Deer tick is the menace responsible for spreading the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi causing Lyme disease. Not everyone who has been bitten by a tick gets Lyme disease, but the risk for infection increases the longer the tick stays attached. Lyme disease is difficult to diagnose at early stages. It takes approximately 2 to 5 weeks before the antibodies for the disease can be detected. Not everyone has all the symptoms, whereas some people get them all. Sometimes people don't even recall being bitten by a tick, and Lyme disease is diagnosed after more advanced symptoms like joint pain start to appear. It is also possible that Lyme-like symptoms are caused by other diseases. It is important to see a doctor for early treatment and diagnosis.
Erythema Migrans (EM)
A rash called EM is the first symptom and appears at the site of the bite after 3 to 30 days. It may resemble a bull's eye with a red circular shape and a red round center. The rash may feel warm but is not painful. It spreads, growing larger and possibly to other parts of the body.
Flu-Like Symptoms
Fever, chills, muscle pains, swollen lymph nodes, stiff neck, joint pain and headache can indicators of Lyme disease as well as a viral infection like the flu. Lyme disease symptoms come and go and last longer than regular flu symptoms.
Neurological Symptoms
Untreated Lyme disease can cause neurological symptoms, which may come and go and last from days to months at the time. Headache, problems with muscle movements, stiffness, temporary and partial paralysis of face, numbness, pain and weakness are some neurological symptoms recorded.
Arthritis
If the Lyme disease goes undetected and is not treated with antibiotics, more than half of patients develop painful and swollen joints for days or even months. Large joints like the knees are the most commonly affected, but the arthritis can move to other joints as well. Some people not treated with antibiotics develop a chronic arthritis.
Heart Problems
The later state of untreated Lyme disease symptoms may include heart problems with dizziness and irregular heartbeat. Heart problems may last from days to months.
Warnings
Untreated Lyme disease can cause a wide range of symptoms suddenly years after infection. Inflammation of the liver and eyes, sleep problems, cognitive problems and fatigue are suspected to be a result of autoimmune response after the infection has cleared.
Effective treatment for Lyme disease includes a course of oral antibiotics or intravenous antibiotics in advanced cases. Patients treated early usually recover completely. Rarely, a patient may need a second course of antibiotics. Infection will not provide immunity from the disease, and a new infection from another bite is always a possibility.
