Chronic persistent Lyme disease is a late stage of an inflammatory disease caused by Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria. It is also called Stage 3, or tertiary, Lyme disease.

See also:

• Lyme disease
• Lyme disease - early disseminated
• Lyme disease - primary

Tertiary Lyme disease; Stage 3 Lyme disease; Late persistent Lyme disease; Lyme arthritis

Lyme disease is transmitted by the bite of a deer tick.

Some people may not be treated for Lyme disease because they do not have any symptoms or their symptoms are mild. Chronic persistent Lyme disease may develop months or even years after the Lyme disease infection.

Even people who were treated may develop chronic persistent Lyme disease.

Images

Lyme disease - Borrelia burgdorferi organism

Ticks

Tertiary Lyme disease

Lyme disease organism, Borrelia burgdorferi

Deer ticks

Tick imbedded in the skin

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Lyme disease Symptoms

Review Date: 02/23/2010
Reviewed By: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington, School of Medicine; andJatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Assistant in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)