Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Lyme disease secondary prevention
Introduction
Overview
Overview
The secondary prevention of Lyme disease may include post exposure prophylaxis with doxycycline in select cases meeting criteria for chemoprophylaxis.
Secondary prevention
Secondary prevention
- After a tick bite, routine use of antibiotic prophylaxis is not recommended.
- The secondary prevention of Lyme disease may include post exposure prophylaxis with doxycycline in selected cases meeting criteria for chemoprophylaxis.
- The criteria for chemoprophylaxis includes:[1]
- A single dose of doxycycline (avoid in pregnancy and children <8 years) may be offered to adults (200mg) and children (4mg/kg, maximum 200mg) if all of the following criteria are fulfilled:
- The tick is identified as I. scapularis (adult or nymph).
- The tick has been attached for > 36 hours. Attachment time is estimated by the degree of engorgement of the tick with blood or approximating the time of exposure to the tick.
- Prophylaxis should be stated within 72 hours of tick removal.
- Local infection rate of ticks with B. burgdorferi is > 20%.
- There is no contraindication to use of doxycycline.
References
References
- ↑ Wormser GP, Dattwyler RJ, Shapiro ED, Halperin JJ, Steere AC, Klempner MS; et al. (2006). “The clinical assessment, treatment, and prevention of lyme disease, human granulocytic anaplasmosis, and babesiosis: clinical practice guidelines by the Infectious Diseases Society of America”. Clin Infect Dis. 43 (9): 1089–134. doi:10.1086/508667. PMID 17029130.
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1];Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Anmol Pitliya, M.B.B.S. M.D.[2]