Loratadine, which has the trade name of Claritin, can prevent manganese from entering the cell wall of the bacteria, thus starving it and causing it to die in test tubes.
“Because current treatments do not work for everyone and the bacteria that causes Lyme disease offers many treatment challenges, this study offers encouraging insights for researchers and hope for the 80 million Americans at risk for getting Lyme disease,” said Bonnie Crater, founder and science committee chairperson for the Bay Area Lyme Foundation.
Results from the study bring researchers one step closer to discovering a targeted therapy to treat Lyme disease. Currently, Lyme disease patients take a 2- to 4-week course of antibiotics.
Another recent study found the cost and severity of Lyme disease in the U.S. is vastly underestimated. In fact, the number of Lyme disease cases in the U.S. has risen about 200 percent in the past 20 years.
More articles on Lyme disease:
Study: Cost and severity of Lyme disease vastly underestimated
New York State Legislature Reviews Long-Term Lyme Disease Treatment Legislation
Lyme Disease Tests Common, Costly: Study
