Can Lyme disease cause seizures?

Quick answer

Seizures are not a typical sign of Lyme disease. CDC’s lists of Lyme symptoms and neurologic Lyme disease do not include seizures. The usual nerve problems are facial drooping, meningitis and nerve pain or numbness. Seizures have been described in medical journals, mostly as rare case reports, often in people with Lyme-related brain inflammation (encephalitis).

What neurologic Lyme disease usually looks like

When Lyme bacteria spread beyond the skin, they can affect the nervous system. CDC describes three main patterns:

• Facial palsy: drooping or weakness on one or both sides of the face.
• Radiculoneuropathy: shooting pain, numbness, tingling or weakness in the arms or legs.
• Lyme meningitis: fever, headache, light sensitivity and a stiff neck.

CDC’s symptom list also mentions inflammation of the brain and spinal cord, which is uncommon. Learn more in our neurological Lyme disease guide and the full Lyme disease symptoms page.

What research says about seizures

A search of medical journals turns up mostly single-patient case reports of seizures linked to Lyme neuroborreliosis (Lyme disease affecting the nervous system), several from Europe. In one German hospital study published in 2025, researchers reviewed ten years of records and found seven patients with Lyme-related encephalitis. Their symptoms varied widely, from memory problems to tremor and movement problems to epileptic seizures. All seven also had more typical signs, such as painful nerve-root inflammation or facial palsy, and spinal fluid tests helped confirm the diagnosis (Hudasch et al., 2025).

What this means: seizures from Lyme disease appear to be rare and usually come with other neurologic signs. Seizures on their own, without other Lyme symptoms, are much more likely to have another cause.

Other causes to rule out

Seizures have many possible causes, and a doctor will usually look at the whole picture, including your history, an exam, and tests such as brain imaging, an EEG, or spinal fluid testing when needed. If Lyme disease is a possibility, tell your provider about any tick bites, rashes, travel to areas where Lyme is common, facial weakness, or nerve pain.

When to see a doctor about Lyme and nerve symptoms

• Facial drooping, especially in summer or fall or after a tick bite.
• Shooting pains, numbness or weakness in the arms or legs.
• Severe headaches with neck stiffness.
• Any neurologic change after a known or possible tick bite.

Neurologic Lyme disease is treated with antibiotics, sometimes by IV, and most people recover well (CDC). See Lyme disease treatment.

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