A person bitten by a tick infected with the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi can develop Lyme disease symptoms. Early-stage Lyme disease symptoms are typically mild and can include skin rash and flu-like symptoms. Patients who do not receive early treatment can develop more severe late-stage symptoms of Lyme disease. These late-stage symptoms can cause permanent medical complications in the absence of appropriate treatment.
Arthritis
Health officials with the Mississippi State Department of Health report that approximately 60 percent of patients with untreated Lyme disease develop arthritis symptoms. Arthritis is a medical condition characterized by long-lasting inflammation or pain within the joints. Patients with late-stage Lyme disease can experience swelling, pain or stiffness throughout the joints of the body, including the elbows, wrists and knees. Affected joint regions can appear red or may be warm to the touch, explains the Merck Manual, an online medical encyclopedia for patients and caregivers. These symptoms can be uncomfortable and may interfere with a patient's ability to move about normally. If patients with late-stage Lyme disease do not receive treatment, arthritis symptoms can become chronic.
Neurological Complications
Without treatment, patients with late-stage Lyme disease can develop severe neurological complications as symptoms of this infection. These neurological symptoms can include confusion, memory loss, decreased concentration or disorientation, warn health officials with the American Lyme Disease Foundation. Certain patients may also experience difficulty speaking or sleeping. These late-stage Lyme disease symptoms typically resolve with antibiotic treatment. Without appropriate treatment, neurological complications can become worse.
Limb Numbness or Tingling
Unusual sensations of numbness, tingling or weakness can arise in the limbs of patients with late-stage Lyme disease, report Mississippi State Department of Health officials. These symptoms can cause affected patients to have difficulty moving their legs, feet, arms or hands. Certain patients with late-stage Lyme disease can also develop severe, chronic headaches or stiff neck symptoms. Additionally, this infection can result in temporary facial paralysis or long-lasting muscle pain. Patients who develop these symptoms may experience difficulty sleeping, reports the American College of Physicians.
