Lyme disease symptoms

Lyme disease was first identified in the United States in 1975. It is named after the town of Lyme, Connecticut, where the first cases were diagnosed. This is a bacterial infection that is transmitted to humans by the bite of certain small black-legged ticks that are infected with the corkscrew shaped bacterium called burgdorferi.

Cases of lyme disease are now found in almost every state in the United States. However, 90% of all cases of lyme disease are typically found in Connecticut, Delaware, New York, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Wisconsin. When a person is bitten by an infected tick with lyme disease early symptoms can develop within a week or two. Later symptoms can develop weeks, months or years later. The early symptoms can include a horrific headache, stiff neck, fever and chills, difficulty sleeping, swollen lymph glands and fatigue. A rash well appear between three days to two weeks after the tick bite if the person is infected.

Later symptoms of lyme disease typically prove to be progressive and chronic. Extreme and on going fatigue as well as of and on flu like symptoms are common. Migraine headaches and muscle or joint aches as well as changes in vision can develop. A common telltale symptom of lime disease is the famous bull’s-eye rash called erythema migrans. This is a red circular rash that enlarges around the site of the tick bite. The center of the rash is clear which gives it a bull’s-eye appearance. It can develop from 3 to 30 days after the tick bite. 80% of the people infected with Lyme disease will develop this rash. Most light-skinned people will have this type of rash when they have been bitten and are infected by a tick infected with lyme disease. Dark skinned people may experience what appears to be a bruise. Even people who do not develop telltale bull’s-eye rash can develop other symptoms of lyme disease years later.

Lyme disease symptoms can also include minor emotional disturbances such as mood swings involving temper tantrums, sleeping problems and difficulties in concentration. The treatment can last from one to two months. The symptoms of lyme disease can last during the treatment time. Some patients may experience heart palpitations as well.

Sometimes lyme disease symptoms can be diagnosed by a medical doctor. A misdiagnosis is generally because of the flu like or nonspecific symptoms associated with this disease. There are actually 300 signs or symptoms listed in the medical glossary for lyme disease infection. Some nonspecific lyme disease symptoms include such ones as sore throat, night sweats and inflamed glands along with fatigued which may be commonly mistaken for a case of the flu. When lyme disease symptoms are misdiagnosed complications can arise. These complications include swelling and pain in the large joints that can plague the person for many years. This symptom can be mistaken for arthritis. Bells’ Palsy and meningitis can also be a complication of lyme disease that can develop years later. The person may also develop irregularities in their heart rhythm.

Virtually everyone is at risk for contracting find disease. All it takes is a walk in a brushy or wooded area to be at risk for a tick bite. The chances for being bitten by an infected tick are higher during certain times of the year. Many times a dog or cat can also contract lyme disease. Lyme disease symptoms in dogs and cats can appear in as little as three days after the infected tick bite. These symptoms include loss of appetite, lethargy and fatigue, limping, fever and paralysis. It is important to take your pet to a veterinarian if they are bitten by a tick.

Last updated on Jun 22nd, 2010 and filed under Other Conditions & Diseases. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

1 Response for “Lyme disease symptoms”

  1. Melisa Young says:

    Although a lot of the information you have posted here is good there are some blatant errors…and the fact that you use “lime” shows your ignorance.
    The statistics are that a range of 30 – 50% of adults present with a rash and only 9% of those are the well known bulls eye rash. More frighteningly only 10% of children present with a rash.
    One to two months of treatment will not eradicate late stage Lyme disease.
    You don’t need to walk in the woods to expose yourself to a bite. Migrating birds can deposit a tick carrying Bb right in your own backyard.

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