THE MANY PRESENTATIONS OF LYME DISEASE (BORRELIOSIS)

Lyme disease is an infection caused by the Borrelia spirochete, a type of bacteria.  After the outbreak of a mysterious illness in Lyme, Connecticut (USA) in the 1970s, the bacteria Borrelia was identified as the culprit and the name 'Lyme Disease' was born.

The ticks that transmit Lyme Disease also carry a number of related bacteria and parasites including Bartonella, Babesia, Ehrlichia, Anaplasma, Rickettsia and Mycoplasma and the whole group of infections is known as Lyme & Co.  Lyme Disease is also referred to as Tick Borne Disease (TBD); and more recently as Vector Borne Disease (VBD).

Lyme Disease imitates other conditions such as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, Depression, Anxiety, Insomnia, Lupus, Sjogrens, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinsons, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Alzheimer’s Disease. Studies have shown Borrelia results in auto-immune presentations like Lupus, MS and RA. Clinically, I have evidence of patients who have been treated for 10 or more years with plaquenil, prednisone or methotrexate and they have positive Borrelia PCR results (this means the DNA sequence of Borrelia has been found in their serum).

Lyme Disease can affect any organ in the body. Patients can present with multiple complex symptoms including mood disorders,  vertigo and fainting, vision problems, tinnitus, heart palpitations, postural orthostatic tacchycardia syndrome (POTS), sternum pain, large and small joint pain, muscle pain/fibromyalgia, night sweats, night terrors, insomnia, profound fatigue, brain fog and mild confusion.