-5488.
  6. Login to the NVIC Advocacy Portal OFTEN to check for updates and forward this email to family and friends.  Please ask them to register and share their concerns with their legislators as well. 

Senate Committee on Human Services, Children and Families Members:

André Jacques (Chair) – O – (608) 266-3512

Joan Ballweg (Vice-Chair) – O – (608) 266-0751

Eric Wimberger – O- (608) 266-5670

LaTonya Johnson – O – (608) 266-2500 – District Phone – (414) 313-1241

Melissa Agard – O – (608) 266-9170

Emails: 

Sen.Jacque@legis.wisconsin.gov, Sen.Ballweg@legis.wisconsin.gov, Sen.Wimberger@legis.wisconsin.gov, Sen.Johnson@legis.wisconsin.gov, Sen.Agard@legis.wisconsin.gov

TALKING POINTS: (please add your own experiences why these bills are important to you to customize your testimony)

  • SB 4 and SB 5 need to be passed to prevent COVID-19 vaccine mandates from denying law abiding citizens the ability to work or participate in society. 
  • COVID-19 vaccines carry the risk of injury and death for some so there has to be informed consent and the right to refuse the vaccine without penalty. As of 1/7/21, there have already been 6,758 COVID-19 Vaccine adverse events and 66 COVID-19 Vaccine deaths reported to the Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System.  
  • Some short-term and all long-term risks of new COVID-19 vaccines are still unknown.
  • A Wisconsin nursing home has already started laying off employees for refusing COVID-19 vaccines.  In other states, COVID-19 vaccine mandates in businesses,  local governments, and schools are already threatening the jobs and education of some. Wisconsin needs to get out ahead of these discriminatory practices.
  • The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission affirms the legal right of an employer to exclude the employee from the workplace even if an employee cannot get vaccinated for COVID-19 because of a disability or sincerely held religious belief and there is no reasonable accommodation possible. SB 5 will protect employees’ rights to delay or refuse COVID-19 vaccines. 
  • While the U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) allows employees to decline Hepatitis B vaccines, and OSHA and many labor unions have expressed opposition to annual influenza vaccination policies that do not include religious and/or personal objection exemptions, there are no exceptions offered by OSHA for COVID-19 vaccine mandates in the workplace, so the only hope for those who don’t want the vaccine is to pass a state law preventing mandates.  
  • People injured by a COVID-19 vaccine have little recourse. Vaccine manufactures and providers are shielded from liability through the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act, or PREP Act. This federal law establishes that the only option for compensation for COVID-19 vaccine victims is the Countermeasures Injury Compensation Program (CICP). Only eight percent of all petitioners since 2010 have been awarded compensation through the CICP. No legal or medical expert fees are covered, no pain and suffering is awarded, lost wages are capped at $50,000, and there is no judicial appeal. Vaccination must be voluntary.

Sincerely,

NVIC Advocacy Team
National Vaccine Information Center
http://NVIC.org and http://NVICAdvocacy.org
https://nvicadvocacy.org/members/Members/ContactUs.aspx

The National Vaccine Information Center (NVIC) works diligently to prepare and disseminate our legislative advocacy action alerts and supporting materials.  We request that organizations and members of the public forward our alerts in their original form to assure consistent and accurate messaging and effective action. Please acknowledge NVIC as originators of this work when forwarding to members of the public and like-minded organizations. To receive alerts immediately, register  at http://NVICAdvocacy.org, a website dedicated to this sole purpose and provided as a free public service by NVIC. 

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Watch Sharyl Attkison on Full Measure for an excellent 9 minute report on the “vaccine” mandate.

