What is the treatment for Lyme disease?
This is not an easy question to answer simply. As Lyme disease is caused by a bacterial agent (B.burgdorferi), it is treated with antibiotics. The choice of antibiotic and the length of antibiotic treatment varies depending on the duration of illness and manifestation of illness. In general, 2-3 weeks of oral antibiotics is sufficient for early Lyme disease. Later stages of Lyme disease are mired in controversy and uncertainty. I would recommend reading the two sets of guidelines currently on the web that relate to treatment. One is by the Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA). The other is by the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS). You can also read a general review of treatment approaches in our Lyme website www.columbia-lyme.org.
The treatment varies from person to person. While it is extremely unusual for the disease to be fatal, symptoms can range from mild to very severe, so it is always in the person’s best interest to get the disease treated. Treatment is with antibiotics and is most effective when started as early as possible in the disease. Treatment is aimed at reduction and elimination of the bacteria, and, if there is a delay before treatment is begun, there may be less chance for a full recovery.
Most cases of Lyme disease are curable with antibiotics. This is so true that some authors of Lyme disease research have stated that the most common cause of lack of response of Lyme disease to antibiotics is a lack of Lyme disease to begin with! The type of antibiotic depends on the stage of the disease (early or late) and what areas of the body are affected. Early illness is usually treated with medicines taken by mouth, for example, doxycycline (Vibramycin), amoxicillin, or cefuroxime axetil. Therefore, if a person finds a typical bull’s-eye skin rash (described above) developing in an area of a tick bite, they should seek medical attention as soon as possible. Generally, antibiotic treatment resolves the rash within one or two weeks with no long-term consequences. Later illness such as nervous-system disease might require intravenous drugs; examples are ceftriaxone (Rocephin) and penicillin G. For the relief of symptoms, pain-relieving medicines might be added. Swollen joints can b
