Lyme disease is a bacterial infection caused by an infected deer tick bite. The disease goes undiagnosed at times because the infected individual may never notice the bite, and the symptoms mimic other diseases. According to Medline Plus, early diagnosis and treatment is essential to a cure. When treated with antibiotics in the early stages, Lyme disease is curable. If left untreated, the Lyme disease may cause chronic problems with the heart, joints, muscles and central nervous system. Diagnosis is made based on symptoms and is later confirmed with blood tests. The bacteria from the disease may cause different symptoms that can vary among individuals.
Skin Symptoms
Generally, the first symptom of Lyme disease is a rash. This expanding rash stems from the deer tick bite and is referred to as erythema migrans. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 70 to 80 percent of people with Lyme disease experience this rash. The rash begins as a small red spot at the site of the bite between three days and a month after the bite. The rash then expands out and forms a round-shaped rash. The size of the rash may be up to 12 inches in diameter and lasts for three to five weeks. The appearance is either all red or forms a red ring with a flesh-colored center. The rash may be warm to the touch, but is not normally painful and does not itch. According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, the rash may show up on different areas of the body as the infection spreads.
Flu-like Symptoms
Flu-like symptoms accompany the rash with Lyme disease. Sometimes, the flu-like symptoms are the only symptoms someone experiences. Fatigue, fever, chills, a stiff neck, body aches, headaches and joint pain are common symptoms.
Joint Pain
Lyme disease--if not treated with antibiotics--causes over half of the infected individuals to experience swollen and painful joints. According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, the knees are the most common joints affected. Some individuals experience lifelong arthritis symptoms.
Neurological Symptoms
According to the CDC, shooting pains along with numbness and tingling in the extremities are common in individuals with untreated Lyme disease. Concentration and short-term memory causes problems also. Some will continue to experience these symptoms for years after the initial infection.
Additional Symptoms
Additional symptoms of Lyme disease include sleep disturbances, eye inflammation, hepatitis, dizziness and heart palpitations. According to the Mayo Clinic, these symptoms are not as typical and usually disappear within a few weeks.
