Lyme disease can rarely be fatal. Deaths from Lyme disease are extremely uncommon but can occur, primarily due to a serious heart condition called Lyme carditis, which disrupts the heart's electrical signals. Between 1985 and 2019, there have been very few recorded deaths worldwide attributed to Lyme carditis as a complication of Lyme disease. When recognized and treated promptly with appropriate antibiotics, Lyme carditis and Lyme disease, in general, are rarely fatal. Most people recover fully with timely antibiotic treatment, though untreated Lyme disease can lead to serious complications affecting joints, the nervous system, and the heart.
