Lyme disease occurs when you are bitten by a tick infected with the bacteria borrelia burgdorferi. It can be diagnosed through a physical exam and blood tests. Early treatment can lead to a cure. If left untreated Lyme disease can lead to serious illness. Recognizing the symptoms and getting medical care early is essential to avoid complications.
Skin Rash
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "A key component of early diagnosis is recognition of the characteristic Lyme disease rash called erythema migrans. This rash often takes a bull's-eye appearance and is observed in about 80 percent of Lyme disease patients." The rash can appear from a few days to one month after being bitten. With each day the size of the rash grows until it becomes about 12 inches wide.
General Symptoms
If you have Lyme disease you may experience fatigue, chills, fever, headache, stiff neck and general muscle and joint aches and swollen lymph nodes. These symptoms may occur with or without the presence of a rash. The American Lyme Disease Foundation states that these symptoms may start off as mild and not cause you to seek treatment. In time they will become more severe and pronounced. One way to distinguish Lyme disease from other disorders such as a flu or infection, is that Lyme disease symptoms tend to continue longer or may come and go.
Complications
If your Lyme disease is not treated successfully with antibiotics you may develop arthritis and have severe joint pain and swelling, according to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Other symptoms include shooting pains, numbness or tingling in the hands or feet, facial palsy (paralysis), cardiac abnormalities, meningitis, multiple enlarged lymph glands and problems with concentration and short-term memory. You may also notice a change in mood and problems sleeping. In rare cases of advanced Lyme disease, you may develop eye inflammation and hepatitis.
