Archive for the ‘Lyme’ Category

The Most Common Lyme Disease Symptoms You Shouldn’t Ignore, According to Doctors

https://www.prevention.com/health/health-conditions/a21097669/lyme-disease-symptoms/

The Most Common Lyme Disease Symptoms You Shouldn’t Ignore, According to Doctors

The signs of this common tick-borne illness go beyond a red rash.
By Marygrace Taylor

ticks that cause lyme disease in vial on red background

ZILLIGETTY IMAGES

 

Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne illness in the United States, affecting up to 300,000 people a year, according to estimates from the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In certain parts of the country (particularly the Northeast or upper Midwest), checking for ticks is practically a summertime rite of passage. (See link for article)

____________________

**Comment**

Corrections:

Another crappy article regurgitating ancient dogma.

Category:

Lyme

Babesia Infection 3 Weeks After Lyme Treatment

https://danielcameronmd.com/lyme-podcast-a-babesia-infection-3-weeks-after-treatment-for-lyme-disease/

LYME PODCAST: A BABESIA INFECTION 3 WEEKS AFTER TREATMENT FOR LYME DISEASE.

A Babesia infection 3 weeks after treatment for Lyme disease.

I will discuss a 67-year-old woman with a Babesia infection 3 weeks after treatment for Lyme disease. Could this delay explain why some patients remain ill or relapse?

By

Podcast:

https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5idXp6c3Byb3V0LmNvbS83NzI

Hoversten and her colleague first discussed this case in the British Medical Journal Case Reports  in 2018.

One would expect that tick-borne infections would all occur at the same time.

One would be wrong, as this case illustrates.

A 67-year-old woman from Wisconsin had extensive exposure as an avid gardener and spent a considerable amount of time outdoors.

She did not see a tick. She did see a rash consistent with an erythema migrans rash.

A delay in onset of Babesia may explain why some Lyme disease patients relapse after initially improving with doxycycline or amoxicillin. CLICK TO TWEET

She was prescribed amoxicillin for three-weeks as she was allergic to doxycycline.

Near the end of three-week of amoxicillin, she became ill. Her fever rose to 102.9 F0. She complained of myalgias, dizziness, and fatigue.

Her blood test showed mild anemia, a low platelet count and neutrophil count, and a very high C-reactive protein.

  • neutrophil is a type of white blood cell that helps resolve infections and heal damaged tissues. A low neutrophil count can be seen in tick-borne diseases.
  • A high C-reactive protein is a marker for inflammation but cannot be used to determine what type of inflammation.

She was admitted to the hospital. The doctors thought she might be suffering from sepsis or a tick-borne infection.

  • Sepsis is a life-threatening illness caused by your body’s response to an infection.
  • Her red blood count and platelets continued to drop.
  • She was transferred to a second hospital.
  • There was no evidence of sepsis. The blood cultures were negative after five days.

BABESIA INFECTION

She was diagnosed with the parasite Babesia microti by PCR and by a thin smear of her red blood cells. Typically, Babesia microti is seen on a thick smear of blood. In her case, 0.4% of her red blood cells showed the parasite Babesia microti on a thin smear.

Babesia infections can be severe and, in rare cases, life-threatening. Babesia infections can also be mild or without symptoms. Babesia was more likely to be severe in this woman as she was over 50-years of age and had a history of colon cancer.

She was prescribed a 10-day course of azithromycin and atovaquone. By 5th day of treatment, her fever had resolved, and her platelet count had more than doubled from a low of 17,000 per dl to 42, 000 per dl.

The authors report that the woman remains fatigued after completing treatment.

The authors discussed the nearly three-week gap in time between the woman’s erythema migrans rash and her diagnosis of Babesia. This is not the first case where the onset of Babesia was delayed.

The authors cited two papers describing a 3 to 4-week delay in the onset of Babesia. I described a paper in an earlier podcast where two babies contracted Babesia from their mothers. They did not present with Babesia until after being discharged from the hospital. You can read more about these babies in the article by Saetre and colleagues or listen to my Inside Lyme podcast titled. “Two children who contacted Babesia from their mother.”

This delay may explain why some Lyme disease patients relapse after initially improving with doxycycline or amoxicillin. Treatment for Lyme disease with doxycycline or amoxicillin is not effective for the treatment of Babesia.

