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Symptoms of Lyme Disease |
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Fever and chills
Fatigue
Headache
Body aches
Joint pain
Bullseye rash
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Lab Tests
Your doctor may use blood tests, but blood tests alone aren't used for your diagnosis. A blood test called an ELISA test may be used first to look for antibodies, the body's defense system against infections. It does not test for the bacteria. Antibodies may not appear in the blood test for up to two to six weeks after the bite.
The Western Blot is used to confirm the ELISA results. Your doctor may simply rely on what you report about your symptoms and whether you've been in tick-infested areas when deciding to treat you. In fact, if a physician decides the symptoms and rash are typical for Lyme disease, blood testing is not needed. Being in an area where Lyme disease is common is an important piece of information.
In the Encyclopedia:
Lyme disease
This article was reviewed and updated June 2007.
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