Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that most frequently develops if you are bitten by a tick infected by a bacterium called Borrelia burgdorferi. According to the Center for Disease Control, approximately 20,000 people in the United States are infected with this disease each year. The diversity and variability of Lyme disease symptoms can make diagnosing this disease difficult.
Primary Symptoms
If you have Lyme disease one of the first symptoms you may notice is the appearance of a red rash that usually occurs at the tick bite site. The rash---a condition called erythema migrans---begins as a small red dot, which spreads into a larger circular, oval or triangular-shaped rash over the course of several days or weeks. In certain cases the rash may disappear completely only to return several weeks later. According to the Cleveland Clinic, the appearance of the rash may resemble a bull's eye---a clear central area surrounded by a red ring. The diameter of the rash can range from less than 1inch (about the size of a dime) to 12 inches across. The rash may also itch or feel warm, though certain people may not experience any of these rash-related symptoms.
Secondary Symptoms
If you have Lyme disease, you may develop additional flu-like symptoms several days or weeks after infection. Symptoms may include fever, chills, headache, sore throat, fatigue or muscle or joint pain, according to Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals. Certain people may also experience swollen glands, a stiff neck or a poor appetite. These symptoms typically resolve within a few days or weeks following infection. The Cleveland Clinic notes that if the disease is left untreated, approximately 10 to 20 percent of individuals with Lyme disease will develop chronic arthritis symptoms, including painful or swollen joints.
Additional Symptoms
If you have Lyme disease, you may also develop additional symptoms several weeks or months after the initial infection. Such symptoms may include heart (irregular heartbeat), skin (eczema) or eye problems (inflammation), according to Children's Hospital Boston. Neurological symptoms, such as numbness, pain or poor motor coordination, may also develop in certain individuals. If left untreated, individuals with Lyme disease may also exhibit severe fatigue, weakness or may develop hepatitis.
Once diagnosed, individuals with Lyme disease are typically treated with antibiotics over the course of several weeks. In the majority of individuals with this disease treatment with antibiotics results in the resolution of all symptoms.
