Guide to Recognizing the Symptoms of Lyme Disease
Posted by Medical Fan - 23/12/08 at 10:12 amGuide to Recognizing the Symptoms of Lyme Disease
If you are the outdoorsy type, you probably have heard of Lyme disease. For the uninitiated, Lyme disease is caused by bacteria that are spread through tick bites. But even if you don’t remember being bitten, there is still a possibility that you may have Lyme disease. If that’s the case, comparing your symptoms with that of Lyme disease’s may help you know if you have it or not.
The symptoms of Lyme disease are easy to recognize.
One of the most common symptoms of Lyme disease is erythema migrans, a rash that is usually painless and non-itchy. This usually circular or oval rash typically has a mark in the center, not unlike a bull’s eye. The rash typically grows bigger during the course of the illness.
Low-grade fever, as well as fatigue and weakness, is also common among Lyme disease patients. Recurring joint pains that tend to travel or “migrate” from one joint to another is one usual symptom that can be mistaken as signs of arthritis. In this case, the knee is the most commonly affected joint.
Some patients can also experience headaches that come and go. These headaches may be mild or severe. Stiff neck may also occur in some people. Other less common symptoms of Lyme disease that may be present include nausea, vomiting, multiple rashes, weakening of facial muscles and redness of the eyes. In rare cases, untreated Lyme disease can cause heart problems like carditis, an inflammation of the heart, and arrhythmia, or irregular heartbeats.