Lyme Disease or Flu?

Lyme Disease is a bacterial infection caused by the bite of an infected tick. It can be hard to diagnose because it's symptoms are often flu-like such as headaches, fever, and body aches. So how do doctors test for lyme disease? Typically a simple blood test is administered, but in some severe cases a cerebrospinal fluid test is needed as well.

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National Institutes of Health

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

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Summary

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection you get from the bite of an infected tick. The first symptom is usually a red rash, which may look like a bull's eye. But not all people with Lyme disease have a rash. As the infection spreads to other parts of the body, you may have

A fever
A headache
Body aches
A stiff neck
Fatigue

Lyme disease can be hard to diagnose because many of its symptoms are like those of the flu and other diseases. And you may not have noticed a tick bite. Your health care provider will look at your symptoms and medical history to figure out whether you have Lyme disease. Lab tests may not always give a clear answer until you have been infected for at least a few weeks.

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-treatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS). Long-term antibiotics have not been shown to help with PTLDS. However, there are ways to help with the symptoms of PTLDS, and most patients do get better with time.

NIH: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

Start Here

Lyme Disease (American Academy of Family Physicians)Also in Spanish
Lyme Disease (National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases)
Lyme Disease Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)Also in Spanish
Tick Talk: Block Tick Bites and Lyme Disease (National Institutes of Health)Also in Spanish
Ticks and Lyme Disease: Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention(Food and Drug Administration) - PDFAlso in Spanish

Symptoms

Signs and Symptoms of Untreated Lyme Disease (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Diagnosis and Tests

Lyme Disease Tests (National Library of Medicine)Also in Spanish

Prevention and Risk Factors

Stop Ticks (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Tick Removal: A Step-by-Step Guide (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation)Also in Spanish
Travelers' Health: Protection against Mosquitoes, Ticks, and Other Arthropods(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Treatments and Therapies

Lyme Disease Treatment (Beyond the Basics) (UpToDate)

Related Issues

Lyme Disease Transmission (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Neurological Complications of Lyme Disease (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)

Specifics

Chronic Lyme Disease (National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases)
Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)