TICK-BORNE DISEASES FAQs

​​​​​​​​​

 

BORRELIA (Lyme Disease)

​

• THE RASH: ONLY AN ESTIMATED 35% OF THOSE INFECTED GET A "BULLSEYE" RASH, OR A RASH (SOMETIMES BRUISE-LIKE) OF ANY KIND.                                                                                                                                            ​

• Because Borrelia has three distinct morphologies, COMBINATION THERAPY IS OFTEN INDICATED FOR COMPLETE ERADICATION OF LYME DISEASE.

​

Borrelia burgdorferi is the most well-known species of Borrelia to cause Lyme disease. It is a gram-negative, microaerophilic (prefers an atmosphere of only 4% oxygen) bacterium.

 

It has three known morphologies ("forms") and can switch between them at will. It is thus vital to treat all of them, and, due to the nature of each form, with differing agents.

​

1. Spirochete form  

This is the mobile form of Borrelia.  Its corkscrew shape and flagellum "tail" allows it to "screw" into tissues and organs.

​

2. Cell wall-deficient form (aka "L-form")

There are two variants of this morph and each must be treated with different agents.

​

• Spheroplasts contain some bits of original cell wall material.

​

• Protoplasts, aka "cysts" or "round bodies", lack any cell wall material.

​

*Current literature indicates that the immune system does not recognize the protoplast variant.

​

3. Biofilm 

A biofilm is a protective matrix composed of extracellular polymeric substances that houses a community of microorganisms encased within it.  Since bacteria, viruses, etc. can "hide" within biofilms, they thus evade the immune system and antimicrobial/viral treatments.  Once this biofilm layer is broken down, the microorganisms are once again exposed; the body and treatment modalities can then do their intended jobs.

​​​​​

Lyme disease is often categorized into three stages:

​

Stage 1 (acute phase):

feeling flu-like, with fever, chills, and headaches.  Joint pain and/or swelling, especially in large joints like the knees, is also very common. Other symptoms can include muscle pain, a stiff neck, unexplained fatigue, swollen glands, sore throat, and a lack of appetite. ​

​

Stage 2 (early disseminated):

any of the above, plus weakness or numbness in limbs and extremities, Lyme carditis, Bell's Palsy (one of both sides of face drooping), vestibular (balance) issues, sensitivity to light and/or sound, tinnitus, a rash that might spontaneously appear anywhere or migrate from place to place, anxiety or panic attacks, trouble fighting off other infections and viruses, debilitating fatigue, insomnia or hypersomnia, adrenal issues, hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis issues, moderate cognitive and memory disturbances, pre-ventricular contractions and other cardiac rhythm concerns.

​

Stage 3 (late disseminated):

any of the above, plus severe headaches or migraines, migrating pains that come and go in joints, ligaments, tendons, stiff, aching neck, chronic fatigue-like and fibromyalgia- like symptoms (commonly misdiagnosed as), severe cognitive and memory disturbances, word-finding difficulty, trouble with conversing and processing information, brain fog, cardiac branch bundle blocks, moderate to severe psychiatric issues.

​

​​Borrelia has been shown to be able to passed in utero (from mother to unborn child), and has been found in seminal and vaginal secretions, and in breastmilk. 

Some studies claim that it can be sexually transmitted by way of bodily fluids.

​

​

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BABESIA

Babesia is a protozoan that lives and reproduces in red blood cells.

 

Common symptoms include night or day sweats that sometimes alternate with chills, fever, an "air hunger" sensation, headache, loss of appetite, and nausea. 

​

In some cases but not all, it can cause anemia (low iron/ferritin) and/or red blood cell differentiation width (RDW).  It can also affect the spleen.  (Note: some practitioners discourage the use of trampolines, rebounders, etc. due to possible splenetic damage if one is infected with Babesia.)  

​

Babesia has been shown to be able to be placentally-transmitted from mother to unborn child.  It can also be transmitted through blood transfusions.

+The American Red Cross declines blood donations from those with Babesiosis; it also screen for B. microti in donated blood and blood products.​​​

​

​

BARTONELLA

Bartonella is a gram-negative, intracellular bacteria that generally parasitizes macrophages, red blood cells, and endothelial cells. One species, B. henselae, is commonly known as "cat scratch fever"; as its name suggests, it can be transmitted by animal scratches and bites in additional to via ticks and other vectors.

​

Common symptoms include pain in the feet, particularly in the soles, red/irritated/painful eyes similar to conjunctivitis, low-grade or prolonged fever, swollen lymph nodes, including those along the shins, bone pain, facial pain, tooth pain, chest pain/angina, balance issues, cognitive/memory issues, abdominal pain or a change in bowel habits, hallucinations, tremors, anxiety or panic attacks, insomnia.

​

Some people develop a "rash" that looks like stretch marks or chicken wire-patterned redness.

 

*Bartonella has been well-established to cause psychiatric symptoms, including psychoses, in the literature.  It has also been shown to cause/mimic PANS/PANDAS.

​

Bartonella has been shown to be able to be transmitted from mother to child in utero and through cesarean sections. 

