What happens when coronavirus and Lyme disease intersect? It's a scary time for patients
With overlapping symptoms and a ferocious tick season already upon us, we’re in for a confusing — and dangerous — summer.
In mid-March, shortly after coronavirus quarantine rules went into effect in New York, sportscaster and former professional tennis player Patrick McEnroe went out for a run in a local park. An itch on his upper-arm a day later revealed an embedded tick, which he promptly removed. After urging from his wife, he sent the tick to a lab to test if it was infected with Lyme.
Normally energetic, McEnroe soon became lethargic and short of breath; he had trouble sleeping and, in the hours he did, his dreams were uncharacteristically bizarre. When his fever hit 100 degrees for two consecutive days, he was tested for COVID-19. His tick test returned positive for Lyme. The next day, his COVID-19 test came back positive, too.
This scenario points to a looming crisis. What happens when a pandemic meets another health crisis? With overlapping symptoms and a ferocious tick season already upon us, we’re in for a confusing — and dangerous — summer.
October 21, 2024
USA Today
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