What are the most common early signs and symptoms of Lyme disease?

What are the most common early signs and symptoms of Lyme disease?

Typical symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, and a characteristic skin rash called erythema migrans. If left untreated, infection can spread to joints, the heart, and the nervous system. Lyme disease is diagnosed based on symptoms, physical findings (e.g., rash), and the possibility of exposure to infected ticks.

What is the first physical symptom of Lyme disease?

Symptoms of Lyme disease usually start 3 to 30 days after the tick bite. One of the earliest signs of the disease is a bull’s-eye rash. The rash occurs at the site of the tick bite, usually, but not always, as a central red spot surrounded by a clear spot with an area of redness at the edge.

What are late stage signs and symptoms of Lyme disease?

Symptoms of late stage Lyme disease

• Severe headaches and neck stiffness.
• Additional EM rashes in new places on the body.
• Facial palsy, also known as Bell’s palsy – paralysis of one side of the face.
• Arthritis or joint pain and swelling, especially of large joints (such as the knee)

What does early stage Lyme disease look like?

In the early stages of Lyme disease, you may have a telltale bullseye rash that expands around the area of the tick bite. You may experience flu-like symptoms that can include a stiff neck, chills, fever, swollen lymph nodes, headaches, fatigue, muscle aches and joint pain.

What are the lingering effects of Lyme disease?

Although most cases of Lyme disease can be cured with a 2- to 4-week course of oral antibiotics, patients can sometimes have symptoms of pain, fatigue, or difficulty thinking that lasts for more than 6 months after they finish treatment. This condition is called Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome (PTLDS).

Can a person have Lyme disease for years and not know it?

Symptoms may develop quickly or not until many months or years later as the spirochete can evade the immune response and remain dormant in the human host for long periods. Some patients do not experience any symptoms after the bite of a tick that carries the bacterial agent of Lyme disease.