What Is Lyme Disease?

Lyme disease is an infection caused by a tick bite. The infection can lead to problems with the skin, heart, brain, and joints.

Treatment with antibiotics usually cures Lyme disease, especially when started early.

Do All Tick Bites Cause Lyme Disease?

No, not all tick bites cause Lyme disease. Only deer ticks (also called black-legged ticks) cause Lyme disease. And most people bitten by one of these ticks don't usually get Lyme disease because:

• Only a small number of these ticks are infected with the bacteria that cause Lyme disease.
• An infected tick must be attached for at least 1–2 days to pass the bacteria.

What Are the Signs & Symptoms of Lyme Disease?

The symptoms of Lyme disease vary from person to person, but often happen in three stages:

Two Early Stages

1. For the first few weeks, symptoms may include:

• a rash near the tick bite, which usually is round or oval. Some rashes have a clear middle (called a bulls-eye rash).
• fever
• tiredness
• headache
• neck pain
• muscle aches
• joint pain

2. After a few more weeks, untreated Lyme disease can lead to:

• neck stiffness
• rashes on parts of the body not near the tick bite
• slow or irregular heartbeat
• problems with the nervous system (brain and spinal cord) including:
  • damage to a facial nerve that can cause drooping (facial palsy)
  • numbness in arms or legs
  • mood changes
  • memory problems
  • inflammation of the brain and spinal cord (meningitis)

Late Stage

If Lyme disease goes untreated for months, the earlier symptoms can continue. The person also can develop arthritis (swollen, painful joints).

Who Gets Lyme Disease?

Anyone bitten by an infected deer tick can get Lyme disease. Most U.S. cases of Lyme disease happen in Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, and Wisconsin. But Lyme disease is found in other parts of the U.S., Europe, Asia, and Australia too.

How Is Lyme Disease Diagnosed?

It can be hard for doctors to diagnose Lyme disease because:

• The tick bites and rash might not be noticed.
• Many early symptoms seem like the flu or other illnesses.
• Blood tests are not always accurate, especially early in the illness.

Doctors can diagnose early Lyme disease if they see a tick bite and rash. Blood tests usually aren't helpful in the first month of Lyme disease.

To diagnose late Lyme disease, doctors:

• Ask about symptoms.
• Do blood tests that look for signs of Lyme disease.

Depending on the symptoms, doctors might order other tests, such as a spinal tap, which looks at the fluid around the brain and spinal cord.

How Is Lyme Disease Treated?

Treatment depends on the stage of Lyme disease.

Treatment for early Lyme disease is antibiotics taken by mouth for 10–14 days. Someone with late Lyme disease needs antibiotics for a longer period, either taken by mouth or through an IV (intravenous) line.

What Is Post-Lyme Disease Syndrome?

Post-Lyme disease syndrome (also known as chronic Lyme disease) is when someone with Lyme disease still has symptoms after treatment with antibiotics. The symptoms are most likely caused by an autoimmune response. This is when the body's germ-fighting immune system attacks the body's own cells.

Most people with post-Lyme disease syndrome usually get better with time, but it can take months to feel well again.

Can Lyme Disease Be Prevented?

Not all cases of Lyme disease can be prevented. But you can help protect your family from tick bites. If you go into an area where ticks live, be sure to:

• Stay in the middle of the trail, instead of going through high grass or the woods.
• Wear closed shoes or boots, long-sleeved shirts, and long pants. Tuck pant legs into shoes or boots to prevent ticks from crawling up legs.
• Use an insect repellent.
• Consider treating clothing and gear with permethrin to repel ticks. When used properly, permethrin is safe for all ages. But don't use it on clothing or other material a child may suck on or chew.
• Wear light-colored clothing to help you see ticks more easily.
• Shower and wash hair after being outside to remove ticks before they attach.

How Can Parents Help?

If your child is diagnosed with Lyme disease, give the antibiotics exactly as the doctor directs. And because people can get Lyme disease more than once:

• Teach your child ways to avoid tick bites.
• Check kids regularly for ticks. If you find one, remove it right away.

Reviewed by: Amy W. Anzilotti, MD
Date Reviewed: 11-11-2019