Lyme disease is a bacterial infection carried by infected ticks that can be transmitted to humans and animals bitten by these ticks. In the United States, an estimated 35,000 people developed Lyme disease in 2008, based upon information provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Talk with your doctor if you develop any Lyme disease symptoms to ensure that you receive appropriate treatment and care.
Skin Rash
The hallmark symptom associated with Lyme disease is a distinctive skin rash, called erythema migrans, that develops at the tick bite site. Skin rash symptoms develop in approximately 70 to 80 percent of infected patients and typically occur within three to 30 days following exposure to the infectious bacteria, explain doctors at the Mayo Clinic. Initially, the rash may appear as a small bump on your skin and can become progressively larger within a few days. The rash can mimic the appearance of a bull's-eye--a bright red center surrounded by a red ring. You might also notice that the skin rash is warm or painful when you touch it, explains Family Doctor, a website established by the American Academy of Family Physicians.
Flu-like Symptoms
If you have been bitten by an infected tick, you can develop flu-like symptoms as a sign of Lyme disease, warn CDC health officials. These symptoms of infection can arise up to a month after you sustain a tick bite and can include fever, headache, body aches, chills, swollen lymph glands or excessive fatigue. Certain patients with Lyme disease develop these flu-like symptoms in conjunction with skin rash or neurological complications. If you experience any of these symptoms, talk with your doctor, as these symptoms can also indicate other kinds of infections.
Joint Pain
Lyme disease can cause painful joint symptoms to arise in patients with this infection. You can notice that your joints--particularly your knees--appear inflamed or swollen, explain Mayo Clinic doctors. Painful symptoms in your joints can be severe and may occur in one joint or migrate throughout your body. The CDC reports that approximately 60 percent of untreated Lyme disease patients develop these symptoms a few weeks or months after being bitten by an infected tick.
Neurological Complications
Left untreated, Lyme disease can spread throughout your body and into your brain, leading to the emergence of neurological symptoms. These rare neurological complications can include limb numbness or weakness, temporary facial paralysis, sleeping difficulties, poor concentration or memory loss, warns the Mayo Clinic.