**Comment**

  • Experimental medical devices that are still in clinical trials are unproven. Pfizer‘s data will not be available until 24 months after study completion. Moderna’s data won’t come out for two years.  Oxford’s/AstraZeneca’s data won’t be available until the trail is complete. Russian Sputnik V vaccine has NO plans to share participant data.
  • Thousands of experts are warning against it.  Even Chinese experts call for its suspension.
  • Experts are stating it can cause sterilization.
  • Experts state it can destroy your immune system.
  • There have been thousands of severe adverse reactions and deaths already.
  • According to a doctor, if 6 billion get the vaccine, 167 million will be unable to work, perform daily activities, and will require care. Nothing is known about long-term effects.
  • 100% of vaccine recipients using the high dose vaccine had systemic side-effects.
  • Questions regarding the potential of chronic inflammation, mutations, DNA replication, autoimmune responses, cancer causing genes, pathogenic priming, unsafe epitopes, remain unanswered.
  • It doesn’t prevent transmission or infection.
  • Experts state mRNA goes into your genes, starts expressing itself, stimulating the immune system and that you can never get rid of it once it is in your body, making you a type of GMO.
  • Moderna admits it injects an operating system into your body.
  • Experts state the toxic metals within vaccines make our bodies into antennas with 5G.
  • Within it is a dye (Luciferace) showing who has been vaccinated, and stored in the Cloud.
  • Our medical ‘authorities’ and monitoring boards pushing it have severe conflicts of interest and stand to gain from the $30 billion per year vaccine business.
  • These same ‘authorities’ are thwarting efforts to track adverse reactions, have quietly renamed adverse reactions immune responses to quell vaccine hesitancy, have stopped counting cases of the flu to inflate COVID cases, and have been using faulty testing designed to be positive.  
  • Vaccine research is corrupted.
  • The CDC admits that few deaths are caused by COVID.
  • Scientists have demanded retraction of The Corman-Drosten foundation paper, the paper the entire house of cards is built upon.  They didn’t use a viral isolate and there are no controls. You need a viral isolate for accurate testing and an effective vaccine.
  • COVID-19 wouldn’t even be considered a ‘pandemic’ unless the WHO changed the definition.
  • There are numerous successful treatments for COVID.
  • Vaccine manufacturers have a blanket exemption from any liability & have nothing to lose.
  • The claim that “vaccines safe and effective” is meaningless; an individual risk-benefit analysis is required.  Vaccines are filled with toxic ingredients including aluminum and mercury.
  • There has never been research done on the synergistic effects and absence of studies into long-term effects of vaccinating according to the CDC’s schedule.

 

Category:

Activism, vaccines, Viruses

Lyme on the Brain Podcast

https://www.lookingatlyme.ca/2020/09/discussing-the-effects-of-lyme-disease-on-the-brain-with-dr-leo-shea/

Looking at Lyme, episode 10 with Dr. Leo Shea.

Discussing the effects of Lyme disease on the brain with Dr. Leo Shea III

EPISODES / BY

Podcast here:  https://cdn.transistor.fm/file/transistor/m/shows/17123/4e5cfc06b6c30614524aece0c20d9371.mp3

In this episode Sarah talks about the effects of Lyme disease on the brain with Dr. Shea, a senior staff psychologist, professor and President of Neuropsychological Evaluation and Treatment Services in New York City and Boston. Dr. Shea starts off by explaining many of the effects that Lyme disease has on the brain including the ability to process information, changes in memory, multitasking and high level reasoning. He also explains the importance of understanding the effects on the brain and mental health in terms of what is going on physically to cause these changes. He uses neuropsychological evaluation to measure changes in a person’s cognitive, emotional and behavioural function as a result of Lyme disease. Dr. Shea also notes that results of imaging tools such as a SPECT scan often reflect findings in neuropsychological testing in patients.

“When it does get to the brain…it reduces the person’s ability to function, not only in their general daily life, but certainly in their professional or academic life.”

Dr. Leo Shea

We are introduced to the concept of psychoeducation: educating families, teachers, and employers to better support Lyme patients at home, in school and in returning back to work. Dr. Shea gives a few examples of how students can be supported in their learning. He talks about the added social burden that pediatric and adolescent patients experience within their peer groups, and the implications for those patients. Dr. Shea also touches on the challenge that people with dark skin have in getting a diagnosis of Lyme disease in part due to the different appearance of bites and rashes on darker skin tones.

“Psychoeducation is important so that everybody has an understanding of what this patient is going through and what their role is in supporting the patient”

Dr. Leo Shea

Dr. Shea describes the preceptorship program for physicians through ILADEF, where they are mentored by physicians with many years of experience treating patients with Lyme disease. These physicians (who have treated many Lyme disease patients) have gained a wealth of knowledge and clinical experience that they are able to share. He leaves us with a reminder that much more research is needed in the area of Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses.

Related resources

“There’s a need for an enormous amount of research into this so that we get a better understanding of not only Lyme, but all the other tick-borne illnesses”

Dr. Leo Shea

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CanLyme

Looking at Lyme is an educational podcast created by the Canadian Lyme Disease Foundation, designed to increase awareness and empower listeners with expert knowledge.
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Category:

Lyme, Psychological Aspects