What can we learn from this cases?

  1. Babesia infections can occur weeks after the onset of Lyme disease.

What questions does these cases raise?

  1. Should the woman have been evaluated for Babesia infection at the time of the erythema migrans?
  2. Would a Babesia infection have been recognized if the woman had not been diagnosed with Lyme disease?
  3. Should Lyme disease patients be advised to return for follow-up?
  4. Would earlier treatment have avoided the need for hospitalization?
  5. What is the long-term outcome for this woman with a Babesia infection

TREATING TICK-BORNE DISEASE IN MY PRACTICE

In my practice, each individual requires a careful assessment. That is why I order a broad range of blood tests for other illnesses in addition to tick-borne infections. I also arrange consultations with specialists as needed.

Many patients are complex, as highlighted in this Inside Lyme Podcast series.

We need more doctors with skills recognizing Babesia in a patient with Lyme disease. We hope that professionals evaluating individuals with Lyme disease can use this case to remind them to look for Babesia with Lyme disease.

Inside Lyme Podcast Series

This Inside Lyme case series will be discussed on my Facebook and made available on podcast and YouTube.  As always, it is your likes, comments, and shares that help spread the word about this series and our work. If you can, please leave a review on iTunes or wherever else you get your podcasts.

Sign up for our newsletter to keep up with our cases.

_____________________

For more:  

Category:

Babesia, Lyme, research, Treatment

Valneva & Pfizer Announce Collaboration to Co-Develop & Commercialize Lyme Disease Vaccine

https://www.change.org/p/the-us-senate-calling-for-a-congressional-investigation-of-the-cdc-idsa-and-aldf

VALNEVA AND PFIZER ANNOUNCE COLLABORATION TO CO-DEVELOP AND COMMERCIALIZE LYME DISEASE VACCINE

MAY 11, 2020 — 

As a follow-up to the previous petition update regarding “Direct Detection Tests for Lyme Disease”

Who’s got Lyme and who doesn’t ????

——— Original Message ———-
From: CARL TUTTLE <runagain@comcast.net>
To: tickbornedisease@hhs.gov
Cc: (98 Undisclosed recipients)
Date: May 7, 2020 at 8:27 AM
Subject: VALNEVA AND PFIZER ANNOUNCE COLLABORATION TO CO-DEVELOP AND COMMERCIALIZE LYME DISEASE VACCINE, VLA15

To the Tick-Borne Disease Working Group,

Please see the letter below sent to Valneva and Pfizer with copy to the principal investigator of VLA15.

Carl Tuttle

———- Original Message ———-
From: CARL TUTTLE <runagain@comcast.net>
To: communications@valneva.com, Steven.Danehy@pfizer.com
Cc: par.comstedt@valneva.com, urban.lundberg@valneva.com, tickbornedisease@hhs.gov, sasheller@sheller.com
Date: May 7, 2020 at 8:19 AM
Subject: VALNEVA AND PFIZER ANNOUNCE COLLABORATION TO CO-DEVELOP AND COMMERCIALIZE LYME DISEASE VACCINE, VLA15

VALNEVA AND PFIZER ANNOUNCE COLLABORATION TO CO-DEVELOP AND COMMERCIALIZE LYME DISEASE VACCINE, VLA15 

April 30, 2020

Phase 2 vaccine candidate, VLA15, is being evaluated for adult and pediatric indications in North America and Europe. 

https://investors.pfizer.com/investor-news/press-release-details/2020/Valneva-and-Pfizer-Announce-Collaboration-to-Co-Develop-and-Commercialize-Lyme-Disease-Vaccine-VLA15/default.aspx
To: VALNEVA AND PFIZER,

Have your clinical studies identified adverse reactions when VLA15 is administered to an individual with active Lyme disease? All Tuttle family members advanced to late stage Lyme disease before we knew what had gone wrong with our health and none of us met the CDC’s strict criteria for positive test results. The only FDA approved two-tier serology test is useless for 4-6 weeks after a tick bite because it takes that long for humans to develop antibodies against the spirochete responsible for Lyme disease.

