Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that a person can acquire from the bite of an infected tick. The bacteria that causes Lyme disease can travel widely through the body. It is rarely fatal, but the condition can affect the joints, heart, and nervous system.
Black-legged or western black-legged ticks can transmit Lyme disease. Black-legged ticks live in the northeastern, north-central, and mid-Atlantic United States. Western black-legged ticks live on the Pacific coast.
Ticks first acquire the disease by feeding from an animal infected with the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. They then pass this on by biting a human. The tick must be attached for 36-48 hours to transmit Lyme disease.
Lyme disease often begins with a unique rash that forms a widening circle around the tick bite. It may look like a target or bull’s eye. A person may experience flu-like symptoms and issues with their joints, heart, and nervous system.
Antibiotics can treat Lyme disease, and early treatment prevents more serious issues from developing.
What is the outlook with treatment?
Oral or intravenous antibiotics treat Lyme disease. Early treatment should clear up the infection and prevent the spread of bacteria.
In later stages, when the bacteria has spread and caused symptoms, antibiotics can still help reduce symptoms. However, they may remain for years or never fully resolve.
What is the outlook without treatment?
Untreated Lyme disease may mean the bacteria lie dormant in different parts of the body for some time. Weeks, months, or years later, they may become active again, leading to issues with the joints, brain, heart, other organs, or the nervous system.
When these symptoms become difficult to treat and resolve, doctors call it post-treatment Lyme disease (PTLD) or chronic Lyme disease (CLD).
Are there long-term complications of Lyme Disease?
With quick treatment, Lyme disease usually clears with antibiotics. If it goes untreated, there may be long-term complications, including:
- headaches
- neck stiffness
- facial palsy
- arthritis
- pain in tendons, muscles, joints, and bones
- irregular heartbeat or palpitations
- dizziness
- shortness of breath
- pains, numbness, or tingling in hands or feet
When to Contact a Provider
People should consult a doctor for evaluation if any illness develops within a few weeks following a tick bite. Ticks can also transmit other illnesses, so a person should inform the doctor about any symptoms.
Some common symptoms of Lyme disease include:
- rash
- fever
- flu-like symptoms
- joint pain
- facial paralysis
The doctor will want to know a person’s location at the time of the bite and how long the tick was attached.
