Lyme Disease

URL of this page: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/lymedisease.html

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Lyme disease is a bacterial infection you get from the bite of an infected tick. The first symptom is usually a rash, which may look like a bull's eye. As the infection spreads, you may have

A fever
A headache
Muscle and joint aches
A stiff neck
Fatigue

Lyme disease can be hard to diagnose because you may not have noticed a tick bite. Also, many of its symptoms are like those of the flu and other diseases. In the early stages, your health care provider will look at your symptoms and medical history, to figure out whether you have Lyme disease. Lab tests may help at this stage, but may not always give a clear answer. In the later stages of the disease, a different lab test can confirm whether you have it.
Antibiotics can cure most cases of Lyme disease. The sooner treatment begins, the quicker and more complete the recovery.
After treatment, some patients may still have muscle or joint aches and nervous system symptoms. This is called post-Lyme disease syndrome (PLDS). Long-term antibiotics have not been shown to help with PLDS. However, there are ways to help with the symptoms of PLDS, and most patients do get better with time.

NIH: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

Illustration of male and female deer ticks

MEDICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA

National Institutes of Health

The primary NIH organization for research on Lyme Disease is the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

Start Here

Lyme Disease(American Academy of Family Physicians)
Also available in Spanish
Lyme Disease(National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases)

Overviews

Beware of Ticks … & Lyme Disease(Food and Drug Administration) - PDF
Lyme Disease(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Lyme Disease(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
Lyme Disease Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Latest News

CDC Provides Estimate of Americans Diagnosed with Lyme Disease Each Year(08/19/2013, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Protect Yourself against Tick-Borne Disease(06/26/2013, Food and Drug Administration)

Diagnosis/Symptoms

Lyme Disease Test(American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
Lyme Disease: A Patient's Guide, Diagnosis(American College of Physicians)

Treatment

Lyme Disease Treatment (Beyond the Basics)(UpToDate)
Lyme Disease: A Patient's Guide, Treatment(American College of Physicians)
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Prevention/Screening

DEET, Showers, and Tick Checks Can Stop Ticks(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Lyme Disease: A Patient's Guide, Prevention(American College of Physicians)
Protection against Mosquitoes, Ticks, and Other Insects and Arthropods(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
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Specific Conditions

Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
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Related Issues

Lyme Disease and Animals(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Lyme Disease and the Heart(American Heart Association)
Lyme Disease in Construction(Center to Protect Workers' Rights) - PDF
Also available in Spanish
Lyme Disease: Health Information for International Travel(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Neurological Complications of Lyme Disease(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary
Tick Removal: A Step-by-Step Guide (For Parents)(Nemours Foundation)
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Pictures & Photographs

Lyme Disease(Logical Images)
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Health Check Tools

Lyme Disease: Fact or Fiction?(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
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Clinical Trials

ClinicalTrials.gov: Lyme Disease(National Institutes of Health)
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Research

Lyme Disease(National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases)
Taking the Bite Out of Vector-Borne Diseases(National Institute of General Medical Sciences)
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