What Are Lyme Disease Coinfections [Symptoms & Treatment]
The most common Lyme disease coinfections in the United States include Babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis, Bartonella, and Mycoplasma. These diseases co-exist with Lyme.
Author:Stefano MclaughlinReviewer:Dexter CookeJan 11, 202319.4K Shares463.2K Views
What are Lyme disease Coinfections?
Lyme disease is the most common and fastest-growing vector-borne illness in the United States. It is caused by the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi and occurs when an infected tick bites a human.
Ticks can transmit more than one disease from animals to humans in a single bite, as they can carry many bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoans all at the same time. When multiple such disease-causing microbes are acquired, it is called "coinfections."
The term "Lyme disease coinfections" typically means a condition in which a patient is infected with Lyme disease and one or more of the other tick-borne infections that are widely transmitted by the ticks that carry Lyme disease. The most common Lyme disease coinfections in the United States include Babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis, Bartonella, and Mycoplasma. In many patients, these diseases co-exist with Lyme disease and thus complicate the approach to diagnosis and treatment plan.
These coinfections often cause flu-like symptoms, such as fever and headache. Co-infection causes a more severe illness, several symptoms, and a longer recovery period. Thus, they may go untreated in some cases, leading to life-threatening conditions.
Lyme disease coinfections are becoming the norm and are more common than a single infection.When a patient is diagnosed with Lyme disease, several other organisms are frequently found in the test that can cause clinical symptoms that are nearly identical to Lyme disease. Research shows that more than 50% of patients with chronic Lyme disease have at least one co-infection, and 30% have two or more.
Let’s find out more about these coinfections and how they can be managed alongside Lyme disease.
What are the symptoms of Lyme disease coinfections?
Patients with Lyme disease coinfections often have more severe disorders and several symptoms. Thus, the patient doesn't respond well to the usual treatments, resulting in a longer recovery. Let’s have a look at the symptoms of some of the most frequently diagnosed Lyme disease coinfections.
1. Babesia: It causes a disease similar to malaria. It infects red blood cells. This parasitic infection is typically transmitted by a malaria-like parasite (Babesia microti and B. duncani) but can also be acquired through a contaminated blood transfusion.
Symptoms
Babesiosis often goes unnoticed because its symptoms are typically mild and similar to those of Lyme disease. It starts with a high, irregular fever and chills. Other common symptoms include hemolytic anemia, lethargy, drenching sweats, headaches, nausea, muscle aches, fatigue, and shortness of breath in some cases.
Babesiosis can be life-threatening for individuals with no spleen, the elderly, and those with a weak immune system.
2. Bartonella: This bacterium lives inside cells and is mostly transmitted from cats to humans via fleas, body lice, and ticks. In humans, it can cause "cat scratch fever", which occurs because of a cat scratch or bite. Bartonella can also cause endocarditis (an infection in the inner lining of the heart) and a number of other serious disorders in humans.
Symptoms
Patients show red papular lesions or an unusual streak-mark rash that looks like stretch marks. Symptoms may include fever, poor appetite, fatigue, headache, and swollen glands around the head, neck, and arms.
3. Ehrlichia: It causes the disease ehrlichiosis, which affects the blood cells. The disease is typically transmitted by a tick bite, but there are also instances of infection with blood transfusions and after kidney transplants.
Symptoms
Certain common symptoms include a sudden high fever, fatigue, headaches, and muscle aches. If left untreated, the condition can result in low white blood cell and platelet counts, anemia, increased liver enzymes, kidney failure, and respiratory insufficiency. The elderly or people with low immunity are more likely to require hospitalization.
4. Rickettsia rickettsii: It causes Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF). The disease can cause damage to blood vessels throughout the body, leading to organ and tissue damage.
Symptoms
It causes Lyme-like symptoms. Patients experience sudden fever, rash, headache, and bleeding problems. It can lead to life-threatening conditions if left untreated.
5. Southern Tick-Associated Rash Illness: It is believed to be caused by a lone star tick. The rash is similar to that seen in Lyme disease.
Symptoms
The patient develops fatigue, headache, stiff neck, and joint and muscle pain.
How to manage Lyme disease coinfections?
Lyme disease coinfections should be ruled out with proper diagnosis and testing at an early stage to reduce morbidity and mortality. The presence of coinfections might make the diagnosis much more complicated.
