Lyme Disease and Related Tick-Borne Infections - Symptoms

(Page 2)

Highlights	Diseases with Similar Symptoms	References
Introduction	Diagnosis	Resources
Symptoms	Treatment	References
Risk Factors	Prevention
Complications	Resources

Up to 20% of people infected with Lyme disease do not exhibit the rash. On dark-skinned people, the rash may resemble a bruise. In most patients, any rash fades completely after 3 - 4 weeks, although secondary rashes may appear during the later stages of disease.

Flu-like Symptoms

A flu-like condition is the most common sign of Lyme infection, and it can occur with or without a rash. Symptoms can last from 5 - 21 days and may include:

Fatigue
Chills and fever (100 - 103 °F)
Headache (usually most prominent at the back of the head)
Joint aches (usually in the large joints)
Stiff neck
Backache
Swollen glands (in the area around the tick bite or elsewhere)
Less often, nausea, vomiting, and sore throat occur

text continues below

Joint Pain

Joint pain can arise at the same time as the skin rash. In early stages of Lyme disease, patients may experience migratory pain in joints, muscles, and tendons. In the later stages of the disease, arthritis may develop in one or two large joints such as the knee, elbow, or shoulder. (Knees are usually affected most.)

Neurologic Symptoms

Common Neurologic Symptoms. Neurologic symptoms can first appear while the initial skin rash is still present or within 6 weeks after its disappearance. Sometimes they are the first symptoms that the patient experiences, but sometimes they may not occur until many months after the tick bite. The most common neurologic symptoms include headaches, sleep problems, and mood disturbance. Memory problems can also occur, as well as nerve damage in arms and legs. Neurologic symptoms typically improve or resolve within a few weeks or months, even in untreated patients.

Bell's Palsy. In some patients, the facial nerve is affected, which results in Bell's palsy. This is a sudden weakness and drooping of the facial muscles and eyelid on one side of the face. Nerves around the facial area may also cause numbness, dizziness, double vision, and hearing changes.

Symptoms of Meningitis. Meningitis can occur if the infection takes place in the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord (the meninges). This can cause: