> You can treat Lyme disease but it never goes away.

False. Lyme disease is curable with the proper treatment. In rare cases, symptoms may persist for a period of time, but the Lyme disease germ, Borrelia burgdorferi is killed by proper treatment.

> Treatment for Lyme disease is needed for months or sometimes years

False. The Lyme disease germ is killed by a 2-4 week course of appropriate (either oral or intravenous) antibiotics in patients with a healthy immune system.

> Antibiotic treatment for Lyme disease should continue until the Lyme disease blood test turns negative

False. The test commonly called the Lyme disease blood test is NOT a test for ongoing infection!

> Antibiotic treatment for Lyme disease should continue until you feel back to normal

False. Treatment is targeted at killing the Lyme disease spirochetes (germs); you may not feel back to normal for several weeks after treatment.

> A Western Blot blood test is the best test to tell if you have Lyme disease

False. The western blot is not a test for Lyme disease; rather it’s a specialized blood test that may help confirm the diagnosis and stage of Lyme disease.

> If you’re bitten by a tick you should have a blood test done immediately!

False. the Lyme disease “blood test” usually doesn’t turn positive until 2-3 weeks after the tick bite and many ticks do NOT carry Lyme disease.

> If you’re bitten by a tick you should immediately start on antibiotics for 2-3 weeks!

False. Greater than 95% percent of patients with tick bites will not get Lyme disease from the bite; in some cases, a single dose of antibiotics greatly reduces your chances of getting Lyme disease.

> Bartonella, mycoplasma, and EB virus are co-infections transmitted by the Lyme disease tick

False. Lyme ticks may carry other disease-causing germs including Anaplasma, Babesia, Powassen virus along with Borrelia miyamotoi, and Borrelia mayonii. They do not carry bartonella, mycoplasma or EB virus (the "mono" virus).

> You need to have specialized training to call yourself a Lyme disease specialist

False. All healthcare providers – MDs, PAs, APRNs, naturopaths, chiropractors -  can call themselves Lyme disease specialists with no specialized training - buyer beware!