Passing Lyme Disease to Children

I know this is a strange question, but I am curious if anyone has ever heard of Lyme disease (any type of infection) being passed from mother or father to child? Has there been any research about this?

[JackieCalifornia]

I haven't researched this question, but I do know someone who had Lyme when pregnant and her child was affected in some ways, but not so you'd notice -- it's certainly a reason to seek diagnosis and treatment, but I wouldn't freak out over the possibility.

I believe it's generally thought that Lyme can be transmitted by blood and semen, but I'm not medically trained so don't take that as fact.  I just did a quick google search, and the opinions seem to vary ... but then, opinions about whether Lyme is a serious disease also vary.

Check the ILADS [dot] org website, there may be some information there on transplacental infection.

[dustybrown]

What about from Father to Daughter?

[JackieCalifornia]

I doubt it, except that the father could infect the mother, who then passes it to a baby--?  Just speculating here.

More likely is that if everyone lives where there are ticks, then people get infected separately.  I never saw the first (and maybe the second) tick that bit me, and I never had the famous circular red rash, so it's possible to get Lyme and other things and not know when or where it happened, and I 'm not the only one.  The ticks are SO tiny that they are easy to miss.  I have read descriptions like "the size of the period at the end of this sentence."  You know how it is when you are out in the woods hiking or camping or just running around out in the yard -- you get bites, they go away, you carry on.  It's just that some bites leave problems behind.  

It doesn't matter how you get the disease, because there are so many ways and places to get it without knowing it -- just like when you get a cold or the flu, it doesn't matter who gave it to you, because it could come from anyone anywhere.  What matters is getting diagnosed and treated properly.

[ErinZoe23]

Ive heard/read of mother passing it to their child while they are pregnant... but never heard of the father passing to the mother

[JackieCalifornia]

If you google "lyme semen transmission" there is a list of articles and cites discussing the idea.  If sex can transmit syphilis (which like Lyme is a bacterium), then why not Lyme also?  Is it because there is at times an open sore with syphilis, but not with Lyme?  I don't know.

Is it prudent to use a condom with a partner who has Lyme?  I don't know, haven't done any reading on the topic.  Perhaps someone else here has.

If it can be passed via semen, what is the likelihood of infection?  Don't know.

It's an interesting topic, and if someone here has the time to research the medical literature, let us know what you find.  And also what your MDs say on this point.

[dustybrown]

Yes, I am thinking this is a very interesting question. Next time when Dr. Nicholson is answering questions, I am going to ask him this. Thanks for your opinions.

[Dont_tick_me_off]

I have a GREAT website!!! I'll post a great article!

I've always believed that lyme is sexually transmitted, because my husband and i both have lyme. I was bit, he was not (well not that we know of)

i also believe that the reason why EM rash percentages are so low  (only 40-50% get EM rashs when infected) is because the people who have EM's were actually infected via insect, but the others who dont get EM, is because the infection wasn't transmitted through the skin, but sexually.

Here's the release READ IT! i'm going to post it on the forum!

http://www.canlyme.com/sex.html

[JackieCalifornia]

Sexual transmission may occur, but it is not a supportable conclusion to say that if you didn't have or see a circular rash, then you were infected sexually.  

All cats are animals, but not all animals are cats.