Lyme Disease symptoms can vary by person but should always be taken seriously when the possibility of tick exposure is present.
The most commonly noticed Stage 1 (Early Localized Lyme disease) symptom of Lyme disease is often a skin rash. It often appears to look similar to a bullseye, but this is not always the case. While other symptoms may present themselves earlier, most infected individuals don’t experience the other symptoms related to Lyme Disease until the later stages when the bacteria has begun to spread.
Stage 2 (Early Disseminated Lyme disease) symptoms of Lyme disease are often flu-like symptoms ranging from chills, blurry vision, fever, muscle pain, headaches, fatigue, joint pain or inflammation, and swollen lymph glands.
The symptoms of Stage 3 (Late Disseminate Lyme disease) can include all the symptoms from the earlier stages in addition to arthritis of the large joints, heart arrhythmia, memory loss, mood changes including anxiety and irritability, inability to sleep, mental fogginess, temporary amnesia, and numbness or tingling in limbs as well as abnormal skin sensations such as burning.
For further information on the symptoms of Lyme disease, please read our article HERE: https://www.lymediseaseadvice.com/what-are-lyme-disease-symptoms/
Late Stage Lyme Disease Symptoms:
Late Stage Lyme disease is also known as Stage 3 (Late Disseminated Lyme Disease) Lyme. The symptoms can include all the symptoms from the earlier stages (Stage 1 and Stage 2 – see above), in addition to arthritis of the large joints, heart arrhythmia, memory loss, mood changes including anxiety and irritability, inability to sleep, mental fogginess, temporary amnesia, and numbness or tingling in limbs as well as abnormal skin sensations such as burning.
For further information on the Late Stage Lyme disease symptoms, please read our article HERE: https://www.lymediseaseadvice.com/what-are-lyme-disease-symptoms/
Chronic Lyme Disease Symptoms:
Chronic Lyme disease is also referred to as Post-Lyme Disease Syndrome (PLDS) or more correctly Persistent Lyme Disease, and is classified as the symptoms that persist for 6-months or more after completion of the initial treatment of Lyme disease. Some patients with Lyme disease have successful treatment through antibiotic therapy, however, many do find that they have long-term effects with lingering symptoms for months to years to come.
The most common symptoms of Chronic Lyme disease are often associated with:
- Chronic pain;
- Fatigue;
- Neuro-cognitive symptoms;
- Behavioural symptoms; and
- Other neurological and rheumatological symptoms.
Arthritis is one of the most commonly mentioned long-term side effects of Lyme disease. This is believed to be the aftermath of the immune system turning on itself when initially trying to fight off Lyme disease symptoms, resulting in an autoimmune response and damage to joint tissues throughout the body.
For further information on the symptoms of Chronic Lyme disease, please read our article HERE: https://www.lymediseaseadvice.com/what-are-lyme-disease-symptoms/
What are the Symptoms of Lyme Disease in Children?
As a parent, it is extremely important to be aware of the Lyme disease symptoms in children. Often children find it difficult to explain what they are feeling, especially when the symptoms come and go.
It has been reported that the most commonly reported cases of Lyme diseases, involve children between the ages of 5-9 and older adults between the ages of 55-59 years old.
The Symptoms of Lyme disease in adults is most often the same as Lyme Disease Symptoms in Children. However, they may be harder to detect in children as they aren’t all typical cold symptoms.
For a full briefing on the symptoms of Lyme disease in children, please read our article HERE: https://www.lymediseaseadvice.com/lyme-disease-symptoms-in-children
Neurological Lyme Disease Symptoms:
Neurological Lyme Disease is one of the most debilitating forms of the disease, with patients experiencing a marked decrease in their quality of life.
However, it’s possible to have neurobiological symptoms without the nervous system being damaged.
The symptoms of Neurological Lyme Disease are varied but can be divided into three categories: cognitive, neurological and psychiatric.
To learn more about the symptoms and treatment of Neurological Lyme Disease, please read our article HERE: https://www.lymediseaseadvice.com/neurological-lyme-disease-treatment/
Lyme Disease Tests
The diagnosis of Lyme disease begins with testing, however, it is not as simple as just going down to your doctor and getting a test for Lyme disease.
There are a wide range of laboratory tests, however, Lyme disease is primarily a clinical diagnosis which can be made depending upon symptoms, a physical examination and a person’s history.
The findings of laboratory testing are used to back up the clinical diagnosis. Unfortunately, many cases of Lyme disease go undetected due to negative lab results.
To read more about Lyme disease tests and how accurate they are, take a look at out article HERE: https://www.lymediseaseadvice.com/how-effective-are-lyme-disease-tests/
Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of Lyme Disease Advice or its staff.