Lyme Disease

Lyme disease is caused by an infection with a spirochaete, Borrelia burgdorferi. The vector is often a deer tic. The early rash of Lyme disease is erythema chronica migrans which starts about ten days after the tic bite and spreads from the site of the bite with spreading erythema, often quite subtle in nature. It spreads at several centimetres per week. If the rash is missed and the condition not treated, it will fade in a few weeks’ time but the infection may well reappear later as arthritis, neurological manifestation, meningitis, cardiac disease and others. It is important, therefore, to look for the rash and then treat with any of the following:

  • Amoxicillin 500 mg tds
  • Doxycycline 100 mg bd or tds
  • Cefuroxime 250 mg bd

Whichever drug is chosen it should be given for three weeks.