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Can protracted relapsing fever resemble Lyme disease?
W R Lange1, T G Schwan, J D Frame
1Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD 21205.
Medical Hypotheses
|June 1, 1991
Summary
This case study reveals that tick-borne relapsing fever can cause chronic symptoms similar to Lyme disease, even after initial treatment. The findings suggest relapsing fever may lead to long-term health issues in some individuals.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Neurology
- Rheumatology
Background:
- Tick-borne relapsing fever (TBRF) is an infectious disease typically treated with antibiotics.
- Chronic manifestations of TBRF are not well-documented, unlike Lyme disease.
Observation:
- A Protestant missionary developed protracted symptoms after contracting TBRF in Sudan.
- The patient experienced recurrent fever, fatigue, muscle weakness, and polyarthralgia for years.
- Diagnostic tests showed exposure to Borrelia hermsii (relapsing fever) but not Borrelia burgdorferi (Lyme disease).
Findings:
- Despite tetracycline treatment, the patient's symptoms persisted for months and recurred years later.
- Immunological tests confirmed past exposure to relapsing fever, ruling out Lyme disease as the cause of chronic symptoms.
- The clinical presentation mimicked aspects of Lyme disease, including migratory joint pain and fatigue.
Implications:
- This case suggests that relapsing fever may cause chronic symptoms mimicking Lyme disease in certain individuals.
- Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms behind chronic TBRF and its long-term effects.
- Clinicians should consider TBRF in the differential diagnosis for patients with chronic, unexplained symptoms, especially those with a history of tick exposure in endemic areas.