Infectious Diseases
Lyme Disease
Bites from ticks can cause symptoms that impact many parts of your body. We offer solutions to get you back to good health.
Medically reviewed by Natascha Tuznik, M.D. on July 31, 2026.
What Is Lyme Disease?
Lyme disease, also called Lyme borreliosis, is an illness that spreads through the bite of a tick that carries borrelia bacteria. It is a vector-borne disease, which means that a tick, flea or mosquito (a vector) carries and transmits the disease. You may have concerns if you spend a lot of time outdoors and live in an area where ticks are common.
We understand you want to feel safe when you’re outside. It’s important to know that doctors can usually cure Lyme disease when they diagnose it early. But the infection can lead to more serious health complications if you don’t get treatment as soon as possible.
The UC Davis Infectious Diseases team offers accurate diagnosis and prompt treatment of Lyme disease and other vector-borne diseases. Our knowledgeable experts use the latest research and advanced care to help you feel better faster.
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Lyme Disease Symptoms
Most people with Lyme disease develop symptoms three to 30 days after the bite of an infected tick. The characteristic erythema migrans (bull's-eye) rash typically appears about 7–14 days after the bite but can occur anywhere from 3–30 days later.
Early-Stage Symptoms
Symptoms of early Lyme disease may include:
- Eye tearing and redness
- Fatigue
- Headache or fever
- Joint and muscle pain and swelling
- Neck stiffness
- Skin rash that looks like a bullseye (erythema migrans)
Second-Stage (Early Disseminated Phase) Symptoms
Symptoms of the second stage of Lyme disease may appear three to 12 weeks after the infection. They may include:
- Chest pain
- Conjunctivitis and other eye issues
- Dizziness or shortness of breath
- Facial paralysis (Bell’s palsy)
- Heart palpitations
- Rash in several places
- Shooting pain (radiculopathy)
- Tingling or numbness (neuropathy)
Late-Stage Symptoms
Symptoms of later-stage, untreated Lyme disease may appear months after the infection. They may include:
- Depression and irritability
- Nerve damage in your muscles, organs or skin
- Painful and swollen joints (arthritis), especially in the knees
- Trouble with concentration and memory
Lyme Disease Causes and Risk Factors
Bites from blacklegged, or deer, ticks spread Lyme disease bacteria to humans. In the United States, these ticks are most common in the Northeast, upper Midwest and mid-Atlantic.
The following factors increase your risk of Lyme disease:
Location
People who live in or spend a lot of time outdoors in areas with deer ticks are at higher risk.
Time of Year
Your risk of Lyme disease infection is higher in the late spring, summer and early fall, when ticks are more active and more people are outdoors.
Lyme Disease Diagnosis and Testing
We will first talk to you about your symptoms, how much time you have spent in wooded areas and if you think you may have been exposed to ticks. We look for Lyme disease with the following tests:
Blood Tests
We take a sample of your blood to do lab tests. We look for proteins produced by your immune system (antibodies) to fight the bacteria that causes Lyme disease. But blood tests may not show antibodies until several weeks after infection.
Bullseye Rash Examination
If you have a bullseye rash and have been to an area where ticks are present, we may begin treatment for Lyme without doing a blood test.
Tick Bite Examination
If you have a tick bite from an area where Lyme is present but have no other symptoms, we may start preventive treatment for Lyme.
Lyme Disease Treatments
Treatments for Lyme disease include:
Antibiotics
Antibiotics are the most common treatment for Lyme disease. Your doctor will determine how long you should take antibiotics based on your symptoms or the stage of your infection.
Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) or Acetaminophen
We may recommend over-the-counter medications to treat joint and muscle pain and swelling.
Physical Therapy
Physical therapy can help to relieve muscle and joint pain.
Steroid Injections
Injections of corticosteroids can help lessen pain related to Lyme arthritis.
Temporary Pacemaker
We may give you a temporary pacemaker to help with problems with your heart’s electrical system (heart block) resulting from Lyme disease.
Lyme Disease Prevention
The best way to prevent Lyme disease is to take steps to prevent tick bites, including:
Checking for Ticks
After you have been outside, check your skin, clothes, bags and pets for ticks. Look especially on your scalp, under your arms, behind your knees and behind your ears.
Removing Ticks Promptly
If a tick attaches to your skin, remove it as soon as possible by using tweezers to pull upward. Wash the area of the bite as well as your hands with soap and water or rubbing alcohol. You can save the tick in a sealable plastic bag or container to take to your provider to test.
Showering Immediately
Take a shower right after you return home from being outside to rinse away unattached ticks.
Wearing Long-Sleeved Shirts and Pants
Cover your skin as much as possible when outdoors to help to prevent tick bites.
About
70%Of people with Lyme disease develop a bullseye rash.
Posttreatment Lyme disease syndrome affects
10-20%Of people for six or more months, with fatigue and muscle or joint pain.
Source: StatPearls: Lyme Disease
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