A bite from a tick infected with the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi can cause Lyme disease. There are three different stages of this disease, of which Stage 3 is most advanced. The advanced symptoms of Lyme disease can emerge within several months or years following the onset of infection. Patients with advanced symptoms of Lyme disease require immediate treatment in order to prevent permanent medical complications.
Arthritis
Approximately 60 percent of patients who do not receive Lyme disease treatment during the initial stages of infection go on to develop arthritis, explain medical professionals at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore. Arthritis is an inflammatory condition that affects the joints and can cause pain, swelling or stiffness in affected joints. Inflammatory arthritis symptoms develop most frequently in the larger joints of the body, such as the knee. These advanced symptoms of Lyme disease can be uncomfortable and may negatively affect a patient's ability to move about normally. If patients with the advanced form of this disease do not receive treatment, approximately 10 to 20 percent will develop chronic or long-lasting arthritis symptoms, warns the UMMC.
Weakness or Poor Coordination
As Lyme disease progresses, affected patients can develop severe muscle weakness as an advanced symptom of this condition. Patients can experience sensations of numbness, pain or tingling within the limbs, which may affect normal motor coordination. Muscle weakness may cause facial symptoms, such as eye or mouth drooping. Neurological complications, such as decreased concentration, memory loss and mood changes, may also occur, warn health officials at FamilyHealth.org, a medical information website supported by the American Academy of Family Physicians.
Heart Rate Abnormalities
Certain patients with the advanced stage of Lyme disease can experience heart rate abnormalities, explains the UMMC. Affected patients may develop an unusually slow or irregular heart rate, which can occur in conjunction with episodes of dizziness or fainting. Heart rate changes can also contribute to symptoms of severe fatigue in certain patients. Excessive fatigue may negatively affect a patient's ability to remain alert or focused throughout the day and can lead to decreased productivity at work or school.
Breathing Difficulties
Breathing difficulties can occur as an advanced symptom of Lyme disease in certain patients. Shortness of breath or chest discomfort can occur in up to 10 percent of patients with this disease, explains the UMMC. Breathing difficulties can arise a few weeks following initial exposure to B. burgdorferi and may persist for several days or weeks. Chest discomfort or breathing difficulties should be reported to a doctor immediately, as these symptoms can be signs of alternate medical conditions, such as heart attack.
