If left untreated, within a few weeks to months after the rash onset, complications such as meningitis, facial palsy, heart abnormalities, and arthritis may occur. Swelling and pain in the large joints may recur over several months or years in untreated Lyme disease. Not all persons with the disease develop the initial skin rash. The early symptoms usually begin within a month of exposure. The later arthritic, cardiac, and neurologic problems can take weeks to months to appear.
Current information indicates that a person can get infected more than once.
The disease is treated with antibiotics administered orally or by injection. A vaccine against Lyme disease is available. The need for booster doses is unknown at this time. Light colored clothing will make ticks easier to find. Walk in the center of mowed trails to avoid brushing up against vegetation.