Going through the Covid-19 pandemic has changed how people view disease, viruses, and healthcare. This is even more apparent for people with a history of health conditions or who are otherwise immunocompromised.
Lyme disease is one of the conditions that may significantly impact how Covid-19 affects a person who becomes infected with it. The links between Covid and Lyme disease are becoming more apparent as newer research comes out around both of these illnesses. Let’s take a look at how they relate, and what you can do to protect yourself.
Lyme Disease and The Immune System
The majority of cases of Lyme disease can be effectively treated with antibiotics when caught early. However, some people experience long-lasting symptoms after treatment (Post Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome), particularly if the disease was not caught early enough. Others go years without receiving a diagnosis or treatment, leaving the disease to develop into a chronic condition, as in the case of chronic Lyme disease.
These long-lasting Lyme disease symptoms can greatly impact someone’s immune system. The bacteria carried by ticks that cause Lyme disease, from the group Borrelia burgdorferi, affect the body’s immune response to foreign pathogens. This may lead to the immune system mistakenly attacking healthy cells.
Research suggests that Lyme can either trigger a latent autoimmune disease that someone may have, or mimic autoimmune diseases. The longer that Lyme goes untreated, the greater the chance that it could trigger an autoimmune response. Either way, this greatly impairs the immune system, and any subsequent infections someone may contract.
Covid-19 and Lyme Disease
An important topic in prevention and treatment for Covid-19 patients is autoimmunity. Much like any other virus, the effects of Covid-19 may be that much greater for people with preexisting autoimmune disorders.
Recent studies indicate that a history of Lyme disease can increase the risk of severe illness in people who contract Covid. Given the possible effects of Lyme disease on the immune system, it makes sense that it would also impact the effects on Covid-19 patients.
Another similarity between the two infections is that they can both cause similar flu-like symptoms like fatigue and musculoskeletal aches. Long-lasting symptoms of Covid-19 and Lyme disease can also lead to difficulties with cognition, and other neurological side effects.
One study examined comorbidity between acute respiratory syndrome in Covid-19 patients as well as those who are asymptomatic or have mild cases, and Borrelia infections. Their findings indicate a greater risk of severe Covid-19 infections and hospitalization for people with a history of Lyme disease.
The specific link between these two infections is not well understood yet, but researchers suggest that screening for antibodies of Borrelia burgdorferi (Lyme disease causing bacteria) may help medical professionals assess the risk of severe Covid-19 infections in patients.
Lyme disease isn’t the only infection that can be transmitted through ticks. Other tick-borne infections, including Anaplasmosis, may also increase someone’s risk of developing severe Covid-19 symptoms.
Protecting Yourself from Covid-19 and Lyme Disease
Unfortunately, like many infectious diseases, Lyme and Covid are sometimes unavoidable. That being said, there are still steps you can take to help minimize your risk of contracting both.
Our understanding of Covid-19 has grown exponentially since the start of the pandemic. We now know some of the most effective ways to prevent transmission are through vaccination, avoiding large indoor crowds, masking when necessary, and following hygiene guidelines like hand washing.
Since Lyme disease is spread through bacteria-carrying ticks, the best way to try to avoid infection is to take precautionary measures when in areas where ticks are common. This includes covering arms and legs when in wooded areas or while hiking, using bug spray with DEET or lemon eucalyptus oil, and properly checking yourself after going in areas where ticks are common.
Another important part of protecting yourself from tick-borne infections as well as Covid is proper testing. If you happen to get a tick bite, you can get tested for possible infections, as well as the tick itself for bacteria or parasites that may be present. Testing for tick-borne diseases can help you get access to treatment as soon as possible and help prevent long-term side effects. Early treatment of Lyme disease with antibiotics may greatly reduce someone’s risk of developing serious complications from Covid-19. IGeneX offers testing for both Covid-19, as well as tick-borne infections, both vital services when it comes to Lyme disease, Covid-19, and your health.