If you’ve been hearing more about Lyme disease and other tick-borne infections lately, there’s good reason. Across the U.S. – especially in the Northeast – cases are on the rise. The CDC estimates over 476,000 Americans are diagnosed and treated for Lyme disease each year, a number that has more than doubled over the past two decades. And that number is likely underestimated due to inaccurate testing.
It’s not just Lyme. Infections like babesiosis, bartonellosis, anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis, and Powassan virus are also increasing – yet many people remain misdiagnosed or undertreated.
A Growing Problem – And Not Just Lyme
While Lyme remains the most well-known, today’s ticks often carry and transmit multiple pathogens in a single bite. Patients may suffer from two, three, or more simultaneous infections, complicating diagnosis and treatment.
Babesia, a malaria-like parasite, causes fatigue, night sweats, and shortness of breath. Bartonellosis can lead to neurological and psychiatric symptoms such as anxiety, depression, or even hallucinations. Anaplasmosis and ehrlichiosis can cause fevers, low white blood cell counts, and liver issues. Rare viruses like Powassan may lead to life-threatening encephalitis.
Tick-borne diseases are no longer rare or seasonal. Warmer winters, suburban expansion, and growing deer populations have extended tick season and habitat, making these infections a year-round concern – even in areas where they were once uncommon.
The Problem with the Standard Approach
Many patients with early Lyme symptoms – like fever, body aches, or rash – are misdiagnosed with flu, fibromyalgia, or anxiety. Others are dismissed when they test negative using the standard two-tier testing method, which is unreliable in early stages and doesn’t detect co-infections.
Worse still, those with chronic symptoms after brief antibiotic treatment are often told, “It’s all in your head.” Instead of further evaluation, they’re referred to psychiatrists or pain clinics.
This one-size-fits-all approach fails complex, chronic, and late-stage cases – and that’s where ILADS-trained providers come in.
Why ILADS?
The International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS) is the leading organization focused on the diagnosis and treatment of Lyme and other tick-borne infections. ILADS-trained providers take a comprehensive, patient-centered approach that accounts for the complexity of these illnesses.
Unlike conventional protocols, ILADS guidelines support:
- clinical diagnosis over rigid testing algorithms
- recognition and treatment of coinfections
- longer or combination antibiotic regimens when needed
- customized treatment plans based on individual response
- use of adjunct therapies like herbal antimicrobials, detox support, and immune modulation
ILADS providers understand that chronic tick-borne illness isn’t a “thirty-day fix.” It requires time, expertise, and a willingness to truly listen to patients.
A Better Path to Healing
Many of my patients come to me after years of misdiagnosis or dismissal. Some have been told they have MS, lupus, chronic fatigue, or psychiatric disorders – when, in fact, they were dealing with tick-borne infections. Others are told their labs are normal despite debilitating fatigue, brain fog, and joint pain.
When tested through specialized labs and treated using an ILADS-informed approach, these patients often begin to heal. Their symptoms ease. They regain function. They get their lives back.
This isn’t alternative medicine – it’s informed, personalized care that respects the complexity of these diseases and the resilience of the human body.
What You Can Do
If you spend time outdoors – gardening, hiking, walking your dog – you are at risk. To protect yourself and your family:
- Wear long sleeves and pants in wooded or grassy areas.
- Use essential oil-based tick repellents like Nantucket Spider.
- Consider clothing treated by Insect Shield, which kills ticks on contact.
- Remove ticks promptly using fine-tipped tweezers.
- Save the tick for testing and take photos.
If bitten, call your provider immediately and request thirty days of doxycycline – it covers most tick-borne infections and is widely used long-term for acne.
As tick-borne illnesses grow in complexity and reach, our approach to care must evolve. ILADS providers lead this movement – offering patients what they need most: validation, evidence-based care, and hope.
Dr. Pamela M. Cipriano is an ILADS member since 2017. To schedule an appointment, call The Practice of Health and Wellness at 860.880.2525.