Post-COVID neuroinflammatory activation in Lyme patients-Case Study
As the acute COVID dust settles, we can now observe and make inferences about those idiosyncrasies of the virus. I’ve followed several Lyme/PANS patients who contracted COVID-19. All managed a speedy recovery from the acute phase; however, several noted an uptick in neurological and physical symptoms that either didn’t exist prior to the virus or had been abated by therapy. Patients describe creeping anxiety, OCD, confusion and difficulty concentrating. Physical symptoms also resurged with increased fatigue, sleep disturbances, muscle and migratory joint pain. Interestingly, all patients retested seropositive for Lyme, Bartonella or Babesia post-COVID. All patients had been seronegative for Lyme, Bartonella and Babesia prior to their COVID-19 infection which leads me to believe that like many acute viral infections, dormant forms of these tick-borne co-infections may resurface after an exposure.
Case 1-
50 year old female with past medical history of Lyme, Babesia and Bartonella since her early 20s. Her symptoms presented as fatigue, headache, brain fog, anxiety, migratory joint pain, air hunger with exertion and insomnia. Received long term treatment for Lyme and co-infections and appeared to be stable with mild anxiety at times for the past 12 months. Contracted Covid-19 from a family member and consulted with me to develop a treatment plan. The patient started high dose glutathione, NAC, ALA, vitamin C, Zinc, curcumin, quercertin, probiotics, transfer factor and ivermectin per body weight. Patient fully recovered within 2 weeks without respiratory event, hospitalization or residual symptom. The patient noted within a month increased fatigue, anxiety, OCD, sleep disturbances, GI upset, muscle/joint aches. The patient was retested for Lyme, Babesia and Bartonella as well as cytokine panels, histamine, vitamin D, Thyroid studies, iron studies, EBV, mycoplasma, strep, complete blood counts and complete metabolic studies. The patient’s cytokine panels were elevated and Babesia FISH positive. The patient is currently restarting treatment for Babesia.
Case 2-
17 year old male with past medical history of PANS, Lyme, clinical bartonella and Babesia. The patient had been asymptomatic for several years with no treatment. The patient contracted COVID-19 from a family member. Symptoms were mild in nature with some upper respiratory congestion but otherwise no symptom. Patient increased his NAC, glutathione, ALA, vitamin C and vitamin D. No ivermectin was necessary and full recovery was achieved. Within 4 weeks, patient began to complain of increasing concentration concerns, anxiety, irritability and development of gender dysphoria. The gender dysphoria is a new symptom but further investigation needs to occur to determine if this was something underlying prior to COVID-19 and recently discovered. Patient consulted for further evaluation and was tested for Lyme, Babesia, Bartonella, EBV, Mycoplasma, Strep, complete blood counts, complete metabolic studies, thyroid studies, vitamin D, cytokine panels. The patient’s Babesia FISH was positive. The patient is currently under treatment for Babesia.
Case 3-
20 year old male with past medical history of PANS, lab confirmed Lyme, Bartonella and clinical Babesia contracted COVID-19 from a family member. The patient was currently receiving double dose Dapsone combination treatment therapy for his persistent Lyme. The patient stopped the Dapsone protocol once diagnosed with COVID-19 given the potential complications with anemia. The patient began quercertin, high dose glutathione, NAC, ALA, transfer factor, vitamin D, zinc, probiotics and ivermectin. The patient made a full recovery from COVID after about 18 days. The patient stated that he felt physically well but his anxiety and OCD were at an all time high, preventing him from interacting with others. The patient’s Lyme and co-infection titers had seroconverted during therapy prior but what was interesting to note about this case is the elevation of anxiety and OCD post-COVID infection. The patient was stable with no anxiety or OCD while being treated with the Dapsone protocol.
These cases represent current typical responses of patients with Lyme, tickborne co-infections and/or PANS after a COVID infection. It’s important to appreciate the incredibly strong cytokine response provoked by COVID-19 with an almost immediate tip of the TH1-TH2 balance of the immune system. The question then becomes , is this post-COVID syndrome, a reactivation of a low lying infection or perhaps post-COVID syndrome is really reactivation of an underlying infection that lays dormant? Maybe more people have Lyme or co-infections than we think?
More research to come!
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Be Well!
Somer
