How long does it take for Lyme disease to 1. show symptoms and 2. incubate to the point that it would be detectable?

Reply --------------------------------------

Lyme is very difficult to diagnose. Usually a skin rash, erythema migran, occurs 3 days to a month after the tick bite, but the rash can be easy to miss or look like other things. I last practiced in an area with endemic Lyme in 1992. At that time no accurate blood test for Lyme existed. I have heard that the newer blood tests are a little bit better.

Here is my general health message:
To improve your health, please

• don't smoking cigarettes;
• don't use marijuana or cocaine and especially don't use iv drugs;
• drink no more than one beer, one glass of wine, or one shot of hard liquor in a day;
• have sex with only one person who has sex only with you;
• don't eat fried food (like hamburgers) or other high fat foods.

P. H. MD
Family Physician
Correspondent for General Medical Clinic
Organization For Community Networks

NOTICE: OFCN is not engaged in the rendering of professional medical services. The information contained on this system or any other OFCN system should not supplant individual professional consultation. It is offered exclusively as a community education service. Advice on individual problems must be obtained directly from a professional.

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