What are Lyme Disease Co-infections?
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Time to read 1 min
Ticks are often referred to a nature's dirty needle because they carry many diseases. Lyme disease is often accompanied by other infections that are transmitted through tick bites. These are known as co-infections. Some common co-infections include:
1. Babesiosis: Caused by microscopic parasites that infect red blood cells, leading to symptoms similar to malaria, including fever, chills, sweats, body aches, and fatigue.
2. Anaplasmosis (formerly known as human granulocytic ehrlichiosis): Caused by the bacterium Anaplasma phagocytophilum, it infects white blood cells and can cause fever, headache, muscle aches, chills, and other flu-like symptoms.
3. Ehrlichiosis: Caused by several types of bacteria in the Ehrlichia genus, it infects white blood cells and can cause symptoms similar to anaplasmosis.
4. Bartonellosis: Caused by various Bartonella species, it can cause symptoms ranging from mild to severe, including fever, fatigue, headaches, joint pain, and sometimes more serious complications.
5. Tick-borne relapsing fever (TBRF): Caused by Borrelia species other than Borrelia burgdorferi, which causes Lyme disease. TBRF can cause recurring episodes of fever, headache, muscle and joint aches, and other symptoms.
6. Tularemia: Caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis, it can cause symptoms such as fever, skin ulcers, swollen and painful lymph glands, and in severe cases, pneumonia.
The Importance of Diagnosing Lyme Disease Co-infections
Co-infections can complicate the diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease, as they often have similar symptoms and may require different treatment approaches. It's essential for healthcare providers to consider these co-infections when evaluating patients with suspected Lyme disease, especially in areas where tick-borne diseases are prevalent.
The Importance of Testing for Lyme Disease Co-infections
Diagnosing a Lyme disease co-infection is based on symptoms is difficult, which is why accurate testing is important. AcuDart offers accurate and affordable testing for thee Lyme disease co-infections: Babesiosis, Bartonellosis, and Tick-Borne Relapsing Fever. We also offer a Tick-Borne disease test panel which tests for these three co-infections as well as Lyme disease.
