What will happen if bitten by a Lyme disease tick? - briefly
The bite may introduce Borrelia bacteria, causing an expanding red rash and flu‑like symptoms within days to weeks. If untreated, the infection can spread to joints, the heart, or the nervous system.
What will happen if bitten by a Lyme disease tick? - in detail
A bite from a tick carrying the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi initiates a sequence of clinical events that can be divided into three overlapping phases.
In the first few days after attachment, the skin at the bite site may develop a red, expanding rash known as erythema migrans. The lesion typically measures 5 cm or more in diameter, often shows a clear central clearing, and may be accompanied by flu‑like symptoms such as fever, chills, headache, fatigue, muscle aches, and joint pain. These manifestations reflect the localized infection and usually appear within 3–30 days.
If untreated, the spirochetes disseminate through the bloodstream, producing a second phase that may last weeks to months. Common findings include:
- Multiple erythema migrans lesions on distant body sites
- Neurological signs (facial nerve palsy, meningitis, radiculopathy, peripheral neuropathy)
- Cardiac involvement (atrioventricular block, myocarditis, pericarditis)
- Migratory arthralgias, especially in large joints such as the knees
The final stage, sometimes called chronic or late Lyme disease, can emerge months to years after the initial bite. Persistent symptoms often involve:
- Recurrent or chronic arthritis with swelling and pain in one or more joints
- Neurocognitive difficulties (memory loss, concentration problems, mood changes)
- Persistent fatigue and musculoskeletal pain
- Occasionally, skin manifestations such as acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans
Diagnosis relies on a combination of clinical presentation and laboratory testing. Serologic assays (ELISA followed by Western blot) detect antibodies against Borrelia antigens, but early infection may yield false‑negative results because antibodies have not yet formed. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing of synovial fluid, cerebrospinal fluid, or skin biopsies can confirm the presence of bacterial DNA in later stages.
Effective treatment involves antibiotic therapy tailored to disease stage and patient characteristics. Oral doxycycline (100 mg twice daily for 14–21 days) is standard for early localized disease and many disseminated manifestations. Intravenous ceftriaxone (2 g daily for 14–28 days) is recommended for severe neurologic or cardiac involvement. Prompt initiation of antibiotics reduces the risk of progression to chronic complications.
Prevention focuses on tick avoidance and rapid removal. Wear long sleeves and trousers in endemic areas, apply EPA‑registered repellents containing DEET or permethrin, and conduct thorough body checks after outdoor exposure. Removing an attached tick within 24 hours markedly lowers the probability of bacterial transmission.