Lyme disease is an infection that is spread by the bite of ticks
infected with the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi.
Symptoms include fatigue, headache, stiff neck, fever, muscle or
joint pain and swelling, and sometimes an expanding red rash. If a rash does
develop, it may look like a target or "bull's-eye" in some people. Lyme disease
can be difficult to diagnose because its symptoms are similar to many other
conditions, and tests do not always detect the bacteria.
Lyme disease is usually effectively treated with a short course of
antibiotics. If not treated promptly, however, it can lead to complications
involving the heart, nervous system, joints, and skin within weeks, months, or
even years later.
