Lyme Disease

Lyme disease Reference is often hard to diagnose. Your doctor will take a careful medical history and do a physical examination to help diagnose early Lyme disease. You may be asked if you have recently visited an area where you may have been exposed to ticks. The doctor will ask about your symptoms and look for physical signs of Lyme disease. The clearest physical sign is an expanding, circular red rash (called Reference erythema migrans Opens New Window Reference Opens New Window).

Reference Lyme disease tests are blood tests that help confirm a diagnosis of Lyme disease. These tests can detect Reference antibodies Opens New Window to the bacteria that cause Lyme disease, but they may not be needed. The decision about Reference when to use blood tests for Lyme disease depends on whether your doctor strongly thinks you have Lyme disease and whether the test results will change the course of your treatment.

Other tests, such as a skin Reference biopsy Opens New Window, may be done to confirm a diagnosis.

If possible, put the tick that was attached to you in a dry jar or a ziplock bag and take it to the doctor with you. Sometimes tests can be done on the tick to see if it is a carrier of Lyme disease.

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