The first-line standard of care treatment for adults with Lyme disease is doxycycline, a tetracycline antibiotic. Other antibiotics that have activity against borrelia include the penicillin-like antibiotic, amoxicillin, and the cephalosporin, Ceftin. The mainstay of treatment is with oral (pill) antibiotics, but intravenous antibiotics are sometimes indicated for more difficult to treat cases such as meningitis, late Lyme arthritis, or neurologic-Lyme disease.
The use of antibiotics is critical for treating Lyme disease. Without antibiotic treatment, the Lyme bacteria can more easily evade the host immune system and persist in the body. Antibiotics go into the bacteria preferentially and either stop the multiplication of the bacteria (doxycycline) or disrupt the cell wall of the bacteria and kill the bacteria (penicillins). By stopping the growth or killing the bacteria the human host immune response is given a leg up to eradicate the residual infection. Without antibiotics, the infection in Lyme disease can more readily persist and disseminate.
some patients suffer from chronic symptoms related to Lyme disease despite standard of care antibiotic therapy. For research studies, a defined subset of this condition is called Post Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome (PTLDS).
What is Post Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome?
Symptoms of Post Treatment Lyme Disease
Include severe fatigue, musculoskeletal pain, & cognitive problems
Can significantly impact patients’ health and quality of life
Can be debilitating and prolonged
https://www.hopkinslyme.org/lyme-diseas ... e-disease/
Henriëtte