Each co-infection needs proper testing and diagnosis. If you are diagnosed with and treated for Lyme disease but have persistent symptoms and do not respond satisfactorily to the medicines prescribed for Lyme disease, consult your doctor. The doctor may advise testing for coinfections. It is important to properly identify and treat each co-infection.
Along with nutritional support and supplements, a doctor prescribes antibiotics depending on your symptoms. Make sure to complete the entire antibiotic course, even if you start to feel better.
Sometimes, when the symptoms become severe, the doctor may prescribe long-term intravenous antibiotics. The majority of cases of acute Lyme disease get better after antibiotic treatment.
But, when the disease becomes chronic and is accompanied by coinfections, it is very difficult to completely eliminate the infection. Thus, along with your treatment plan, the doctor may also advise pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy.
Herxheimer reaction and Lyme
Another typical phenomenon observed in patients with Lyme is the occurrence of the Jarisch Herxheimer reaction.
In this reaction, the immune system of patients with Lyme who are being treated with antibiotics triggers an inflammatory response all over the body. It is a mild reaction, commonly known as a die-off reaction, and it is usually seen where the symptoms peak and subside within 24-36 hours.
Read about the Herxheimer reaction in Lyme disease.
PEMF therapy for Lyme disease
Sentient Element PEMF Devices
PEMF therapy uses low - and high-frequency magnetic fields to treat various diseases. It helps reduce pain and inflammation, improve circulation, and alleviate joint issues. In general, the therapy improves the therapeutic effect of other treatments.
One of the affordable PEMF devices available on the market is the Sentient Element. The device gives faster results, comes with an extra coil for more power, and has preprogrammed frequencies. It also has a lifetime warranty.
To know more about PEMF can help in Lyme disease, please read PEMF Therapy for Lyme Disease.
Conclusion
It takes an experienced doctor to properly identify and treat each Lyme disease co-infection. Thus, if your symptoms do not improve even after a long time of treatment, consult a specialist for advice and more blood tests.
FAQs
Q. What are the most common Lyme disease coinfections?
A. According to a survey conducted by Lymedisease.org, the most commonly reported Lyme disease coinfections are Babesiosis, Bartonella, Ehrlichia, Mycoplasma, RMSF, and Anaplasma.
Q. Is it necessary to test for coinfections if I have Lyme disease?
A. When treatment for Lyme disease fails or you experience additional symptoms that are not indicative of Lyme disease, it is recommended to test for other coinfections. If coinfections are left undiagnosed and untreated, they can cause a delay in recovery or even lead to life-threatening conditions.
Q. Can Lyme disease coinfections reduce life expectancy?
A. If the coinfections are diagnosed and treated in the early stages, the chances of recovery are good. Even in the later stages, if the infections are identified accurately, patients respond well to antibiotics, although some may have long-term damage to the nervous system or joints.
Stefano Mclaughlin
Author
Stefano Mclaughlin is a Psychologist focused on mental health, emotional well-being, and healthcare policy. He studied Psychology and Public Health at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, gaining a deep understanding of the intersection between mental health and public policy.
Stefano's mission is clear: he aims to destigmatize mental health discussions, improve access to mental healthcare, and promote emotional well-being for all. Drawing from personal experiences with anxiety and depression, Stefano shares real stories to make mental health topics more relatable and less intimidating.
In addition to his advocacy work, Stefano enjoys delving into books, experimenting in the kitchen, and embarking on new adventures. These hobbies fuel his creativity and inspire fresh perspectives for his advocacy work.
Dexter Cooke
Reviewer
Dexter Cooke is an economist, marketing strategist, and orthopedic surgeon with over 20 years of experience crafting compelling narratives that resonate worldwide.
He holds a Journalism degree from Columbia University, an Economics background from Yale University, and a medical degree with a postdoctoral fellowship in orthopedic medicine from the Medical University of South Carolina.
Dexter’s insights into media, economics, and marketing shine through his prolific contributions to respected publications and advisory roles for influential organizations.
As an orthopedic surgeon specializing in minimally invasive knee replacement surgery and laparoscopic procedures, Dexter prioritizes patient care above all.
Outside his professional pursuits, Dexter enjoys collecting vintage watches, studying ancient civilizations, learning about astronomy, and participating in charity runs.
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