What Are Co-Infections?

When a tick bites, it can pass on more than just Lyme bacteria. Many ticks carry a mix of pathogens: parasites, bacteria, and even viruses. These are called co-infections.

In my practice, most of my Lyme patients also have at least one co-infection. The most common are:

• Babesia – a parasite that affects your red blood cells
• Bartonella – bacteria that inflame blood vessels and nerves
• Ehrlichia & Anaplasma – bacteria that target white blood cells
• Mycoplasma – a bacteria that can cause respiratory and systemic issues
• Others like tick borne relapsing fever, Borrelia miyamotoi, etc.

Why Co-Infections Complicate Recovery

Each infection has its own symptoms and requires a different treatment. When more than one is present, it’s like fighting several battles at once.

For example:

• Treating Lyme alone won’t resolve Babesia’s night sweats.
• Bartonella’s nerve pain won’t improve without targeted therapy.
• Overlapping infections can weaken your immune system further.

Common Overlapping Symptoms

With co-infections, symptoms can be wide-ranging:

• Severe fatigue
• Trouble sleeping
• Brain fog, dizziness, nerve pain
• Mood swings, anxiety, depression
• Muscle and joint pain

This overlap makes diagnosis tricky, and why it’s so important to work with someone who knows how to look for them.

Treatment of Co-Infections

My approach is integrative and individualized. Depending on which infections are involved, I may recommend:

• Conventional medications (antibiotics, anti-parasitics)
• Herbal medicine tailored to each infection
• Immune system strengthening through nutrition, stress management, and sleep
• Detox support to help your body process treatment
• Long-term maintenance once infections are under control

Take Control of Your Recovery Today: Contact North Coast Health

If you’ve treated Lyme but still struggle with fatigue, brain fog, nerve pain, or mood changes, co-infections may be standing in the way of your full recovery. The right approach looks at the whole picture: Lyme disease, Babesia, Bartonella, Ehrlichia, Anaplasma and more, to create a personalized plan that addresses every infection and supports your immune system.

When Lyme Disease occurs without co-infections and caught early, it can result in a straightforward treatment leading to cure. I have many of these patients who are healthy and attentive to tick bite prevention, have limited their exposure to possible environments where the chances of tick bites are limited. If you are one of these folks, keep it up!

However, it’s common in my practice to have patients who know Lyme Disease exists but are not informed nor attentive to limiting exposure. These folks can have multiple tick bites over time which increases the likelihood of acquiring con-infections making that person extremely sick. Sometimes these folks have been treated for Lyme Disease but still remain unwell and come to see me. Lyme is more diffucult to treat in the presence of untreated co-infecitons. Sometimes, we need to treat multiple infections at once or it’s like a “cat chasing its tail”.

More on this in future writings!

Thanks for reading this and I hope to help you either stay healthy or become so!

In health,

Dr. Leon

Don’t wait to feel better, schedule a consultation with North Coast Health and take the first step toward reclaiming your health.