Lyme Disease: Tick Bites Demand Attention

• Early localised: erythema migrans (expanding red rash) days to weeks after bite
• Early disseminated: multiple rashes, facial palsy, carditis, meningitis
• Late: arthritis, neurological symptoms

Diagnosis

Clinical for erythema migrans (treat without serology). Two-tier serology for disseminated disease — useless in very early disease.

Treatment

Doxycycline 10-21 days depending on stage. Most patients recover fully.

Prevention

Wear long clothing in tick-endemic woods, use DEET or icaridin, perform tick checks within 24 hours, remove ticks with fine-tipped tweezers.

Removing a tick within 24 hours dramatically reduces transmission risk.