Who should be tested for Lyme disease?
Testing for Lyme disease is a little complicated. The body’s response to Lyme infection is slow, so early in the illness, tests can be falsely negative. Usually, antibodies appear after about 2 to 4 weeks. The rash is usually the best early indicator. There is no reason to be screened or have your children screened for Lyme just because you live in an area with a high rate of the disease. Testing should only be done when there are clinical signs and symptoms to suggest Lyme. For example, a child with a bull’s eye rash should have a Lyme test done, and treatment may be started by the doctor before the results are available. Sometimes, if the symptoms do not clearly indicate Lyme disease, a two-step test may be ordered to confirm the diagnosis. How is Lyme disease treated? Once a diagnosis is made, either based on clinical findings or test results, antibiotics are used to treat the infection, usually for 2 to 3 weeks. Common antibiotics including amoxicillin can be used to treat Lyme. Wh
