Disease Atlas / Disease detail

Lyme disease

An atlas of blacklegged-tick Borrelia infection, erythema migrans, neurologic, cardiac and joint disease, staged testing, and antibiotics.

Lyme disease · Lyme borreliosis

MONDO:0019632Public QA completeSource-bound · 4

Disease at a glance

Start with the essentials, then explore the patient and research views.

Public revision · effa07d01b09

Disease class: Lyme disease is a Borrelia bacterial infection.
Core mechanism: It is transmitted by infected blacklegged tick bites.
Genes or cause: An expanding erythema migrans rash can be an early finding.
Typical features: Fever, headache, fatigue, and musculoskeletal pain can occur.
Variability: Untreated infection can affect nerves, heart, and joints.
Diagnosis: Symptoms, exposure probability, and alternative diagnoses are assessed together.
Management: When indicated, FDA-cleared two-step antibody testing is used.
Treatment and research: Antibody testing can be falsely negative early.
Reading evidence: Antibody positivity can persist long after treatment.
Key caution: Recommended antibiotics are selected for the clinical manifestation.

A structured guide for understanding the disease and preparing for clinical conversations.

Lyme disease is a Borrelia bacterial infection.

Fever, headache, fatigue, and musculoskeletal pain can occur.

It is transmitted by infected blacklegged tick bites.

An expanding erythema migrans rash can be an early finding.

Untreated infection can affect nerves, heart, and joints.

Symptoms, exposure probability, and alternative diagnoses are assessed together.

When indicated, FDA-cleared two-step antibody testing is used.

Antibody testing can be falsely negative early.

Tick avoidance and prompt removal are important prevention measures.

Rash, exposure date, neurologic, cardiac, and joint findings require review.

This material is for disease education and is not a personal diagnosis or treatment instruction.

A trial registry status does not establish efficacy or regulatory approval.