How is lyme disease diagnosed in Singapore?

Lyme disease is an infection caused by Borrelia, a type of bacteria. Individuals may develop Lyme disease after a tick bite, and often have a history of having visited forested or wooded areas where deers can be a host to the ticks. Lyme disease can affect any part of the body, most commonly the skin, central nervous system, joints, heart, and rarely the eyes and liver. In the skin, an expanding pink patch in the shape of a bull's eye is often seen in the first 1-2 weeks after the infected tick bite. For diagnosis, blood tests checking for antibody levels to Borrelia burgdorferi is the best way to check for recent or past infection. Skin biopsy of the rash is sometimes done but often gives non-specific results. Lyme disease usually responds well to a course of antibiotics.