The May 25, 2020 issue of the Canadian Medical Association Journal, CMAJ, has three articles related to Lyme disease that are well worth your time. The publication is open access, available for anybody to read.

Fatal Lyme carditis presenting as fluctuating high-grade atrioventricular block

Lyme carditis refers to the range of cardiac abnormalities associated with B. burgdorferi infection. However, the diagnosis of Lyme carditis is often difficult to confirm. One of the difficulties in diagnosing Lyme carditis can be a lack of classic features of Lyme disease on assessment.

In a systematic review, erythema migrans was reported in only 50% of patients with Lyme carditis, recognized history of tick bites in 30.7%, and history of outdoor activity or exposure in about 40%.  READ MORE.

Lyme carditis presenting with an atypical rash

This article points out the importance of recognizing that EM rashes from Lyme disease don’t have to have a bull’s-eye appearance.

In this case study, a 56-year-old woman came to the emergency room with the pictured rash and a variety of symptoms. She was misdiagnosed with cellulitis and sent on her way. Two weeks later, she returned with symptoms that proved to be Lyme carditis. She required nine days of hospitalization and IV treatments. READ MORE.

A 4-year-old boy with ataxia and aphasia

Ataxia is loss of body coordination. Aphasia is loss of ability to understand or express speech. In this case study, both were the result of Lyme disease. READ MORE.