It's Not Just Lyme—Why You Must Test for Co-Infections

Here’s a critical truth that far too few people hear from their doctor:

If you’ve been bitten by a tick and test positive (or suspect exposure) for Lyme disease… you must also be tested for co-infections.

Lyme is rarely alone. Ticks are nature’s dirty hypodermic needles—often carrying multiple infections in a single bite. These co-infections can dramatically alter the course of your illness and recovery if not properly identified and treated.

Let’s explore why co-infections matter, how they affect your symptoms, and how our functional approach at Princeton Integrative Health ensures no stone is left unturned.

What Are Co-Infections?

Co-infections are additional bacterial, viral, or parasitic infections that are transmitted by the same ticks (or other vectors) that carry Lyme disease. Some of the most common include:

• Babesia – a malaria-like parasite
  
  
• Bartonella – sometimes called “cat scratch fever”
  
  
• Ehrlichia & Anaplasma – bacteria that affect white blood cells
  
  
• Mycoplasma – bacteria without a cell wall that affect various systems
  
  
• Rickettsia – another bacterial infection often lumped into “Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever”
  
  

Each of these can cause their own set of symptoms—and some directly counteract or complicate Lyme treatment protocols.

Why Conventional Doctors Often Miss Co-Infections

Co-infections don’t always show up on standard Lyme tests. Many doctors don’t know which tests to run, and even fewer recognize the symptoms when they see them. Most co-infections require specialty labs and a provider with experience treating complex, multi-layered infections.

For example:

• Babesia needs a completely different treatment approach (often anti-parasitic medications)
  
  
• Bartonella can cause severe neurological symptoms that look like anxiety or psychosis
  
  
• Mycoplasma may be behind stubborn fatigue and autoimmune flares
  
  

The Co-Infection “Complication Loop”

When co-infections go undetected:

• Symptoms become more severe and less predictable
  
  
• Standard Lyme treatments (like antibiotics) may be ineffective or even harmful
  
  
• Patients become more inflamed and immune-compromised
  
  
• Recovery takes significantly longer
  
  

This is why so many Lyme sufferers feel stuck—even after months or years of antibiotics. They’re treating the wrong thing, or missing part of the picture.

How We Approach Co-Infections at PIH

At Princeton Integrative Health, our functional team understands that no two Lyme patients are alike—and that’s especially true when co-infections are involved. Here’s how we approach care:

• Comprehensive Specialty Testing: We partner with advanced labs to test for Babesia, Bartonella, Ehrlichia, Mycoplasma, and more—using blood, urine, and PCR panels.
  
  
• Individualized Protocols: We don’t follow a one-size-fits-all treatment model. Your care plan may include antimicrobial herbs, pharmaceuticals (when needed), immune support, detox tools, and nervous system regulation.
  
  
• Whole-Body Healing: We address the entire terrain—gut, liver, adrenals, mitochondria, and mindset. Chronic infection impacts your body in many ways; we treat them all.
  
  

Common Symptoms of Co-Infections

Here’s a snapshot of what some of these infections can cause:

Babesia

• Night sweats
  
  
• Air hunger or shortness of breath
  
  
• Dizziness
  
  
• Headaches
  
  
• Fatigue
  
  

Bartonella

• Foot pain (esp. soles in the morning)
  
  
• Mood swings, rage, panic attacks
  
  
• Striae (stretch mark-like lines)
  
  
• Nerve pain
  
  
• Insomnia
  
  

Ehrlichia & Anaplasma

• Fever
  
  
• Muscle aches
  
  
• Low white blood cell count
  
  
• GI upset
  
  
• Confusion
  
  

These are just a few examples. Often, symptoms overlap—and that’s what makes co-infections so hard to recognize without expert support.

You Can’t Heal What You Don’t See

Testing for co-infections is not a luxury—it’s a necessity. Especially if you’ve had:

• Chronic Lyme symptoms with minimal improvement
  
  
• Multiple rounds of antibiotics with little relief
  
  
• Unexplained neurological or psychiatric symptoms
  
  
• Fluctuating fevers, sweats, or air hunger
  
  
• A history of multiple insect bites or travel to tick-heavy regions
  
  

There Is Hope

We’ve helped countless patients get their life back—but only after identifying and treating the full range of infections. If you suspect Lyme but still feel unwell, it’s time to dig deeper.

Schedule a call with our team to begin your co-infection investigation. At PIH, we help you navigate the complexity of chronic illness with clarity, compassion, and clinical precision.