Lyme Disease
What are the treatments for the infection?
Lyme disease is treated with antibiotics, including the following:
amoxicillin
ceftriaxone
doxycycline
penicillin
Other medications may be used to treat symptoms of Lyme disease. For example, seizures may be treated with anticonvulsant medications. Ibuprofen may be given for fever or joint pain.
What are the side effects of the treatments?
Antibiotics and other medications used to treat Lyme disease may cause stomach upset or allergic reactions. Some of the antibiotics may cause light sensitivity.
What happens after treatment for the infection?
With effective treatment, individuals recover from Lyme disease without further problems. In some individuals, the disease lasts a long time or the infection comes back. These people may need repeated treatment. There is currently controversy about the effectiveness of long term antibiotics for chronic Lyme disease. Research continues in this area.
How is the infection monitored?
Any new or worsening symptoms should be reported to the healthcare provider.
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