Can Lyme disease be cured?

Yes, the vast majority of cases are cured with antibiotics, especially when treated early. Some patients experience lingering symptoms (post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome) that typically improve over time.

How do I remove a tick safely?

Use fine-tipped tweezers, grasp the tick close to the skin, and pull upward with steady pressure. Clean the area with rubbing alcohol or soap. Do not use folk remedies like nail polish or heat.

Can you get Lyme disease without the bull's-eye rash?

Yes, the rash appears in about 70–80% of infected individuals. Some never develop it or don't notice it. Lyme disease can still be diagnosed through symptoms and blood testing.

InfectiousICD-10: A69.2About 476,000 people are diagnosed and treated annually in the U.S.

Lyme Disease

Also known as: Lyme Borreliosis

Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne illness in North America and Europe, caused by Borrelia burgdorferi transmitted through blacklegged tick bites. Early symptoms include a characteristic expanding red rash and flu-like symptoms. When diagnosed early, Lyme disease is effectively treated with antibiotics, but delayed treatment can lead to chronic complications.

Symptoms

Expanding circular red rash (erythema migrans/bull's-eye rash)

Fever, chills, and body aches

Fatigue and headache

Swollen lymph nodes

Facial palsy (Bell's palsy) if nervous system is involved

Severe joint pain and swelling (Lyme arthritis)

Heart palpitations or irregular heartbeat (Lyme carditis)

Numbness or tingling in extremities

Causes

Borrelia burgdorferi transmitted by infected Ixodes ticks
Ticks must be attached for 36–48 hours to transmit bacteria
Ticks acquire the bacteria by feeding on infected mice and deer

Risk Factors

Living in or visiting wooded, grassy areas in endemic regions
Spending time outdoors without tick prevention
Having pets that may carry ticks indoors
Peak exposure during spring and summer (May–August)
Northeast, mid-Atlantic, and upper Midwest U.S. regions

Diagnosis

Clinical diagnosis based on erythema migrans rash (no lab needed)
Two-tier serologic testing: ELISA followed by Western blot
PCR testing of joint fluid for Lyme arthritis
Lumbar puncture for suspected neurological Lyme disease

Treatment

Oral antibiotics: doxycycline (preferred), amoxicillin, or cefuroxime for 10–21 days
IV ceftriaxone for Lyme meningitis or severe carditis
NSAIDs for joint pain and inflammation
Single-dose doxycycline prophylaxis after high-risk tick bites
Physical therapy for persistent Lyme arthritis

Prevention

Use EPA-registered insect repellents (DEET, picaridin, permethrin-treated clothing)
Perform thorough tick checks after spending time outdoors
Shower within 2 hours of coming indoors
Remove attached ticks promptly with fine-tipped tweezers
Create tick-safe zones in your yard

When to See a Doctor

You develop an expanding red rash after a tick bite
Flu-like symptoms after spending time in a tick-endemic area
Joint swelling, facial paralysis, or heart palpitations
You found an engorged tick attached for more than 24 hours

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Conditions

Guillain-Barré Syndrome

Neurological

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Autoimmune

Fibromyalgia

Musculoskeletal

Lupus

Autoimmune

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