'This was quite a surprise': Serena Williams' husband Alexis Ohanian reveals Lyme disease diagnosis

MIAMI, FLORIDA: Serena Williams' husband, Alexis Ohanian, revealed he has been diagnosed with Lyme disease through a series of social media posts on Tuesday, July 16.  

The Reddit co-founder, who resides in Florida, noted that he was taken off guard by the diagnosis as he "spends so little time in the wilderness" and reassured everyone that he was receiving appropriate treatment, as per Essentially Sports. 

Alexis Ohanian had no symptoms of Lyme disease when he received the diagnosis

Alexis Ohanian detailed his health situation through a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter). He explained that after undergoing multiple medical tests and procedures, doctors informed him of his condition.

He wrote, "Doing a full battery of health scans, tests, etc, and found out I have lyme disease. Wild. No symptoms, thankfully, but gonna treat."

Ohanian further elaborated on the intricacies of his diagnosis, writing, "Good cholesterol is too low. Bad cholesterol is just OK. Gotta work on that. On the plus-side: 822 ng/dL total + 162 ng/dL free testosterone."

The businessman mentioned that despite a family history of the ailment, he was surprised by the diagnosis. Ohanian noted, "I've got a loved one who had it a few years back, showed tons symptoms etc and just couldn't figure it out until they tested him for it and then found it (treated it successfully, too). I spend so little time in the wilderness/northeast this was quite a surprise."

Keeping his positive outlook, he assured everyone that he would begin treatment soon, saying, "Anyway, gonna grab some antibiotics — can’t keep me down, tick!" 

Ohanian made it clear to his followers that he was not offering health advice about Lyme disease, urging, "Please consult a doctor! Do not rely on me for any health advice!"

Williams and Ohanian, who tied the knot in 2017, share two daughters, Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr and Adira River Ohanian. 

Understanding Lyme disease: Causes, symptoms, and stages of tick-borne infection

Lyme disease is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi and is typically transmitted through the bite of infected black-legged ticks. It primarily affects individuals in wooded and grassy areas where these ticks are prevalent.

The disease progresses through stages, beginning with early localized symptoms such as the erythema migrans rash, a red, expanding rash often resembling a bull's eye. Flu-like symptoms, including fever, chills, headache, and muscle aches, are also common.

As the disease advances, it can lead to multiple rashes, severe headaches, facial palsy, heart palpitations, and arthritis, particularly in large joints like the knees.

Diagnosis of Lyme disease involves both clinical evaluation and laboratory testing. Clinically, doctors assess the characteristic symptoms and the patient’s history of potential tick exposure.

The presence of the erythema migrans rash is a key diagnostic indicator. Laboratory tests are used to confirm the diagnosis, primarily through blood tests that detect antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi.

The ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) is typically used for initial screening, and if positive, it is followed by the Western blot test for confirmation.

Prompt diagnosis and treatment with antibiotics are crucial to prevent the disease from progressing to more severe stages and causing long-term health complications.