Lyme disease can manifest itself with many different symptoms which occur at various stages of the disease. Much also depends on the strain of Borrelia burgdorferi one is infected with and on the patients immune system.
1. Early Localized Lyme Disease
In the early stage of Lyme Disease, which occurs days to weeks of being bitten by an infected tick, one may experience a classic initial rash which looks like a “bull’s-eye”. This initial rash is called “erythema migrans”. When this happens the local skin around the bite develops an expanding red ring. There may also be an outer ring of brighter redness and a central area of clearing. Patients often can’t recall the tick bite since ticks can be very tiny. Also, they may not have the identifying rash to signal the doctor. Many patients never get a rash at all. It has been reported that about 40% of Lyme patients never got a rash at all. It is very important to note that no evidence or recall of a rash does NOT mean no Lyme Disease to the clinician.
Early Localized Lyme Disease also frequently starts with flu-like symptoms such as headaches, stiff neck, fever, muscle aches, fatigue, muscle and joint stiffness, soreness in the jaw and swollen glands.
The rash (if present) resolves, without treatment, in about a month. Weeks to months after the initial bite from an infected tick, the bacterium and its effects spread throughout the body.
Symptoms of Stage 1 Lyme Disease:
- Rash
- Fever
- Headaches
- Stiff Neck
- Muscle and Joint Aches or Stiffness
- Fatigue
- Soreness in the Jaw
- Swollen Glands
2. Early Disseminated Lyme Disease
Early disseminated Lyme Disease is the second stage of Lyme Disease. As the Borrelia burgdorferi spreads throughout the body, more and more of your systems can become affected.
At this stage it can affect the central nervous system and cardiac system. Symptoms can come and go and may disappear after days, weeks, or months.
The later phases of Lyme disease can affect the heart, causing inflammation of the heart muscle. This can result in abnormal heart rhythm and heart failure. The nervous system can develop facial muscle paralysis (Bell’s palsy), abnormal sensation due to disease of peripheral nerves (peripheral neuropathy), meningitis, and confusion. Arthritis, or inflammation in the joints, begins with swelling, stiffness, and pain. Usually, only one or a few joints become affected. The arthritis of Lyme disease can look like many other types of inflammatory arthritis and can become chronic.
Symptoms of Stage 2 Lyme Disease:
- Blurred vision
- Fainting
- Fatigue
- General discomfort, uneasiness, or ill feeling (malaise)
- Headache
- Heart palpitations
- Joint inflammation in the knees and other large joints
- Lethargy/Fatigue
- Muscle pains
- Stiff neck
- Abnormal sensitivity to light
- Confusion
- Decreased consciousness
- Drooping eyelids
- Dysfunctional movement
- Facial paralysis (also called Bell’s palsy)
- Hallucinations
- Loss of muscle function and feeling
- Nausea and vomiting
- Numbness and tingling
- Speech impairment
3. Late Stage Lyme Disease
Late stage Lyme Disease is Stage 3 of the disease and can be very debilitating, greatly effecting the quality of one’s life. At this stage the Borrelia burgdorferi infection has spread into deep body tissues with the Lyme Disease possibly becoming chronic and very difficult to eradicate.
Symptoms of Stage 3 Lyme Disease:
- Chronic arthritis
- Joint inflammation in the knees and other large joints
- Memory loss
- Mood disorders
- Sleep disorders
- Abnormal sensitivity to light
- Confusion
- Decreased consciousness
- Numbness and tingling
It is critical to get a propper diagnosis as early as possible in order to stop the bacterium from spreading into the deeper tissues of the body. The further the infection spreads the more dificult it will be to rid oneself of this nasty persistent bug.