Overview
Lyme disease is a bacterial infection most often caused by Borrelia burgdorferi and spread by the bite of infected ticks. It is reported in parts of North America, Europe, and some areas of Asia, but risk varies widely by region. If it is not recognized and treated, the infection may spread beyond the skin and affect other parts of the body.
Key Symptoms
Early symptoms may include fever, chills, tiredness, headache, muscle aches, joint pain, and swollen lymph nodes. Some people develop a slowly expanding skin rash, sometimes with a clear center, but the rash does not appear in every case. Later illness can involve facial weakness, severe headache, neck stiffness, irregular heartbeat, dizziness, or swelling and pain in large joints such as the knee.
Causes and Risk Factors
Lyme disease happens after a bite from certain infected ticks. Risk is higher when spending time in wooded, brushy, or grassy places where ticks live, especially during warmer months when ticks are active. Outdoor work, hiking, camping, gardening, and having pets that go outdoors can increase exposure.
Who Is Affected
Anyone can get Lyme disease if they are bitten by an infected tick. People who live in or travel to areas where Lyme disease is common have a higher chance of exposure. Children and adults who spend time outdoors for work, recreation, or household activities may be affected.
Prevention
Prevention focuses on avoiding tick bites and finding ticks quickly. Wear long sleeves and long pants in tick habitats, use tick repellents as directed on the product label, and check your body, clothing, children, and pets after being outdoors. Showering soon after outdoor activity and removing attached ticks promptly with fine-tipped tweezers may reduce risk.
Diagnosis and Tests
A healthcare professional considers symptoms, possible tick exposure, and whether you were in an area where Lyme disease occurs. Laboratory testing may be used, especially when symptoms are more than just a typical early rash, but tests may not be positive in the first days of illness. Other conditions can look similar, so medical evaluation is important.
Treatment Categories
Treatment generally involves prescription antibiotics chosen by a healthcare professional. The type and duration depend on factors such as symptoms, how long the illness has been present, and which body systems are involved. Some complications may need specialist care and monitoring.
When to Seek Medical Care
Seek medical care if you develop a spreading rash, fever, fatigue, body aches, or joint swelling after a tick bite or after being in an area where ticks are common. You should also get medical advice if you removed an attached tick and are unsure about your risk. Ongoing symptoms after treatment also deserve follow-up.
When It May Be an Emergency
Get urgent medical help if you have chest pain, fainting, trouble breathing, severe headache with neck stiffness, new confusion, weakness of the face, or trouble walking. These symptoms can have many causes, including serious complications that need prompt evaluation.