Lyme Disease Symptoms
Lyme disease (LD), also called Lyme and Lyme borreliosis was first recognized in the United States in 1975, after an unusual outbreak of arthritis near
Lyme, Connecticut. Since then, reports of Lyme disease have increased dramatically, and the disease has become an important public health problem in some areas of the United States.
Symptoms of Lyme disease
- fatigue
- chills and fever
- a characteristic skin rash, called erythema migrans
- headache
- muscle and joint pain
- swollen lymph nodes
Erythema migrans is a red circular patch that appears at the site of the tick bite, usually within 3 days to 1 month after the bite of an infected tick. The patch then grows larger. Sometimes many patches appear, varying in shapes and sizes. Common sites are the thighs, groin, trunk, and armpits. The center of the rash may clear as it enlarges, resulting in a “bull’s-eye” appearance. The rash may be warm, but it usually is not painful. Not all rashes that occur at the site of a tick bite are due to Lyme disease, however. An allergic reaction to tick saliva often occurs at the site of a tick bite and may be confused with the “bull’s-eye” rash of Lyme disease. Allergic reactions to tick saliva usually appear within hours to a few days after the tick bite, usually do not expand, and disappear within a few days.
Late Lyme Disease: Some signs and symptoms of LD may not appear until weeks, months, or years after a tick bite:
- Arthritis is most likely to appear as brief bouts of pain and
swelling, usually in one or more large joints, especially the
knees.
- Nervous system symptoms can include numbness, pain, nerve
paralysis (often of the facial muscles, usually on one side), and
meningitis (fever, stiff neck, and severe headache).
- Rarely, irregularities of the heart rhythm may occur.
- Problems with memory or cognition, fatigue, headache, and
sleep disturbances sometimes persist after treatment.
Different people exhibit different signs and symptoms of LD. Some people never develop a bull’s eye rash. Some people only develop arthritis, and for others nervous system problems are the only symptom of
LD.
Symptoms of LD may disappear spontaneously, but that doesn't mean the disease is gone. Left untreated,
LD can spread to the rest of your body within 6 months to 2 years, causing arthritis and nervous system problems. If you know you've been bitten and experience signs and symptoms — particularly if you live in an area where
LD is prevalent — see your doctor immediately.
Lyme Disease Symptoms to L
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