Lyme disease

Disease description

Lyme disease, or borreliosis, is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, which is transmitted through the bites of infected ticks. In most cases, early diagnosis and antibiotic treatment lead to complete recovery. However, in some complex cases, Lyme disease may not respond to standard therapy and can cause serious complications, especially in the nervous system.

Neurological manifestations of Lyme disease

An advanced form of Lyme disease leads to neurological disorders — neuroborreliosis. This condition manifests as headaches, memory impairment, confusion, numbness of the limbs, impaired coordination, muscle weakness, and even paralysis. Patients may also complain of chronic fatigue and sleep disturbances.

The exact nature of complicated forms of Lyme disease remains controversial. Some experts believe that the infection continues to exist in the body in an inactive “dormant” form even after antibacterial therapy, causing periodic flare-ups. Others suggest that after the bacteria are eliminated, inflammatory or autoimmune processes continue, leading to a prolonged illness.

Diagnosis and treatment of complex forms of Lyme disease

Diagnosis is based on medical history of possible infection, stage of symptom development, MRI results, cerebrospinal fluid analysis, PCR diagnostics, and serological testing.

Leading clinics around the world, when faced with resistant forms of Lyme disease, use a comprehensive approach — the only treatment strategy possible given the controversial nature of the disease’s origin. In addition to standard antibacterial therapy, the following methods may be used:

1. Immunomodulatory therapy: If autoimmune reactions are suspected, doctors may prescribe drugs that suppress immune system activity. This helps reduce inflammation and improve the patient’s condition.
2. Plasmapheresis: This method allows the blood to be cleansed of antibodies and inflammatory components, which may be helpful in cases where an autoimmune nature of prolonged symptoms is assumed.
3. Neurological rehabilitation: In cases of neurological disorders, restoring nervous system functions is important. Physical and cognitive therapy methods are used to help patients cope with coordination disorders, memory issues, and muscle weakness.
4. Long-term antibiotic therapy: In some cases, longer courses of antibiotics are used, though this approach is debated among specialists. Some studies do not support the effectiveness of such treatment, but in certain cases, it proves to be beneficial.
5. Symptomatic therapy: Doctors also prescribe medications to relieve symptoms such as painkillers, drugs to improve sleep, and reduce anxiety.

Innovations of global clinics

In-demand European clinics have developed diagnostic methods aimed at detecting persistent forms of the bacterium that may “hide” in the body’s tissues and not respond to standard antibacterial therapy. These tests allow more accurate diagnosis of chronic forms of the disease.