title: Unique expression of chronic Lyme disease and Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction to doxycycline therapy in a young adult.
abstract: I am a 24-year-old male who was diagnosed with chronic Lyme disease after 4 years of multiple, non-specific symptoms. I have written this case as first author with my faculty mentor listed as the coauthor. The objective of this report is to highlight the experience with doxycycline treatment. In 2007, at around age 19 years, I had an acute onset of sore throat, tonsillitis, low-grade fever, stiff upper back and neck muscles, migraines and severely stiff, cracking jaw joints. This led to >24 medical visits, multitudes of tests and examinations, and exploratory surgery over the next 3 years. In 2011, a Lyme-literate medical doctor (LLMD) diagnosed me with chronic Lyme disease. I started taking doxycycline 100 mg by mouth every 12 hours, leading to atypical sequences of events deemed a Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction by a LLMD. This case highlights the unique clinical expression of chronic Lyme disease and the Jarisch-Herxheimer response to doxycycline.
authors.affiliation: Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA.
authors.forename: Chad
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Haney
authors.affiliation: College of Pharmacy, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA.
authors.forename: Milap C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Nahata
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000139:chemically induced*; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000139:chemically induced*; D004318:Doxycycline / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005207:Fasciculation / Q000139:chemically induced*; D005334:Fever / Q000139:chemically induced*; D006261:Headache / Q000139:chemically induced*; D006801:Humans; D008193:Lyme Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004318:Doxycycline