Lyme Disease (Lyme Borreliosis)

What is Lyme Disease (Lyme Borreliosis)?

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection spread through the bite of infected blacklegged ticks. The bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi enters your bloodstream when an infected tick attaches to your skin and feeds. Most cases occur in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Upper Midwest regions of the United States.

The infection can affect your skin, joints, heart, and nervous system if left untreated. Early detection and treatment with antibiotics usually leads to full recovery. However, delayed diagnosis can result in more serious complications that take longer to resolve.

Ticks must typically be attached for 36 to 48 hours before the bacteria can spread. This means checking yourself after outdoor activities can help prevent infection. The disease gets its name from Lyme, Connecticut, where it was first identified in 1975.

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Symptoms

Bull's-eye rash, called erythema migrans, appearing 3 to 30 days after a tick bite
Fever and chills that come and go
Severe fatigue that interferes with daily activities
Headaches and neck stiffness
Muscle aches and joint pain, especially in large joints like knees
Swollen lymph nodes near the tick bite
Facial paralysis or drooping on one or both sides
Heart palpitations or irregular heartbeat
Shooting pains, numbness, or tingling in hands and feet
Memory problems and difficulty concentrating

About 30 percent of people with Lyme disease never develop the characteristic bull's-eye rash. Some people have flu-like symptoms without remembering a tick bite. Early symptoms can be mild and easy to miss, which is why awareness of tick exposure is important.

Causes and risk factors

Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, which lives in blacklegged ticks. These ticks pick up the bacteria by feeding on infected mice, deer, and other small mammals. When an infected tick bites you, it can transfer the bacteria into your bloodstream. The longer a tick stays attached, the higher your risk of infection becomes.

Your risk increases if you spend time in wooded or grassy areas where ticks live. People who work outdoors, hike, camp, or garden in endemic areas face higher exposure. Peak season runs from May through September when ticks are most active. Having pets that go outdoors can also bring ticks into your home. Not all tick bites lead to Lyme disease, only those from infected blacklegged ticks.

How it's diagnosed

Doctors diagnose Lyme disease based on your symptoms, history of tick exposure, and blood test results. Blood tests detect antibodies your immune system makes to fight the bacteria. The Lyme Disease Antibody test looks for both IgM and IgG antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi. IgM antibodies appear first, usually 2 to 4 weeks after infection. IgG antibodies develop later and can remain positive for years.

Testing too early after a tick bite can produce false negative results because antibodies take time to develop. If you have the characteristic rash and recent tick exposure, treatment may start before test results return. Rite Aid offers Lyme Disease Antibody testing as an add-on to help you understand your infection status. A positive test confirms current or past exposure to the bacteria.

Treatment options

Oral antibiotics like doxycycline, amoxicillin, or cefuroxime for 10 to 21 days
Intravenous antibiotics for neurological or cardiac complications
Anti-inflammatory medications to reduce joint pain and swelling
Rest and hydration to support your immune system during recovery
Physical therapy for lingering joint stiffness or weakness
Tick prevention strategies including protective clothing and insect repellent
Regular tick checks after spending time outdoors in endemic areas
Prompt tick removal using fine-tipped tweezers to grasp close to the skin

Frequently asked questions

Wait at least 2 to 4 weeks after a tick bite before getting tested. Your body needs time to produce detectable antibodies against the bacteria. Testing too early can result in false negatives even if you are infected. If you develop symptoms or the characteristic rash, see a doctor right away even before testing.

Yes, most cases of Lyme disease can be cured with appropriate antibiotic treatment. Early treatment within the first few weeks leads to the best outcomes. Some people experience lingering symptoms after treatment, but the infection itself is typically eliminated. Prompt diagnosis and treatment are key to full recovery.

A positive test means your immune system has made antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria. This indicates current or past infection with Lyme disease. Positive IgM antibodies suggest recent infection, while IgG antibodies can remain positive for years after treatment. Your doctor will interpret results based on your symptoms and exposure history.

No, only bites from infected blacklegged ticks can transmit Lyme disease. Not all blacklegged ticks carry the bacteria, and the tick must be attached for 36 to 48 hours to spread infection. Other tick species do not transmit Lyme disease. Prompt tick removal greatly reduces your risk of infection.

The bull's-eye rash, called erythema migrans, is a circular red rash with a clear center. It typically appears 3 to 30 days after an infected tick bite. About 70 to 80 percent of people with Lyme disease develop this rash. The remaining 20 to 30 percent never get the rash but may still have other symptoms.

Yes, you can get Lyme disease again if bitten by another infected tick. Having the disease once does not provide lasting immunity. Your antibodies may remain positive from the first infection, making it harder to diagnose a new infection through blood tests alone. Continue using tick prevention methods even after recovery.

Untreated Lyme disease can spread to your joints, heart, and nervous system over weeks to months. You may develop severe joint pain and swelling, especially in your knees. Neurological complications include facial paralysis, numbness, and memory problems. Heart rhythm problems can also occur but are less common.

Wear long sleeves and pants when in wooded or grassy areas. Use insect repellent containing DEET or picaridin on exposed skin. Check your entire body for ticks after outdoor activities. Shower within 2 hours of coming indoors to wash off unattached ticks. Keep grass mowed and remove leaf litter where ticks thrive.

People who spend more time outdoors in tick-heavy areas face higher risk. This includes hikers, campers, gardeners, and outdoor workers in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Upper Midwest. Children and older adults may be more vulnerable to complications. Having pets that go outdoors can also increase your household exposure to ticks.

Remove the tick immediately using fine-tipped tweezers. Grasp the tick as close to your skin as possible and pull upward with steady pressure. Clean the bite area with soap and water or rubbing alcohol. Save the tick in a sealed container if possible for identification. Watch for symptoms over the next 30 days and contact your doctor if any appear.