Lyme Disease symptoms may appear quickly, or gradually over time. The symptoms are incredibly varied and often mimic the symptoms of other diseases. If diagnosed early, Lyme Disease can usually be easily treated with antibiotics. However, if the diagnosis is delayed, treatment and recovery become more difficult. Lyme Disease can go through several stages, depending on the length of infection and where the infection has spread in the body.
Stage 1 – Early Localized Lyme Disease
Early Localized Lyme Disease usually develops 1 to 4 weeks after infection. Symptoms may include:
- Circular, red “bull’s-eye” rash that may expand over time
- Flu-like symptoms:
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Chills
- Joint and muscle pain
- Stiff neck and headache
- Swollen lymph nodes
- General feeling of illness
In some cases, symptoms may not always be present, and a Lyme Disease infection may not even be suspected.
Stage 2 – Early Disseminated Lyme Disease
Early Disseminated Lyme Disease may occur weeks to months after initial infection. The symptoms may range from mild to severe and may include:
- Flu-like symptoms similar or worse than Stage 1 symptoms
- Expanding, circular “bull’s-eye” rash
- Rashes on other parts of the body
- Fatigue
- Sore throat
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Fever
- Chills
- Joint and muscle pain
- Headache and stiff neck
- Pain, weakness or numbness in the arms and/or legs
- Paralysis or weakness of facial muscles
- Poor memory
- Pink-eye
- Episodes of pain, redness and swelling in joints, especially knees
- Palpitations
Stage 3 – Late Disseminated Lyme Disease
This serious stage of Lyme Disease occurs when the disease has not been treated during the earlier stages. Damage to the joints, brain and nerves may develop months or years after infection. Symptoms may include:
- Severe headaches
- Arthritis of the large joints (knees, hips, etc), which may cause swelling, redness and fluid build-up
- Numbness and tingling of the hands, feet and back
- Extreme fatigue
- Temporary paralysis of the facial muscles
- Heart arrhythmia
- Memory loss
- Mood disorders
- Sleep disturbances
- Difficulty concentrating
- Mental fogginess
- Night sweats
Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome (PTLDS)
Also called “Chronic Lyme Disease, ” PTLDS has a wide range of symptoms and may go on for months and even years. Unfortunately, many people with Lyme Disease are misdiagnosed for years, allowing the infection to spread throughout the body. Research suggests that several factors, including a low-grade persistent infection or a Lyme-triggered autoimmune response, may account for the persistent symptoms1. About 1 in 10 people who get Lyme Disease will have lingering symptoms2, which may include:
- Extreme fatigue which can linger for years
- Widespread muscle and joint aches
- Arthritis
- Stiff neck
- Extreme headaches
- Memory loss
- Shooting pain, tingling and loss of feeling in arms, face, hands and legs
- Bell’s Palsy
- Hearing and/or vision loss
- Irregular heartbeat
- Depression, stress and anxiety disorders
- Ringing in ears
- Dizziness and/or poor balance
- Speech difficulty
- Sleep disturbances
- Sexual dysfunction
- Confusion
- Organ damage
1Chronic Lyme Disease. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://canlyme.com/just-diagnosed/treatment/chronic-lyme-disease/
2Chronic Lyme Disease (PTLDS) — Complications. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.webmd.com/arthritis/chronic-lyme-disease-complications
No Lyme 