Lyme Disease
What are the signs and symptoms of the infection?
Early local Lyme disease often starts with a mild flu-like illness. The person may complain of the following symptoms:
fatigue
fever
headache
muscle aches
stiff neck
swollen lymph nodes
The most obvious sign of Lyme disease is the bull's-eye rash, commonly at the site of the tick bite. The rash may begin the day of the bite, or up to 30 days later. It starts as a red, circular lesion, which may feel hot and itchy. As it gets bigger, the center often clears. The skin looks normal in the middle, making the lesion resemble a bull's-eye on a
dartboard.
The lesion may grow to over 20 inches in diameter. Within a few days, more lesions may erupt. In 3 to 4 weeks, the lesions are replaced by small red blotches, which may continue for several weeks.
Lyme disease may spread to other body systems, causing disseminated Lyme disease. General symptoms of disseminated Lyme disease include:
confusion
fever, which may come and go
marked fatigue
severe headaches
severe muscle pain
Depending on the body systems involved, disseminated Lyme disease may also cause:
arrhythmias, or irregular heartbeats
behavioral changes, including depression and personality changes
chest pain
cognitive impairments
diarrhea
difficulty swallowing or speaking
dizziness or fainting
hearing impairment
joint pain and swelling
loss of appetite
meningitis, which is inflammation of the membranes lining the spinal cord
miscarriage, premature birth, and stillbirth if a woman is pregnant
muscle weakness or paralysis
nausea and vomiting
pneumonia
seizures
shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
sleep disorders
stroke
visual impairments
These symptoms tend to come and go over a number of weeks if the person is not treated.
Weeks to years later, frank, or unmistakable, arthritis can occur, with marked swelling of the joints. Recurrent attacks can lead to chronic arthritis, with severe joint damage.
|
Previous section