So how do you plan to rule out active infection (before injection) if we don’t have an accurate and early direct detection test for Lyme disease? Our family’s experience is not unique as most Lyme patients who have become disabled by the infection went months, years or decades before diagnosis.

Until this scenario is recognized and fully addressed don’t expect overwhelming reception for a vaccine previously withdrawn with a record of a class action settlement for adverse reactions. 

Respectfully Submitted,

Carl Tuttle
Lyme Endemic Hudson, NH

Cc: 
Tick-Borne Disease Working Group
Sheller, P.C law firm Class Actions and Mass Torts

Valneva and Pfizer Announce Collaboration to Co-Develop and Commercialize Lyme Disease Vaccine, VLA15
https://investors.pfizer.com
___________________________

Category:

Activism, Lyme, Lyme Vaccine, vaccines

Live Q & A on Lyme With Dr. Rawls & FREE Book

729af8fd-title_0ej0a2000000000000001

Ask Dr. Rawls All of Your Lyme Disease Questions

Whether you suspect you have Lyme disease, have recently been diagnosed, or have been struggling with chronic symptoms for a long time, we know you have questions — lots of them. In honor of Lyme Disease Awareness Month, Dr. Bill Rawls wants to help you find as many answers as possible.

The author of the best-selling book, Unlocking Lyme, Dr. Rawls isn’t just a Lyme-literate medical doctor (LLMD) — he also knows firsthand where you’re coming from: In the middle of his successful OB-GYN career, Dr. Rawls’ life was interrupted by Lyme disease. In his journey to overcome it, he explored nearly every treatment possible – from conventional medicine to a range of alternative therapies — until he finally discovered what worked.

Since his recovery more than a decade ago, Dr. Rawls has helped thousands of patients find their path to healing from Lyme disease and related chronic illness. Now, he’d like to help you. Come with your questions, and he’ll answer as many of them as possible.

RESERVE MY SEAT »

Ask Dr. Rawls – Live Q&A Webinar

Presented by Dr. Bill Rawls and Tim Yarborough

Wednesday, May 13th
8pm EDT

Webinar can be viewed on any device

  • The best and worst lab tests and evaluations for diagnosing Lyme disease and common coinfections
  • When and how to safely use antibiotics and other conventional treatments
  • The most effective herbs, foods, and natural remedies for overcoming chronic Lyme
  • How to identify and cope with Lyme flare-ups, relapses, and Herxheimer reactions
  • Expert guidance on easing your worst symptoms, including chronic fatigue, pain, brain fog, and neurological and cardiac symptoms
  • Numerous other insights and answers throughout the live Q&A with Dr. Rawls

RESERVE MY SEAT »

In honor of Lyme Awareness Month – we are giving away FREE printed copies of Dr. Bill Rawls’ best-selling book, Unlocking Lyme.

We simply ask you to cover the US shipping for the book ($3.95).

Visit UNLOCKINGLYME.com to claim your book.
Use Coupon Code: FREEBOOK20

(Limit 1 per household, while supplies last)

 

 

Category:

Gut Health, Herbs, Lyme, Supplements, Treatment

Persistent Lyme a Sticking Point for TBD Working Group

https://www.lymedisease.org/persistent-lyme-sticking-point/

TOUCHED BY LYME: Persistent Lyme a sticking point for TBD Working Group

May 8, 2020

By Dorothy Kupcha Leland

Dr. David H. Walker

I have added some thoughts to what I posted on this topic last week.

On April 27, the rubber hit the road for the Tick-Borne Disease Working Group (TBDWG).

What had at first seemed like a routine vote quite unexpectedly turned out to be highly significant—because of what it revealed about many members of the Working Group.

This clarifying moment materialized around the always-controversial issue of persistent Lyme disease.

But first, some background.

The TBDWG is a federal panel under the auspices of the US Department of Health and Human Services. Over the past year, it has held meetings, received and voted on recommendations from its various subcommittees, and started the process of compiling a report to Congress that is due in November 2020.

In March, the panel dealt with most subcommittee recommendations during two days of in-person meetings in Philadelphia.

A few remaining issues filled the agenda of the April 27 online meeting. These included recommendations from the Federal Inventory Subcommittee. (Sounds eye-glazing, I know. Who knew we were in for such a show of fireworks?)

