What are the three phases of Lyme disease?

What are the three phases of Lyme disease?

• A. Erythema migrans; 2) Annular red skin lesions, fever, lymphadenopathy, arthralgia, splenomegaly, facial nerve palsy; 3) Chronic arthritis, myocarditis, encephalopathy, neuropathy
• B. Erythema migrans; 2) Annular red lesions, fever; 3) Cardiac involvement only
• C. Erythema migrans; 2) Fever only; 3) Arthritis
• D. Erythema migrans; 2) Central clearing rash; 3) Hepatosplenomegaly

Answer: (B)

Lyme disease typically progresses through three stages: early localized disease with the erythema migrans rash, early disseminated disease with additional skin lesions and systemic symptoms such as fever, and late disseminated disease with complications like arthritis and possible neurologic or cardiac involvement. The best choice mirrors this progression: starting with erythema migrans, then describing annular red lesions with fever as features of disseminated infection, and finally noting cardiac involvement as a potential late manifestation. The other options include combinations or manifestations that don’t fit the typical sequence (or include features not characteristic of Lyme).

Lyme disease typically progresses through three stages: early localized disease with the erythema migrans rash, early disseminated disease with additional skin lesions and systemic symptoms such as fever, and late disseminated disease with complications like arthritis and possible neurologic or cardiac involvement. The best choice mirrors this progression: starting with erythema migrans, then describing annular red lesions with fever as features of disseminated infection, and finally noting cardiac involvement as a potential late manifestation. The other options include combinations or manifestations that don’t fit the typical sequence (or include features not characteristic of Lyme).