What Are Co-Infections—and Why They Matter

If you’ve been diagnosed with Lyme disease—or even if you just suspect it—there’s one crucial piece of the puzzle you cannot ignore: co-infections.

These stealthy bugs not only complicate Lyme treatment, but often go undetected, leaving patients confused, frustrated, and chronically ill. Today, we’re unpacking what co-infections really are, how they’re transmitted, and why they demand just as much attention as Lyme itself.

The Basics: What Are Co-Infections?

Co-infections are additional pathogens that are transmitted during the same insect bite that delivers Lyme. These pathogens aren’t just “tagalongs”—they have their own unique symptoms, treatment requirements, and disease progression.

Ticks, mosquitoes, fleas, and lice can all carry multiple pathogens. That means one bite can deliver Lyme plus two, three, or more additional infections.

Common Lyme Co-Infections

Let’s look at some of the most common co-infections we test for and treat at PIH:

1. Babesia
   
   
   • Type: Protozoan parasite
     
     
   • Vector: Tick
     
     
   • Symptoms: Night sweats, chills, air hunger, anemia
     
     
   • Treatment: Antimalarial medications or herbal antimicrobials
     
     
2. Bartonella
   
   
   • Type: Bacteria
     
     
   • Vector: Tick, flea, lice, cat scratch
     
     
   • Symptoms: Neurological symptoms, rage, foot pain, striae
     
     
   • Treatment: Long-term antimicrobials and immune support
     
     
3. Ehrlichia & Anaplasma
   
   
   • Type: Bacteria
     
     
   • Vector: Tick
     
     
   • Symptoms: Flu-like illness, low WBC, GI issues
     
     
   • Treatment: Doxycycline, supportive therapies
     
     
4. Mycoplasma
   
   
   • Type: Bacteria
     
     
   • Vector: Various
     
     
   • Symptoms: Brain fog, joint pain, autoimmune symptoms
     
     
   • Treatment: Targeted antibiotics and immune balancing
     
     
5. Rickettsia
   
   
   • Type: Bacteria
     
     
   • Vector: Ticks, fleas
     
     
   • Symptoms: Rash, high fever, GI symptoms
     
     
   • Treatment: Early antibiotic intervention
     
     

Why Co-Infections Make Lyme Harder to Treat

• They Weaken the Immune System: Your body is juggling multiple pathogens at once, making it harder to respond effectively.
  
  
• They Require Different Treatments: What works for Lyme (Borrelia) might not work for Babesia or Bartonella.
  
  
• They Confuse Diagnosis: Symptoms overlap and fluctuate, making it hard to pin down what's causing what.
  
  
• They Trigger Autoimmunity: Chronic infections can lead to immune dysregulation and even autoimmune conditions.
  
  

At PIH, We Treat the Whole Picture

Instead of chasing symptoms, we take a step back and assess:

• Your full exposure history
  
  
• Comprehensive testing for Lyme and co-infections
  
  
• Your immune, gut, liver, and adrenal function
  
  
• Lifestyle and environmental factors
  
  
• Mental and emotional health
  
  

This integrative model allows us to create targeted, root-cause-based protocols that support real, lasting healing.

The Bottom Line

Co-infections aren’t rare. They’re common—and critically important to address. Whether you're newly diagnosed with Lyme or have struggled with unexplained chronic symptoms for years, it’s time to dig deeper.

If you’re ready to stop guessing and start healing, our team at Princeton Integrative Health is here to guide you every step of the way.

Start your health assessment today!