The TBDWG had previously asked pertinent federal agencies to provide an inventory of any programs that relate to tick-borne diseases. The goal was to figure out what’s already happening and what still needs to happen.

Recommendation sparks controversy

Based on this research, this subcommittee offered several recommendations that sailed through without a problem. Then things hit a snag with the following proposal:

Recommend that IF the CDC posts any Lyme treatment guidelines, that they include guidelines on persistent Lyme disease.

It is important to know that the CDC website currently only provides information about early Lyme disease. It offers nothing for people with persistent Lyme, those still sick and suffering long after the acute phase has passed.

Non-recognition of persistent infection is a central concern of the Lyme disease community. It is why we fought to have the TBDWG formed in the first place, and why we’ve continued to fight for adequate representation of chronic Lyme patients.

(The first incarnation of the Working Group, which prepared the 2018 Report to Congress, had three representatives of the Lyme patient community. This panel has only one, the Lyme Disease Association’s Pat Smith.)

It’s also important to know that for many years, the CDC openly endorsed the IDSA’s Lyme treatment guidelines—which do not acknowledge persistent Lyme. Currently, while the CDC does not list any Lyme guidelines on its website, the Lyme information it posts is consistent with the IDSA guidelines. Thus, to recommend that the CDC include guidelines about persistent Lyme was a big deal—one sure to draw a strong reaction.

As I listened to the online meeting via my computer, I couldn’t always tell who was speaking—or even, sometimes, what they said. Here’s what happened next, as near as I could tell:

The recommendation regarding persistent Lyme disease was moved and seconded. Then, for unstated reasons, five panel members abstained from voting. The vote was announced as five abstaining, five yes votes and three no votes.

tbdwg vote on persistent lyme

Pandemonium breaks out

Remarks made after the vote made it clear that the abstainers felt they had defeated the measure, because “yes” votes didn’t comprise a majority of panel members. But, oops, guess what? Abstentions don’t count one way or the other. So, the recommendation passed, 5-3.

As that reality sank in, pandemonium broke out. Panelist Scott Commins stoutly announced that he wanted to change his abstaining vote to “no.” He was told that Robert’s Rules of Order don’t allow you to change your vote after the fact.

Things then got very bizarre very fast, with many people talking at once. Some wanted to vote on the original question again. Others didn’t. Some wanted to re-open discussion, others didn’t. It was confusing to the listener at home.

However, the five abstainers sure gave the impression they had been trying to game the system—to gain a “no” vote without having to publicly own up to it. When that ploy didn’t work, they scrambled to recoup their original objective— to deep-six the proposal regarding persistent Lyme disease.

Kabuki dance over Lyme disease

That’s what this whole kabuki dance has been about since the inception of the 2019-2020 panel of the Working Group. There’s been a concerted effort to minimize Lyme disease as much as possible. It started by choosing only one representative of the Lyme community to serve on the panel. Then, at its first meeting, Co-chair Walker announced that the previous panel had spent enough time on Lyme disease, and he didn’t want the group to devote any more time on it. And it’s why, even though Lyme disease makes up 80% of the cases of tick-borne disease in this country, it will get only 25% of the TBDWG’s upcoming report. (Two chapters out of eight.)

However, despite the strenuous complaints of the “anti-persistent Lyme camp,” ultimately, there was no re-discussion nor re-vote on this original recommendation:

Recommend that IF the CDC posts any Lyme treatment guidelines, that they include guidelines on persistent Lyme disease.

For now, the motion stands. But the flash of true colors displayed in this episode clarifies who is and isn’t working in our best interests. This panel will disband after its November 2020 Report to Congress. But there will be a third panel of the Working Group, serving from 2021-2022. Meaningful representation of Lyme patients is crucially important. Without it, we’ll be stymied in our efforts to bring about the change we need.

Other articles for background:

Proxy votes violate spirit of TBD Working Group

Why we want Eugene Shapiro off the TBD Working Group

TOUCHED BY LYME is written by Dorothy Kupcha Leland, LymeDisease.org’s Vice-president and Director of Communications. She is co-author of When Your Child Has Lyme Disease: A Parent’s Survival Guide. Contact her at dleland@lymedisease.org.

Category:

Activism, Lyme, Uncategorized