Lyme Disease Symptoms

Lyme disease is a condition that contribute to many other bodily conditions such as arthritis, bone and muscle weakness, and even affects the nervous system if is not taken cared of properly and promptly. The disease itself is caused by a kind of bacteria that is also known as a spirochete (spy-ro-keet). Most of these spirochetes are carried by other living things, mostly western black-legged ticks. The ticks can spread the disease to animals and humans through their bites. The ticks themselves may not be too easy to spot since they are the size of a sesame seed.

Lyme disease is a common condition in the United States, especially in the Northeast and the Midwest parts of the country. However, it can also be found in other parts of the world. It is important for one to know what the disease can do and how to prevent it. But if one already has it, it is more important to know what the symptoms are so that proper medications can be given or taken to stop the disease from spreading and affecting other parts of the body.

Initial Symptom

One who has lyme disease at an early stage will instantly recognize it by the rash that it leaves on the skin. The rash does not come out instantly when the tick bites a person. It actually takes a few days to about less than a month for the lyme disease to manifest itself as a rash. The important thing to know is that the rash will start at the place where the tick bite is. The rash itself will start as a small dot and then it will start to grow. The center of the rash wills start to fade and then the rash will look like a ring or a bulls-eye mark. The rash will not always take this form but those who suffer from it may feel a burning sensation, and an itching. Rarely, there are those who do not feel the rash at all. This is the initial phase of the disease.

Various Symptoms

Lyme disease symptoms will also manifest themselves in other things that will accompany the rash. This will include a bunch of other symptoms like chills, fever, a stiff neck, aching muscles and joint pains, as well as fatigue. At this stage of the disease, it is also not uncommon for the disease to already affect the heart and the nervous system. When the disease affects the heart, for example, one will know it because the heart rate will be slower. The nervous system is affected and this can be seen if it causes the face to droop, a phenomenon also known as Bell’s palsy.

It is dangerous for one to ignore the disease especially when these symptoms are being experienced. If not tended to medically and by a professional, the disease can be worse in later phases and spread around the whole body. It can lead to arthritic conditions and also the breakdown of the nervous system which will inevitably lead to memory loss, muscle weakness and numbing of the arms and legs.