|
|
|
Health Information
|
Tuesday, January 06, 2009
|
|
Find
more information about this topic from either the Web or the world's best
medical journals by using the search boxes at the top of this page.
|
| |
Symptoms
of Lyme Disease
![[erythema migrans]](Lyme%20Disease%20-%20symptoms_files/erythemamigrans.jpg) Erythema
Migrans. In most people, the first symptom of Lyme disease
is a red rash known as erythema migrans (EM). The telltale rash
starts as a small red spot at the site of the tick bite. The spot
expands over a period of days or weeks, forming a circular or
ovalshaped rash. Sometimes the rash resembles a bull's eye, appearing
as a red ring surrounding a clear area with a red center. The
rash, which can range in size from that of a dime to the entire
width of a person's back, appears within a few weeks of a tick
bite and usually occurs at the site of a bite. As infection spreads,
rashes can appear at different sites on the body.
Erythema migrans is often accompanied by symptoms such as fever,
headache, stiff neck, body aches, and fatigue. Although these
flu-like symptoms may resemble those of common viral infections,
Lyme disease symptoms tend to persist or may occur intermittently.
Arthritis. After several months of being infected
by B. burgdorferi, slightly more than half of those people
not treated with antibiotics develop recurrent attacks of painful
and swollen joints that last a few days to a few months. The arthritis
can shift from one joint to another; the knee is most commonly
affected. About 10 to 20 percent of untreated patients will go
on to develop chronic arthritis.
Neurological Symptoms. Lyme disease can also
affect the nervous system, causing symptoms such as stiff neck
and severe headache (meningitis), temporary paralysis of facial
muscles (Bell's palsy), numbness, pain or weakness in the limbs,
or poor motor coordination. More subtle changes such as memory
loss, difficulty with concentration, and a change in mood or sleeping
habits have also been associated with Lyme disease.
Nervous system abnormalities usually develop several weeks, months,
or even years following an untreated infection. These symptoms
often last for weeks or months and may recur.
Heart Problems. Fewer than one out of ten Lyme
disease patients develops heart problems, such as an irregular
heartbeat, which can be signalled by dizziness or shortness of
breath. These symptoms rarely last more than a few days or weeks.
Such heart abnormalities generally surface several weeks after
infection.
Other Symptoms. Less commonly, Lyme disease can
result in eye inflammation, hepatitis, and severe fatigue, although
none of these problems is likely to appear without other Lyme
disease symptoms being present.
Previous | Next
Last Updated February 25, 1999 (kap)
|
|
|
.gif)
