Lyme disease in north India: a case for concern

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Neurology
• Dermatology

Background:

• Lyme disease, caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, is a tick-borne illness typically found in North America and Europe.
• Diagnosis in non-endemic regions can be challenging due to varied presentations.

Observation:

• A young man from North India presented with vision loss, severe headache, and quadriparesis.
• Additional symptoms included seizures, skin and lung lesions, swollen lymph nodes, and hypocellular bone marrow.

Findings:

• The patient was diagnosed with Lyme disease, confirmed by positive serology on two separate occasions.
• This case represents the first reported instance of multi-system Lyme disease in India.

Implications:

• This report expands the known geographical range of Lyme disease and its diverse clinical manifestations.
• Clinicians should consider Lyme disease in the differential diagnosis for patients with unexplained multi-systemic symptoms, regardless of geographic location.