Can Lyme disease be treated?
Yes, with antibiotics, usually doxycycline or amoxicillin. Early treatment usually clears the rash within several days and helps to prevent the development of complications. More serious symptoms also respond to antibiotic treatment, but the symptoms may be slower to resolve because damaged tissue takes time to heal. Nervous system symptoms such as meningitis or nerve inflammation may require treatment with intravenous antibiotics. Detailed studies have shown excellent long-term outcomes for most people who receive appropriate treatment. Repeated or prolonged courses of antibiotics have been shown not to help the small proportion of patients with post-infection syndrome, and they may cause serious or life-threatening side-effects. Treatments used for fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndromes may be helpful.
