If a person suspects Lyme disease, they should contact their doctor immediately. A thorough physical examination and history of exposure are required for proper diagnosis and treatment. A blood test alone is not diagnostic of Lyme disease. Slide 17 Prompt diagnosis and treatment Remember, early recognition of signs and symptoms of Lyme disease is very important for prompt diagnosis and treatment. Early diagnosis and treatment can reduce the time a person is ill and the severity of the disease.
Antibiotics are very effective in killing the bacteria.
Treatment is most effective early in the course of Lyme disease. Lyme disease detected later may be more difficult to treat. Specific questions about treatment should be discussed with your health care provider. Now we're going to describe the deer tick, its life cycle, habitat, transmission of the bacteria and specific actions you can take to reduce your risk of exposure to deer ticks. You may hear the deer tick called black-legged tick or bear tick.