Living with Lyme and PTLDS

This section explores post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS) and examines competing scientific explanations for why some people experience persistent symptoms after Lyme disease treatment. Learn about the different hypotheses researchers have proposed and where expert organizations and federal reports differ in their interpretation of the evidence.

In this section

  • Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome: What the Research Says About Its Causes — A contested-ground survey of what post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS) is and what the research literature says about why it happens. Covers the competing hypotheses — persistent infection, autoimmunity, immune dysregulation, retained antigen, neuroinflammation — and where federal reports, IDSA guidelines, and congressional testimony disagree on interpretation.

  • Lyme Disease — clinical description of Lyme disease as a disease entity, including diagnosis and standard treatment; this article covers the lived experience and scientific landscape of post-treatment symptoms

  • Navigating the Medical Landscape — how to navigate the broader medical system when any tick-borne condition is contested or chronic; this article covers the lived experience and scientific landscape of post-treatment Lyme symptoms specifically

    Not medical advice. See a healthcare provider for medical decisions. Medical Disclaimer