What is the first-line antibiotic treatment for Lyme disease?

Doxycycline is the first-line antibiotic treatment for Lyme disease, primarily because it effectively targets the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, which is responsible for the condition. This medication is particularly advantageous due to its excellent tissue penetration and the ability to provide good coverage against other tick-borne diseases, such as anaplasmosis, which can co-occur with Lyme disease. Doxycycline is also suitable for patients of various age groups, including those over 8 years old, making it a versatile choice.

In cases of early localized or early disseminated Lyme disease, doxycycline can be administered orally for a typical duration of 10 to 21 days, depending on the severity of symptoms. This route of administration is convenient for both patients and healthcare providers.

Other antibiotics, while effective for different infections, do not serve as first-line treatments for Lyme disease when compared to doxycycline in terms of efficacy and safety profile. For example, ceftriaxone is usually reserved for more severe cases or those with neurological involvement and requires intravenous administration, while azithromycin and clindamycin are not recommended as first-line agents for Lyme disease due to lower efficacy against the causative organism. Thus, doxycycline remains the preferred initial treatment for this