Lyme disease can go on to cause heart and other complications, but preventing tick bites and early treatment of infection can reduce those risks. Early disseminated Lyme disease is the stage in which the bacteria that cause Lyme disease have spread throughout your body.

Can you survive Lyme disease?

Although most cases of Lyme disease can be cured with a 2- to 4-week course of oral antibiotics, patients can sometimes have symptoms of pain, fatigue, or difficulty thinking that last for more than 6 months after they finish treatment. This condition is called ”Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome” (PTLDS).

Is Lyme disease a serious condition?

If Lyme disease isnt promptly or effectively treated, damage to the joints, nerves, and brain may develop months or years after you become infected. It is the last and often the most serious stage of the disease. Symptoms at this stage may include: Arthritis that most often affects the knee.