Lyme disease
About Lyme disease
Caused by the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi. Deer ticks can carry the bacteria, and the disease is acquired after being bitten by an infected tick. Some patients don't remember the tick bite. There are three stages to the infection. See the symptoms section for a description. If untreated the disease can be serious involving the heart, brain, joints and nerves. The CDC states 94% of all Lyme disease cases occurred in the 12 states: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Wisconsin.Symptoms
In Stage 1: the classic bulls-eye rash (erythema migrans) at the site of the bite, headache, fever, myalgias. Stage 2: spreading of the rash, muscle pain, joint pain, heart palpitations, dizziness, Bell's palsy (facial muscle weakness), severe headache, confusion, stiff neck, meningitis, memory loss, depression. Stage 3: intermittent joint pain, joint swelling, chronic numbness, memory loss.Tests & Diagnostics
A history and physical exam will be performed. A blood test will be performed to detect antibodies to the bacteria. The most common one used is an ELISA test. A western blot test is performed to confirm ELISA results. Other tests (such as tests of nerve function) to determine the extent of disease may be recommended.Common tests: Complete blood count (CBC), Comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP), CT Scan, EKG, Urinalysis (UA), X-ray.
Prescription medications
Conventional treatment summary
Most people who are bitten by a tick do not get Lyme disease. Antibiotics (doxycycline, amoxicillin, or cefuroxime axetil) are used to treat Lyme disease. The specific antibiotic used depends on the stage of the disease and the symptoms. Severe cases require intravenous antibiotics. Pain medications such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications/NSAIDs (ibuprofen/Motrin or Advil, naproxen/Naprosyn) are sometimes prescribed to relieve joint stiffness.Medical specialties
Internal Medicine · Pediatrics · Family Practice · Infectious Disease Medicine · Pediatric Infectious Disease Medicine
This page is educational content, not medical advice. Always consult a qualified clinician for diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease.