Diagnose and treat Lyme disease if bull’s eye rash is present, says NICE
People presenting erythema migrans, the characteristic skin rash associated with Lyme disease, can be diagnosed and treated without the need for blood tests, NICE has said in a final quality standard published this week.
Lyme disease is a bacterial infection transmitted by the bite of a tick. Symptoms range from headaches and fever to joint pain and lethargy. Although most tick bites are harmless, they must be removed quickly and safely to reduce the risk of infection. The updated quality standard emphasises the importance of a quick diagnosis and immediate treatment where appropriate. It’s important that patients begin their treatment as soon as possible in order to reduce the risk of infection spreading and causing lasting damage to the body.
