Lyme Disease Symptoms
Lyme Disease - general facts
Lyme disease and its corresponding symptoms are caused by the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi. You get the infection from being bitten by an infected deer tick. So in areas where deer ticks are plentiful, lyme disease is a big risk. White-footed mice and deer harbour deer ticks and are principal 'carriers' of the disease. The good news is that it takes about 36-48 hours for the lyme disease bacteria to be transmitted to the individual after tick attachment. So that means there is a window where if you catch the tick and remove it within this time frame, you reduce your chances of getting lyme disease. It is therefore advised that you examine yourself and other family members at least once daily for ticks.
Lyme Disease Symptoms
The problem with lyme disease is that the symptoms are mild and subtle initially and therefore many people will dismiss the symptoms as just having an off day. Early detection of lyme disease symptoms is the key to a full recovery.
The main early lyme disease symptoms are :
- a rash that radiates from the tick bite - this is usually the case, but sometimes it doesn't, sometimes looks like a bull's eye - with a central red are where the bite is and then a clear area with a red ring around it.
- the rash only appears about 1-2 weeks after the tick bite and isn't usually itchy but may be hot to touch.
- the rash lingers for a period of more than 3 weeks sometimes up to 5 weeks.
- joint pains
- fever
- lethargy
The rash symptoms are sometimes hard to spot in people with darker skin - with these people the rash symptoms often looks more like a bruise.
If left untreated, further lyme disease symptoms include :
- severe weakness and fatigue - can't get out of bed
- neck stiffness
- tingling or numbness in the hands and feet
- paralysis of the face
- severe migraine type headaches
- arthritis
- heart problems
- mental disorders
As you would realize by now, early detection of Lyme disease symptoms is the key to getting treatment early which almost always results in a full recovery. Don't hesitate if you notice any of the early signs of Lyme disease, see your doctor straight away.
Return to medical symptoms page
Lyme disease symptoms