Figure

Figure. Erythematous rash on the right side of the neck of a patient with Lyme disease, central North Carolina, USA.

In mid-July, a generally healthy woman in her late 60s went biking around her neighborhood in the suburbs north of Raleigh, North Carolina. After the ride, she felt dehydrated, lightheaded, and excessively fatigued for the level of exertion. Four days later, she noted a large erythematous rash on the right side of her neck (Figure). She also had a fever reaching 38.6°C. Results of an antigen-based COVID-19 rapid test were negative. She treated her symptoms with acetaminophen.

Approximately 5 days after the rash appeared, she went to her primary care physician (PCP) for her annual physical (Table). By that time, the fever had resolved, but the rash was still present. Additional symptoms included a severe frontal headache and bilateral ear pain. Her PCP diagnosed her with cellulitis and prescribed a 10-day course of cephalexin. After starting antibiotics, the patient felt subjectively better. However, the headache returned 2 days later. She contacted her PCP, who changed her antibiotic to double-strength trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole out of concern that the headache was a side effect of cephalexin.

The headaches persisted after the antibiotic change, and the next day the patient visited a local emergency department. Results of basic laboratory evaluations, including a complete blood count and comprehensive metabolic panel, were unremarkable. She underwent a noncontrast computed tomography scan of the head, which was interpreted as without findings that would explain her symptoms. She was subsequently discharged to home.

Ten days later, the patient returned to her PCP for follow-up and was seen by the on-call provider. She still reported pain in her ears and that the pain in the left ear was more severe than the right. She was now experiencing diffuse pruritis, which was thought to be caused by trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. The antibiotic was discontinued because the rash appeared to be resolving. However, she also noted more dyspnea with exertion. Additional laboratory testing was ordered, including a complete blood count, comprehensive metabolic panel, C-reactive protein, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate; the erythrocyte sedimentation rate was slightly elevated (Table). The patient was prescribed erythromycin drops for otitis media. A referral to cardiology was placed for evaluation of the exertional dyspnea.

After that visit, the patient became increasingly forgetful, withdrawn, and unable to perform basic cognitive tasks (e.g., simple calculations), which was noticed by her adult children. Two weeks later, ≈1 month after the rash began, she had onset of a left-sided facial droop. On evaluation, her PCP noted that she was unable to close her left eye and her smile was asymmetric on the same side. She was diagnosed with Bell’s palsy and prescribed a 1-week course of prednisone and valacyclovir. The facial nerve symptoms slowly improved and eventually resolved over the next week.

The next month, the patient reported more back pain with spasms that radiated into the cervical spine and neck. She underwent magnetic resonance imaging of the spine, which demonstrated degenerative changes but no findings that would explain her symptoms. Her children remained concerned about her cognitive status, anorexia, and unintentional 10-pound weight loss, and they requested additional consultations, including with a subspecialist in infectious diseases.

The patient was seen in an outpatient infectious diseases clinic ≈2 months after the onset of symptoms. Although the patient did not recall any insect bites, her adult son recalled a small punctate lesion in the central part of the initial rash. Other than the bike rides, her only risk factor for tick or mosquito exposure was working in the flower garden in her yard. She did note that there were frequently deer on the property and that the family dog often slept in her bed. She had not traveled outside the local area during the previous year. Vital signs were within reference limits, and her examination was notable only for slow responses to questions and difficulty recalling recent events. Laboratory tests for tickborne and other infectious diseases, including Lyme disease, spotted fever rickettsiosis, ehrlichiosis, and α-gal syndrome, were ordered. No antibiotics were prescribed during the visit.

Results of the Lyme disease enzyme immunoassay were positive. The sample was reflexed to a Western blot, which showed positive results (6 of 10 IgG bands reactive). The patient was prescribed a 28-day course of oral doxycycline. Substantial improvement in her mood, cognitive function, and energy levels were noted within 3 days. She completed the course of doxycycline without issue. At follow-up 1 month later, the patient reported feeling at her recent baseline, and her children no longer expressed concerns over her health. A mildly elevated α-gal result was discussed, but the patient was not experiencing any symptoms associated with the consumption of mammalian meat products.

Given the relatively mild manifestations of early symptoms during Lyme disease, most patients are seen in the outpatient setting. Therefore, primary care providers play an important role in the diagnosis and management of Lyme disease and are key targets for outreach. We believe the following 2 topics merit mention. First, in 2019, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention approved the use of a modified 2-tier test in which the traditional Western blot is replaced by a second enzyme immunoassay, which is easier to interpret and has improved sensitivity in early disease (10–12). Some commercial laboratories in North Carolina have already transitioned to the modified 2-tier test. Second, postexposure prophylaxis with a single 200-mg dose of doxycycline has not routinely been used but warrants consideration in many areas of the state if other criteria are met (13,14).

Although the patient did not have obvious exposures to ticks, her clinical manifestations were highly suggestive of Lyme disease. In addition to the nonspecific constitutional symptoms, such as malaise, she also had a large erythema migrans rash that appeared within 1 week of the likely exposure, followed by Bell’s palsy approximately 1 month later. During that period, she had visits with multiple clinicians and underwent a wide range of testing but never had specific testing or treatment for Lyme disease. Those delays, especially in the context of southward expansion of the disease along the Appalachian Mountains, highlight the need for greater awareness and professional education among healthcare providers in North Carolina (2,3).