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Lyme disease has traditionally been considered an infection of the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi. But more and more, researchers are beginning to understand that ticks do not only carry multiple species of Borrelia but also carry many other bacteria called Lyme co-infections. When people are afflicted with Lyme disease, they are usually also infected with multiple co-infections.
Whereas it was previously thought that each species of bacteria has a specific set of symptoms that it is the only one to cause, it's actually more complicated than that, says Bill Rawls, MD, an integrative health expert on the disease. Lyme and other chronic diseases. Genetic variations, as well as other microbes that a person carries, will affect how their body responds to a particular infection. Thus, although there appear to be patterns with particular co-infections, it is very difficult to tell which bacterium causes what symptoms in a given person.
Another thing to understand about Lyme co-infections, as well as about Lyme disease itself, is that simply wearing them does not necessarily mean you'll be sick. In fact, some are worn by most people. The disease occurs when the immune system malfunctions and allows the bacteria to gain control, says Dr. Rawls. Wearing a co-infection with Lyme disease does not necessarily mean that you have contracted them from a tick, he says. Many of them can be transmitted in other ways, although the immunosuppression of Lyme disease can make them active even if they were latent before.
That said, here are some common co-infections of Lyme and the symptoms associated with them.
1. Babesia
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2. Bartonella
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Bartonella, sometimes called cat's claw fever, can be transmitted by cats as well as ticks and fleas. "Bartonella is probably present in most of us," says Dr. Reihman. "There are hundreds of Bartonella-like organisms, and most of them are simply part of our original microbiome without causing any symptoms. When there are co-infections or other problems that undermine the immune system. "
Some symptoms of Bartonella are rashes that come and go, which can look like cat scratches, rabies and other mental health problems, swelling of the joints and pain in the feet, explains Dr. Reihman.
3. Mycoplasma
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"Mycoplasma is another probably many of us, who can get reactivated when the immune system is weakened, "says Dr. Reihman, which can cause symptoms including chronic fatigue, cough, and various neurological symptoms. can also be responsible for bowel, bladder and gynecological problems, says Dr. Rawls.
4. Rickettsia
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Rickettsia, the bacteria that causes fever, such as Rocky Mountain fever, can cause fevers, rashes, flu-like illness, headaches, chills and fatigue, says Dr. Reihman. It can also reduce your white blood cell count, which can make blood tests misleading because the number of white blood cells usually increases with infections. A distinctive sign of Rickettsia is a rash on the palms of the hands or the soles of the feet. In severe cases, people with rickettsia can lose fingers and toes because their blood is cut off, says Dr. Rawls.
5. Ehrlichia
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6. Chlamydia
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Chlamydia can affect myelin, the substance that lines the nerves, says Dr. Rawls. As a result, some research has linked chlamydia to multiple sclerosis, a disease of myelin commonly associated with Lyme disease. The most common type of Lyme disease is Chlamydia pneumonia, which, like mycoplasma, can cause coughing, says Dr. Reihman.
7. Epstein-Barr Virus
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At least 95% of people are infected with the Epstein-Barr virus, which is responsible for mono. Many people who suffer from it are in good health, but with Lyme's compromised immune system, this can cause chronic fatigue and other symptoms, says Dr. Reihman.
"If you have Lyme disease and concomitant infections, your illness is probably caused by many different microbes," says Dr. Rawls. Therefore, attacking them separately will not solve the problem.
"People think: I have these six co-infections, I have to treat them," he says. "But you have to treat a lot more than that, if you treat individual infections and not chronic immune dysfunction, you'll always be chasing your tail, and with antimicrobial herbal medicine you'll get rid of all these things and reach the stadium. ultimate of the absence of symptoms. "
Talk to your doctor if any of these symptoms seem familiar to you, especially if you have been diagnosed with Lyme disease.
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