The bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi causes the infection known as Lyme disease. A bite from an infected tick introduces the bacteria into the body. In 2008, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) received 28,921 reports of confirmed Lyme disease. Lyme disease has three stages. Stage 1 is localized infection characterized by a skin rash and flu-like symptoms. Stage 2 is disseminated infection in which the bacteria spread through the body via the bloodstream. Stage 3 is chronic persistent infection. People with stage 3 Lyme disease often have long-term symptoms. The joints, nerves and brain functions are most commonly affected.
Headaches and Chronic Fatigue
Frequent headaches are a common symptom of chronic persistent Lyme disease. In addition, many people report chronic fatigue or tiredness. For some people, the fatigue is severe and interferes with daily activities.
Arthritis
CDC reports approximately 60 percent of people with untreated Lyme disease develop arthritis symptoms. The affected joints swell and cause pain. The knee is most commonly involved, but other large joints may also be affected. Typically, the arthritis symptoms associated with stage 3 Lyme disease come and go. The symptoms also tend to migrate, affecting different joints with each bout of arthritis. The Infectious Disease Society of America states late Lyme arthritis is usually treated successfully with a four-week course of antibiotics. In a small group of patients, arthritis symptoms may persist after long-term antibiotic therapy. The cause of these persistent symptoms is an area of active research.
Abnormal Sensations and Pain in the Extremities
Chronic Lyme disease may adversely affect the nerves outside the brain and spinal cord. Sensory abnormalities, including numbness, tingling, burning or pain in localized areas of the arms or legs, may occur. According to CDC, brain and nerve-related symptoms occur in up to 5 percent of people with chronic, persistent Lyme disease.
Mood and Sleep Disturbances
Irritability and depression may occur in a small portion of people with stage 3 Lyme disease. Many people with these symptoms also report sleep disturbances. Increased sleep, frequent drowsiness or difficulties getting sufficient sleep may occur.
Thinking Disturbances
Rarely, people with chronic persistent Lyme disease may experience disturbances in complex thinking processes such as memory, word recollection and the capacity to concentrate. In a 2009 article published in the "Archives of General Psychiatry," Dr. B. Fallon and colleagues reported decreased blood flow and metabolic rate in areas of the brain that correspond to the symptoms reported by people with Lyme disease-associated thinking deficits. The Infectious Disease Society of America recommends two to four weeks of intravenous antibiotic therapy for people with neurological symptoms associated with chronic, persistent Lyme disease.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Reported Cases of Lyme Disease by Year, United States, 1994-2008
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Lyme Disease Symptoms
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke: Neurological Complications of Lyme Disease
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Lyme Disease, Chronic Persistent--Symptoms
- Medline Plus: Lyme Disease, Chronic Persistent