​​​​

​

 

 

 

EHRLICHIA

Ehrlicha is a gram-negative, intracellular bacterium that falls under Rickettsiales and prefers invading monocytes, macrophages, and neutrophils. A maculopapular rash (that is quite distinguishable from Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever) *might* appear. It is potentially fatal, especially if not diagnosed and treated promptly, and hospitalization is necessary in an estimated 40-50% of untreated patients. 

​

Common symptoms include severe headache, fever, chills, muscle aches, seizures, meningoencephalitis, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, confusion, malaise, conjunctival infections, and peripheral neuropathies. Nausea, vomiting, and cognitive complaints like confusion may also occur.

​

Ehrlichia has been shown to be able to be transmitted in from mother to child in utero, through blood transfusions, and through direct contact with an infected, slaughtered animal.

​

​

ANAPLASMA

​

Anaplasma is a an obligate gram-negative intracellular bacterium that also that falls under the Rickettsiales family.

​

Common symptoms include fever, chills, malaise, muscle aches, headaches, a "funny head feeling", gastrointestinal presentations such as an upset stomach, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and generalized respiratory symptoms.  Very rarely, a rash might occur.  Some people can develop life-threatening complications, especially in those with compromised immune system or on immune-modulating drugs.

​

Anaplasma has been shown to be able to be transmitted in from mother to child in utero, through blood transfusions, and through direct contact with an infected, slaughtered animal.

​

​

ROCKY MOUNTAIN SPOTTED FEVER (RMSF)

 

 RMSF is caused by Rickettsia rickettsii, a gram-negative intracellular bacterium.

​

It is considered the most severe Rickettsiales infection and can be fatal if not treated early (some studies suggest within the first 5 days of onset). Despite its name, it is found in all regions in North and South America.

 

As the name suggests, some individuals get a red, splotchy or pinpoint rash 2-4 days after symptoms begin. It typically starts on palms, hands, wrists, ankles, or arms then spreads. A petechial rash on days 5-6 is a sign of severe disease. NOT EVERYONE GETS A RASH.

​

Common symptoms include fever, headache, malaise, meningitis, decreased appetite, chills, sore throat, confusion, stomach pain, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, body aches, sensitivity to light, and swelling around the eyes and on the back of the hands.  Kidneys may malfunction, the liver or spleen may enlarge, tachycardia can develop, and blood pressure can drop dangerously low, leading to lightheadedness, fainting, or shock.

​

To date, there is no evidence that RMSF can be transmitted in utero from mother to child but the literature lacks relevant studies and thorough placental pathology and microbiology assessment should be considered in suspected.  Medical abortion of the fetus to preserve the life of the mother and miscarriage has been published.

​​

​

​​

​

​

 

 

 

TULAREMIA

​

Tularemia is caused by the gram-negative bacterium Francisella tularensis. In addition to being transmitted by ticks, it can be spread by deer flies and through contact with tissues of infected animals. 

​

There are six form of Tularemia: Ulceroglandular tularemia, Typhoidal tularemia, Pneumonic tularemia, Oculoglandular tularemia, Oropharyngeal tularemia, Glandular tularemia. All forms may cause meningitis. 

​

High fever, chills, swollen glands, headache and extreme fatigue, and a skin ulcer that appears at the infection site are common symptoms in ulceroglandar infection.

 

Typhoidal and pneumonic forms typically present with a cough, respiratory difficulty, pneumonia fever, weight loss, exhaustion, and swollen glands.

*They can also be transmitted through inhalation.

 

Eye pain, redness, discharge, swollen glands, is common in the oculoglandular form. Sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, abdominal pain, and intestinal ulcerations are common with oropharyngeal infection.

​

The glandular form presents similar to the ulceroglandular form, except without a skin ulcer.

​

SOUTHERN TICK ASSOCIATED RASH ILLNESS (STARI)

​

STARI, aka Masters disease, is caused by the gram-negative bacterium Borrelia lonestari.  ​

Despite its name, STARI has been reported in all states.

​

Clinical symptoms are similar to those of Lyme Disease, and the two diseases can be mistaken for each other (treatment is similar). A rash may or may not be present.  No diagnostic blood tests for STARI currently exist.

​

​

MYCOPLASMA AND CHLAMYDIA PNEUMONIA

​

There is debate about whether M. and C. pneumonia can be transmitted directly from a tick bite, or if they are common moribundities or reactivated infections from with tax on or dysregulation of the immune system resulting from other TBDs. 

​

Common symptoms include difficulty breathing, wheezing, bronchitis, and pneumonia. Antimicrobials are often indicated.

​

​

POWASSAN VIRUS

​​

There is no current "cure" for PV.

 

Common symptoms include fever, headache, weakness, malaise, vomiting, confusion, loss of coordination, speech difficulties, seizures, meningitis, and encephalitis.

​

​

COMMONLY REACTIVATED VIRAL INFECTIONS

​

Ample evidence exists that Epstein-Barr and herpes viruses, especially Human Herpesvirus 6, Cytomegalovirus, and parvovirus B19 can become reactivated.

​

Common symptoms of viral reactivation vary greatly from presenting as strongly as the initial viral symptoms were or significantly less.  

​

​

​