10 Alarming Neurological Symptoms of Lyme Disease That You Should Look Out For

Some neurological symptoms of Lyme disease that you should look out for are numbness, abnormal feelings in the limbs, Bell’s palsy, meningitis, vision problems, difficulty in concentrating, memory loss, encephalopathy, sleep disturbances, and cognitive impairment.

Lyme disease is an infection that results from the bite of an infected tick. The bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi causes the illness itself. Ticks are usually prominent in grassy and wooded locations so people living in these kinds of areas should be wary and take every means of precaution when going outdoors. Lyme disease symptoms can include a rash in the area of the bite that can expand over time and several flu-like symptoms such as fever, body pains, fatigue and chills. Apart from the symptoms that appear in the earlier stage of Lyme disease, neurological symptoms can also begin to manifest weeks or even years after being infected.

Numbness

Numbness is the typical symptom of nerves suffering from a disease or damage. Many people describe the feeling as something like pins and needles on their skin, and people suffering from Lyme disease will often feel a prickling or burning pain in the affected area. Unlike paralysis where patients are unable to move, numbness causes patients to experience a loss of sensation.

Abnormal feelings in the limbs

Patients will often feel a weakening sensation in the muscles of their limbs. They may also experience swelling, burning, bruising, and a tingling sensation in their arms and legs.

Bell’s palsy

Another neurological symptom of Lyme disease is Bell’s palsy. Bell’s palsy is characterized by a sudden paralysis of the facial muscles caused by complications in the patient’s facial nerves. Patients will often feel paralysis in half of or their whole face.

Meningitis

Up to 15% of Lyme diseases patients have the infection in the membranes around their spinal cord and brain. This condition is known as meningitis and patients can experience stiff necks and headaches that are not cured by typical over-the-counter medicines. They also become sensitive to light.

Vision problems

Patients may also feel changes in their vision. They may experience distorted, impaired or blurry vision, night blindness and even loss of sight.

Difficulty in concentrating

Lyme disease is one of the known physical conditions that can affect a patient’s concentration. Patients may have trouble concentrating and focusing on one task.

Memory loss

People suffering from Lyme disease may also experience memory loss. They can have difficulty recalling details and may feel disoriented when trying to remember something.

Encephalopathy

Lyme encephalopathy may result when Lyme disease is left untreated in its early stages. Symptoms of encephalopathy include dramatic mood swings, irritability, depression and a tingling sensation in the patient’s limbs.

Sleep disturbances

People infected with Lyme disease may experience changes in their sleeping patterns. They can have sleep disturbances such as insomnia and sleep apnea.

Cognitive impairment

Lyme disease can also cause cognitive impairment. Patients may have difficulty thinking and making rational decisions. Poor concentration and memory loss are also associated with cognitive impairment.

It is important to be aware of the different symptoms of Lyme disease so proper treatment can be administered before the disease worsens. All the same, prevention is still better than treatment, so follow every means of precaution to avoid getting infected with the illness.