Lyme disease what is it

There are 2 kinds of blood test use to diagnose Lyme disease. The tests are not always accurate in the early stages of Lyme disease. So you may need tested more than once if you still have symptoms after a negative result. If you have symptoms of Lyme disease, you'll normally be given antibiotics. If you're prescribed antibiotics, it's important you finish the course even if you're feeling better.

This will help ensure all the bacteria are killed. If your symptoms are particularly severe, you may need antibiotic injections intravenous antibiotics.

Some of the antibiotics used to treat Lyme disease can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight. You should avoid prolonged exposure to the sun and not use sunbeds until after you have finished the treatment. There's currently no agreement on the best treatment for post-infectious Lyme disease.

This is because the underlying cause is not yet clear. Be wary of internet sites offering alternative diagnostic tests and treatments. These may not be supported by scientific evidence. There is currently no vaccine available to prevent Lyme disease. The best way to prevent it is to adopt easy habits when you're in the countryside or near wildlife.

Home Illnesses and conditions Infections and poisoning Lyme disease. Lyme disease. About Lyme disease Lyme disease is a bacterial infection spread to humans by infected ticks. Lyme disease is usually easier to treat the earlier it's diagnosed. Signs and symptoms of Lyme disease Many people with early symptoms of Lyme disease develop a circular rash around the tick bite. The rash: usually develops around 3 to 30 days after you've been bitten is often described as looking like a bull's-eye on a dart board will be red and the edges may feel slightly raised may get bigger over several days or weeks is typically around 15 cm 6 inches across, but it can be much larger or smaller Some people may develop several rashes in different parts of their body.

Around 1 in 3 people with Lyme disease won't develop a rash. Some people with Lyme disease also have flu-like symptoms in the early stages, such as: tiredness fatigue muscle pain joint pain headaches a high temperature fever chills neck stiffness. Non-urgent advice: Speak to a GP if:. Sometimes this makes the rash look like a "bull's-eye. The symptoms may include Severe headaches and neck stiffness Additional EM rashes on other areas of your body Facial palsy, which is a weakness in your facial muscles.

It can cause drooping on one or both sides of your face. Arthritis with severe joint pain and swelling, especially in your knees and other large joints Pain that comes and goes in your tendons, muscles, joints, and bones Heart palpitations, which are feelings that your heart is skipping a beat, fluttering, pounding, or beating too hard or too fast An irregular heart beat Lyme carditis Episodes of dizziness or shortness of breath Inflammation of the brain and spinal cord Nerve pain Shooting pains, numbness, or tingling in the hands or feet How is Lyme disease diagnosed?

To make a diagnosis, your health care provider will consider Your symptoms How likely it is that you were exposed to infected blacklegged ticks The possibility that other illnesses may cause similar symptoms Results of any lab tests Most Lyme disease tests check for antibodies made by the body in response to infection. What are the treatments for Lyme disease?

Can Lyme disease be prevented? To prevent Lyme disease, you should lower your risk of getting a tick bite: Avoid areas where ticks live, such as grassy, brushy, or wooded areas. If you are hiking, walk in the center of the trail to avoid brush and grass. Also tuck your shirt into your pants and your pant legs into your socks. Check yourself, your children, and your pets daily for ticks. Carefully remove any ticks you find. Take a shower and wash and dry your clothes at high temperatures after being outdoors Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Start Here. Diagnosis and Tests. Prevention and Risk Factors. Related Issues. Lyme Disease VisualDX. Health Check Tools. Lyme Disease: Fact or Fiction? Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Statistics and Research. Clinical Trials. Article: Increased awareness and knowledge of Lyme Borreliosis and tick bite prevention They attach to the skin of animals or humans that brush past them.

Once a tick bites into the skin, it feeds on blood for a few days before dropping off. Tick bites are not always painful. You may not notice a tick unless you see it on your skin. Regularly check for ticks on your clothes and skin, and on children and pets after being outdoors.

The chance of getting ill is low. You do not need to do anything else unless you notice a rash or become unwell. The GP will ask about your symptoms and consider any rash or recent tick bites you know about. Lyme disease can be difficult to diagnose. It has similar symptoms to other conditions and there's not always an obvious rash.

But these tests are not always accurate in the early stages of the disease. You may need to be retested if you still have Lyme disease symptoms after a negative result. If a GP thinks you might have Lyme disease, they'll prescribe a course of antibiotics. The antibiotics you're given will depend on your symptoms, but you may need to take them for up to 28 days.

It's important to finish the course, even if you start to feel better. Some people with severe symptoms will be referred to a specialist in hospital so antibiotics can be given directly into a vein. Most people with Lyme disease get better after antibiotic treatment.