NIAID funds Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome research

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), awarded five projects to research and better understand Post-treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome (PTLDS). This syndrome is a collection of symptoms, including pain, fatigue and “brain fog” which can result after someone has been treated for Lyme disease. The United States has seen a stark increase in the number of tick-borne diseases cases, with the incidence of Lyme disease in the United States nearly doubling since 1991, from 3.74 reported cases per 100,000 people to 7.21 reported cases per 100,000 people in 2018. Currently, cases are still going up and there is no sign of tick progression slowing down.

Lyme disease is a bacterial illness causing fever, fatigue, joint pain, and skin rash. Sometimes, joint, and nervous system complications result. Lyme is the most common vector- borne disease with approximately 20,000-30,000 cases being reported to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) each year.

“As tickborne diseases, including Lyme disease, become more common and widespread in the United States, it is increasingly urgent that we understand all facets of the disease, including the root causes of PLTDS,” said Acting NIAID Director Hugh Auchincloss, M.D. The NIAID hopes these research awards will aid in discovering critical information to help inform best practices for diagnosing and treating PLTDS.

This research may lead to other findings related to the treatment of other infection- associated chronic illnesses, such as Long COVID. The newest NIAID awards for PLTDS will total almost $3.2 million in first-year funding and will aid in the research of PLTDS symptoms for five years. The following institutions have received awards:

The NIAID conducts and supports research to study causes of infectious diseases and the most effective ways to prevent, diagnose, and treat these illnesses.