Signs Symptoms of Lyme Disease

What are the common signs symptoms of Lyme disease?

Lyme disease is an infection caused by a particular type of bacterium (usually parasitic) that you contract from the bite of one of the two ticks known to carry and be infected with the disease. It is often never suspected as Lyme disease because you may not have noticed a tick, a bite, and / or the few symptoms that are common to other conditions such as the flu, age related stiffness, etc.

In the early stages, doctors must look at not only symptoms, but also medical history and probability of tick involvement (live near woods, camping, correct season) to figure out whether you have Lyme disease. Only in later stages can lab tests be of help.

The disease is prevalent in the north-east and north-central states of the US, as well as in California and Oregon, each area having its own particular tick with both about the size of the sesame seed. Ticks can spread disease to other animals as well as humans.

Other regions such as Asia, Australia and Europe also have serious problems with the condition. Antibiotics are generally effective in the early stage Lyme disease, but if left untreated, the disease can cause problems with the heart and nervous system as well as joints.

Generally, the first of the signs symptoms of Lyme disease noticed is a skin rash that presents rather like the bull's eye of a rifle or arrow target. It is called Erythema Migrans (EM) and begins as a small red spot at the site of the bite, expanding to form a circular shaped rash over time.

As infection spreads, which it will if left unattended, the rashes may appear at a number of different sites on the body. The centers often fade, causing it to appear as a bull's eye. This, however, is not always the case, as some people simply develop red spots as signs symptoms of Lyme disease.

Along with the rash, signs symptoms of Lyme disease (which may itch, hurt or burn) such as fatigue, fever, headache, stiff or achy neck and / or joints, appear as well. More serious skin problems caused by Lyme disease are rare in the US, but if it should occur, can include symptoms such as swelling of the earlobes or near the nipples, or severe thinning of skin on the feet and hands.

Early localized Lyme disease usually occurs within a month of being bitten. If Lyme disease goes untreated or is improperly treated during its early stages, the infection may progress with more serious symptoms over time. These can include such signs symptoms of Lyme disease as swelling and / or joint pain (common and include redness or swelling of the knees and improves with antibiotics); tingling and / or numbness of the hands, feet or back; energy loss that does not seem to get any better; poor memory; trouble collecting or focusing thoughts into an order; or weakness or paralysis in face muscles.

If not treated after a few months, more than half the sufferers that go untreated develop repeated attacks of painful and / or swollen joints. About 10 to 20% of untreated people develop some type of chronic arthritis.

Do you now have an idea of the signs symptoms of Lyme disease? To learn more about this ailment, read the other related Lyme disease articles and pages.

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