Lyme disease : Part II. Management and prevention

Lyme disease (LD) is most often diagnosed clinically, and the differential diagnosis of erythema migrans may be challenging. Recent advances have raised questions about the efficacy of traditional diagnostic modalities, but may soon facilitate consistent identification of patients with Lyme borreliosis. Therapeutic recommendations vary with the stage of disease, and treatment usually leads to complete resolution. The management of patients with “chronic Lyme disease” is controversial. A number of preventative measures have been evaluated; those involving the avoidance of tick bites with protective clothing and insect repellents remain the simplest and most effective.