How to treat Lyme disease detected in a tick? - briefly
When a tick is confirmed to carry Borrelia burgdorferi, initiate antibiotic treatment promptly. The preferred regimen is doxycycline 100 mg twice daily for 10–14 days, with amoxicillin or cefuroxime as acceptable alternatives for patients who cannot take doxycycline.
How to treat Lyme disease detected in a tick? - in detail
When a tick has been identified as carrying the Lyme‑causing bacterium, prompt action reduces the risk of infection.
First, remove the tick using fine‑point tweezers, grasping as close to the skin as possible, and pulling straight upward with steady pressure. Disinfect the bite site and wash hands.
If the tick was attached for less than 72 hours, consider a single dose of doxycycline (200 mg) as a preventive measure, provided the patient is older than eight years, not pregnant, and has no contraindications. This regimen is supported by clinical guidelines for early post‑exposure prophylaxis.
Should the bite have occurred more than 72 hours ago, or if the tick was not removed promptly, evaluate for early symptoms such as erythema migrans, fever, chills, headache, fatigue, or arthralgia. Conduct serologic testing (ELISA followed by Western blot) if symptoms appear, or if prophylaxis was not administered.
Confirmed infection requires antibiotic therapy. Recommended regimens include:
- Doxycycline 100 mg orally twice daily for 14–21 days (first‑line for adults and children ≥8 years).
- Amoxicillin 500 mg orally three times daily for 14–21 days (alternative for those who cannot take doxycycline).
- Cefuroxime axetil 500 mg orally twice daily for 14–21 days (another alternative).
For neurologic involvement, intravenous ceftriaxone 2 g daily for 14–28 days is indicated.
Monitor clinical response weekly. Persistent or recurrent symptoms may warrant extended therapy, referral to infectious‑disease specialists, or assessment for co‑infection with other tick‑borne pathogens.
Document the tick’s species, attachment duration, and geographic location to inform public‑health tracking and future preventive advice.