How is Lyme disease diagnosed and treated?
The diagnosis of Lyme disease is based primarily on signs and symptoms of illness. Laboratory tests for Lyme disease may be done on a patient’s blood to help confirm the diagnosis. When Lyme disease is detected early, it is treated with oral antibiotics such as doxycycline or amoxicillin and treatment usually lasts for 10-21 days. In the later stages of Lyme disease, antibiotic treatment lasts longer, is more complicated, and patient response to treatment is slower. Is there a vaccine for Lyme disease? There is currently no vaccine for Lyme disease. How can Lyme disease be prevented? Avoid tick infested areas, such as tall grass and dense vegetation in forests and along forest margins. When in potential tick habitats, tick-specific repellants may be used according to manufacturer’s instructions, such as those containing DEET (up to 50% DEET for adults, and less than 30% DEET for children) and/or permethrin (apply permethrin to shoes and clothing only, not skin). Be sure to follow the l
