In an article published in The New York Times, three patients recounted their experiences with tick-borne diseases.
Reema Shah, age 28, explained that she began to have symptoms of fatigue, brain fog, and a rash at 13 years old. At first, physicians diagnosed Ms. Shah with allergies and eczema, but the medications for these conditions did not alleviate her symptoms. After years of recurring and worsening symptoms—which included joint and muscle pain and inflammation—Ms. Shah was diagnosed with Lyme disease at age 27 following an appointment with an optometrist. The optometrist diagnosed her with uveitis and recommended she see a rheumatologist—who officially diagnosed her after a positive blood panel.
Although Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne disease, there are tick species that can cause other diseases. Elizabeth Bonitz, age 52, was diagnosed with Rocky Mountain spotted fever after visiting her physician four times for symptoms of fatigue, dizziness, weakness, a lack of appetite, and a rash. Her doctor conducted a full infectious disease panel, which returned positive for antibodies of the disease. Experts warned that Rocky Mountain spotted fever—most prevalent in the Midwest and mid-Atlantic regions—is considered the deadliest tick-borne disease.
Tom Turner, age 64, at first experienced similar symptoms as Ms. Shah and Ms. Bonitz; however, he eventually developed hives, swelling, and an allergy to red meat. His physician diagnosed him with Alpha-gal syndrome, a type of Lyme disease contracted from the lone star tick found predominately in the Southeast and Midwest. The experts underscored that there are currently no treatments for Alpha-gal syndrome.
The experts noted that without a rash, Lyme disease can be challenging to diagnose, because early symptoms can often be confused for other diseases. Further, only a blood test can detect the antibodies of Lyme disease—but those tests don’t always come back positive. The experts recommended that even without confirmation from a Lyme disease test, all suspected patients should be treated with doxycycline immediately to prevent disease progression.