Can Lyme disease affect the digestive tract?

S.K.

Lyme disease is an infectious disease caused by a small, bacteria-like organism known as a spirochete. The spirochete is spread through the bite of a tick. The symptoms of Lyme disease may include skin rash, muscle aches, arthritis, irregular heartbeat and neuropathy (degeneration of the nerves).

It is unusual for Lyme disease to affect the stomach or intestines. However, the disorder can affect another organ important to digestion: the liver. Studies have shown that up to 20 percent of people with Lyme disease have abnormal results on liver-function tests. Although many of these people do not experience any problems with their livers, those who do may suffer from severe liver inflammation (hepatitis). Typical symptoms of hepatitis are loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, weight loss and abdominal pain. The liver may also become enlarged as a result of the inflammation.

The therapy for Lyme-related hepatitis is essentially to treat the underlying Lyme disease with the appropriate antibiotics. One must keep in mind that there are numerous causes of hepatitis, and that these must be considered first before attributing any liver problem to Lyme disease. Referral to a gastroenterologist with experience in the evaluation and therapy of hepatitis may be helpful in cases where the cause is not clear, or if the hepatitis does not improve once the Lyme disease is treated.