The American Lyme Disease Foundation (ALDF) defines Lyme disease as an infection caused by a spirochete bacterium carried by deer ticks. The specific bacterium is called borrelia burgdorferi. An infected deer tick can pass the spirochete to humans and animals by biting them, explains ALDF. The Mayo Clinic points out that not everyone will experience the same symptoms of Lyme disease. The clinic suggests that the initial symptoms are usually mild but require medical treatment to prevent more serious ones from developing.
Rash
The ALDF indicates that the first symptom of Lyme disease is a rash. They suggest that the rash occurs in 80 to 90 percent of all cases. The rash expands out from the site of the tick's bite, but the ALDF points out that it can occur in other skin locations not associated with the bite. The rash is described as either a solid red expanding rash or a central spot surrounded by healthy-looking skin circled with a red band (like a bulls-eye). This rash may note appear for three to 30 days after exposure to the bacterium.
Flu-Like Symptoms
As the rash appears, other symptoms may accompany it. The Mayo Clinic indicates some individuals may experience joint pains, chills, rash and fatigue. The ALDF explains that the flu-like symptoms will be mild and possibly brief. Other symptoms identified by the Mayo Clinic include a headache, enlarged lymph glands, changes in pulse rates, sore throat, vision changes, chills and a fever between 100 and 102 degrees F.
Other Symptoms
As the spirochete spreads through the body, the ALDF warns of other symptoms including severe fatigue, stiff neck, aching of the neck, tingling or numbness of the extremities and facial paralysis. These symptoms may occur shortly before the more severe symptoms of Lyme disease.
