Lyme Disease Information for Health Professionals

On this page:
Clinical features 
Guidelines
More information
Required disease reporting
 

Clinical features

• Signs and Symptoms: About Lyme Disease
  The signs and symptoms of Lyme disease vary among individuals. A person may not have all of these symptoms.
• CDC: Lyme Disease Rashes
• Erythema migrans rash is a common symptom of Lyme disease. Erythema migrans rashes have certain characteristics that help differentiate them from other types of skin lesions. 

Guidelines

• CDC: Tickborne Diseases of the United States: A Reference Manual for Health Care Providers
  CDC Handbook, designed as a way for health care providers to access information on tickborne diseases and tick identification.
• IDSA: Clinical Practice Guidelines: 2020 Guidelines for the Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Lyme Disease
  Clinical Practice Guidelines by the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), American Academy of Neurology (AAN), and American College of Rheumatology (ACR).
   

More information

• Tickborne Disease Materials
  Printable and downloadable materials for provider and patient education, including tick ID cards, posters, fact sheets, maps, and presentations. 
• CDC: Lyme Disease
  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention general information about Lyme disease.
• CDC: Tickborne Disease Continuing Education
  This free online curriculum will enable front-line healthcare providers to recognize, diagnose, and treat Lyme disease, an increasingly common tickborne illness.

Reporting

Over the past decade, Lyme disease case follow-up investigations have become increasingly burdensome in high-incidence areas. As of January 1, 2026, reporting of Lyme disease will require only laboratory results and patient demographics be sent to MDH for routine cases. MDH epidemiologists may still reach out to healthcare providers and facilities for selected cases as needed.

• Reporting Lyme Disease
  Minnesota Rules Governing Communicable Diseases require health care providers to report cases of Lyme disease (Borrelia burgdorferi and B. mayonii) to the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) within 1 working day.
  • MDH staff also are available to provide clinical consultation regarding diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease and other tickborne diseases. Call 651-201-5414 for a clinical consultation.