Key takeaways:Lyme disease is curable when treated early with the right antibiotics.Late-stage Lyme disease is what happens months to years after a Lyme infection, without treatment.Complications of untreated Lyme include joint damage, brain and nerve issues, and heart disease.Antibiotics can treat late-stage Lyme disease, too. But recovery can take much longer than it would with early treatment.A small subset of people may experience long-term symptoms despite treatment with antibiotics. Chronic Lyme disease is still being investigated to fully understand why it happens and how best to treat it.Table of contentsStagesLyme disease complicationsPermanent Lyme complicationsCureBottom lineReferencesLyme disease is caused by the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi. The bacteria is transmitted through a bite from a deer tick. That means the best way to avoid Lyme disease is through prevention. So if you know you’ll be around ticks, protect yourself by using insect repellant, covering your skin wi...
