What You Need to Know About Lyme Disease Symptoms

Lyme disease manifests various signs depending on its stage. You can possibly figure out the symptoms by referring to the three stages of Lyme, which are: the early localized stage, the early disseminated stage, and the late stage.

Children and adults can acquire Lyme disease after a tick bite that is infected with Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria. Oftentimes, people have difficulty establishing the fact that they are infected even some of the symptoms of Lyme Disease are present. Lack of sufficient information on this disease can be a huge factor to an improper assessment. That is why it helps to learn more about Lyme and its symptoms.

Early localized stage

The early localized stage is when an infected person notices skin inflammation. During the early phase, the classic rash, known as the erythema migrans, will occur. It will appear as a circular rash at the very site of the bite. The rash, which typically appears 7 to 14 days after a tick bite, is usually accompanied by fatigue, stiffness in the joints and muscles, swollen lymph nodes, fever, chills and a headache. The rash has a red spot in the middle of a red border. It is itchy and can be painful for some.

Early disseminated stage

The early disseminated stage manifests the symptoms through the heart and nervous system. The redness of the rash in stage one will likely to last for as long as one month. After the redness goes away on its own, without treatment, the bacteria will spread all throughout an infected person’s entire body. Consequently, various forms of the disease will occur in the joints, heart, and nervous system. More critical symptoms can take place and include lesions, myaglia, fatigue, conjunctivitis, aseptic meningitis, and, on the odd occasion, a carditis might happen.

Late stage

The late stage of Lyme affects the sensory nerves and brain of the infected individual. However, this stage can be prevented with the administration of an antibiotic. Otherwise, if no proper medication or treatment is carried out, late Lyme disease symptoms are expected to be noticeable several months after the tick bite. This later phase will cause inflammation of the heart muscle resulting in an irregular heart rhythm and eventually cause heart failure. Chronic arthritis, peripheral neuropathy, and Bell’s palsy are the usual threats of the late phase of the disease.

It is found that those suffering from Lyme disease are prone to anxiety attacks and depression syndrome. This is a critical condition and should be evaluated and managed properly. Lastly, it is best to note that even in areas where there are numerous Lyme cases, the threat of developing such a disease is low--within 1 to 3 % only. It is very low because not all ticks are infected with the Lyme disease-causing bacteria.