Lyme disease evaluation

About Lyme disease evaluation

A Lyme disease evaluation reviews exposure (tick bite, time in endemic area), symptoms, and rash pattern. Erythema migrans in an endemic-area patient is sufficient for clinical diagnosis without serology and is treated with doxycycline for 10–14 days (amoxicillin or cefuroxime in pregnancy or pediatrics). Later disseminated disease — facial palsy, carditis, meningitis, arthritis — requires two-tier serologic testing and longer courses, with IV ceftriaxone for cardiac or neurologic involvement. Single-dose doxycycline prophylaxis is appropriate for selected high-risk tick bites within 72 hours.