6 Common Symptoms of Lyme Disease to Be Aware Of

Common symptoms of Lyme disease you should be watchful of include rash at the site of the tick bite, flu-like symptoms and other early symptoms, neurological symptoms, joint pains and arthritis, heart problems, and other symptoms.

Although Lyme disease can be treated with antibiotics, late diagnosis and treatment of the infection can lead to more serious, painful complications and long-term disabilities. Learning about the warning signs of a Lyme disease infection will help you detect the illness earlier and have it immediately treated by your doctor. Here are the common symptoms of Lyme disease to look for:

Rash at the site of the tick bite

The earliest symptom you may encounter when infected with Lyme disease is a rash at the site of the tick bite. This so-called bull’s-eye rash, scientifically termed erythema migrans, usually appears within the first four weeks following the tick bite. It may grow larger over time if the disease remains untreated, from around an inch to as wide as 12 inches across the tick bite. Although most patients have this symptom, there are some cases wherein this rash does not appear. If you know you have been bitten by a tick but do not have any rash, be on the look out for other possible symptoms of Lyme disease.

Flu-like symptoms and other early symptoms

With or without a bull’s-eye rash, some flu-like symptoms may start to appear within the first few weeks of a Lyme disease infection. You may experience fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, and fatigue. Other common early stage Lyme disease symptoms include swollen lymph nodes and a stiff neck. As soon as you experience these symptoms following a tick bite, do not hesitate to consult your doctor for proper diagnosis and immediate treatment.

Neurological symptoms

There are some cases where no early stage symptoms appear in Lyme disease patients. In these situations, the infection worsens and more severe symptoms develop, including neurological ones. After a few months or even years of an undiagnosed and untreated Lyme disease, patients may experience bell’s palsy or facial nerve paralysis. They may also feel numbness in their limbs and weakness in their muscle movements. Problems with concentration and memory may develop, and patients may experience mood imbalance. In the worst but rare cases, patients may develop meningitis. This is a dangerous bacterial infection that affects the membranes of the brain and spinal cord and can be fatal.

Joint pains and arthritis

Another common symptom of Lyme disease includes joint pain. If not diagnosed and treated immediately or if antibiotic treatment is insufficient, Lyme disease can persist and sufferers can even develop chronic Lyme arthritis. This is characterized by redness, as well as severe swelling and pain in the joints, especially the knees, which can last up to six months at a time if not treated.

Heart problems

A few weeks to months following your tick bite and Lyme disease infection, patients may also begin to experience heart problems. They may start to feel irregular heartbeats or palpitation especially if the infection remains untreated for months.

Other symptoms

Other common symptoms that could develop with Lyme disease include inflammation of the eyes, difficulty sleeping, and the development of hepatitis.

Determining if you have been infected with Lyme disease can be very difficult because some symptoms do not reveal themselves until the disease’s later stages. As long as you are aware of the symptoms of Lyme disease following a tick bite, you can save yourself and your loved ones from the painful and disturbing complications of Lyme disease.

Even if you simply have a headache, some muscle pains, and a stiff neck without the rashes and other common symptoms a few weeks after your tick bite, you should consult your doctor to find out if you could be infected with Lyme disease.