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Overview
What Is Lyme Borreliosis?
Lyme borreliosis, also called Lyme disease or borreliosis disease, is a bacterial infection caused by certain Borrelia bacteria. It is usually transmitted through the bite of an infected blacklegged tick or a related tick species. Anyone who spends time in an area where these ticks live can be affected. Early recognition matters because prompt evaluation and treatment can help prevent the infection from affecting the nervous system, heart, or joints.
Symptoms
Lyme Disease Symptoms
Early symptoms
- An expanding erythema migrans rash may develop near the tick bite and does not always look like a bull’s-eye.
- Fever may occur during the early infection.
- Chills can accompany other flu-like symptoms.
- Headache may develop after infection.
- Fatigue is a common early symptom.
- Muscle aches may affect different parts of the body.
- Joint pain can occur during the early stage.
- Swollen lymph nodes may appear near the affected area or elsewhere.
Later or disseminated symptoms
- Facial weakness or drooping can occur when facial nerves are affected.
- Nerve pain may cause burning, shooting, or radiating discomfort.
- Heart rhythm problems can develop when Lyme carditis affects the heart’s electrical system.
- Episodes of joint swelling, especially in a large joint such as the knee, may occur.
How It Spreads
How Lyme Borreliosis Spreads
Lyme borreliosis is acquired when an infected blacklegged tick or related vector remains attached long enough to transmit Borrelia bacteria. Ticks are often found in wooded, brushy, or grassy environments, where they may attach to people or animals passing by. Understanding how you get Lyme disease can help with prevention after outdoor activities.
| Exposure | What to know |
|---|---|
| Infected tick bite | The usual route of transmission. |
| Person-to-person casual contact | Not considered a typical route of spread. |
| Pets | Pets do not usually transmit Lyme disease directly, but they can carry ticks indoors. |
Risk Factors
Risk Factors for Lyme Disease
- Living in or visiting a region where Lyme disease and infected ticks are established increases exposure risk.
- Spending time in wooded, brushy, or tall-grass areas provides more opportunities for tick contact.
- Outdoor work, hiking, camping, gardening, and other recreation can increase exposure.
- Warm-season activities may raise risk because ticks are more active and people spend more time outdoors.
- Not noticing or promptly removing an attached tick can allow more time for transmission.
Complications
Lyme Disease Complications
Most people recover with appropriate treatment, but untreated or disseminated infection can affect the nervous system, heart, or joints. These complications are not inevitable, and medical evaluation can help identify and manage them early.
- Lyme arthritis can cause repeated episodes of swelling and pain, often in a large joint.
- Facial nerve palsy can cause weakness or drooping on one side of the face.
- Meningitis or radiculopathy can cause severe headache, neck stiffness, nerve pain, or other neurologic symptoms.
- Lyme carditis can cause conduction abnormalities and changes in heart rhythm.
- Persistent symptoms require reassessment to confirm the diagnosis and look for other or additional causes.
SEEK PROMPT CARE
Heart-related symptoms need urgent evaluation
Death from Lyme disease is rare, but serious heart involvement can be dangerous. Palpitations, fainting, chest discomfort, shortness of breath, or marked lightheadedness require urgent medical attention.
Diagnosis
How Lyme Disease Is Diagnosed
Diagnosis depends on the timing and appearance of symptoms, possible tick exposure, geographic location, and examination findings. Clinicians may use blood tests along with the medical history and physical examination. An unmistakable expanding erythema migrans rash may support a clinical diagnosis without waiting for laboratory testing.
| Approach | Key point |
|---|---|
| Two-tier antibody testing | Usually uses an initial immunoassay followed by a second test when indicated. |
| Early infection | Antibody tests can be negative before the immune response develops. |
| Clinical assessment | Symptoms and exposure history remain important, especially with a typical expanding rash. |
Treatment & Management
Lyme Disease Treatment
Lyme disease treatment uses prescription antibiotics selected according to the affected body systems, illness stage, age, pregnancy status, allergies, and regional clinical guidance. A clinician determines the appropriate medicine and duration rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all plan.
- Early localized disease is generally treated with an appropriate oral antibiotic prescribed by a clinician.
- Neurologic or cardiac involvement may require a different antibiotic approach and closer medical monitoring.
- Lyme arthritis may need antibiotic treatment and follow-up to assess joint recovery and ongoing inflammation.
Prevention
Lyme Disease Prevention
- Use an EPA-registered insect repellent according to its label directions.
- Wear long sleeves, long trousers, and light-colored clothing when entering tick habitats.
- Stay on cleared paths and avoid brushing against tall grass, dense vegetation, and leaf litter.
- Use landscaping barriers and keep recreational areas away from brush and accumulated leaves where practical.
- Perform a full-body tick check after outdoor activities, including the scalp, armpits, groin, and behind the knees.
- Check clothing and pets for ticks before coming indoors and remove any ticks promptly.
Outlook and Prognosis
Lyme Disease Outlook and Prognosis
Most people treated appropriately recover well from Lyme disease. Recovery may be slower or more complicated when diagnosis and treatment are delayed or when the nervous system, heart, or joints are involved. Early treatment generally improves the likelihood of a complete recovery.
- Timing of treatment affects the risk of prolonged or more widespread illness.
- The organs affected, such as the nervous system, heart, or joints, influence recovery.
- Response to therapy helps guide follow-up and determine whether further evaluation is needed.
- Coexisting conditions may affect symptom severity, treatment choices, or recovery speed.
- Persistent symptoms should be investigated for alternative or additional causes rather than assumed to represent ongoing infection.
When Should You See a Doctor
When Should You See a Doctor?
- Contact a clinician about an expanding rash, particularly after possible tick exposure.
- Seek evaluation for flu-like symptoms after spending time in an area where ticks are common.
- New facial weakness warrants prompt medical assessment.
- Severe headache or neck stiffness should be evaluated urgently.
- Palpitations or fainting require prompt medical attention.
- A swollen, painful joint should be assessed, especially when Lyme disease is possible.
URGENT SYMPTOMS
Get immediate medical care for severe symptoms
Chest pain, fainting, trouble breathing, severe weakness, or new neurologic symptoms warrant urgent or emergency evaluation. These symptoms may signal serious cardiac or neurologic involvement.
Branches
2 topics
Lyme Borreliosis
Infectious Diseases
Lyme Borreliosis
Rheumatology
Symptoms
3 topics
Lyme Borreliosis
Body Aches
Lyme Borreliosis
Chills
Lyme Borreliosis
Fever
