Lyme Disease Symptoms

If you are one of the thousands of people who suffer from lyme disease symptoms or just want to find out some more information on this difficult medical condition then you have come to the right place. We provide an insight in to the signs and symptoms of lyme disease which is a vector-borne disease caused by the bite of what is often referred to as the lyme tick. We have a range of information from the early symptoms of lyme disease, the treatment of lyme disease all the way through to lyme disease in dogs because this is also a condition that affects canines as well. We can help you recognise whether or not you may have the lyme disease rash which is the most common lyme disease symptom as it appears in four out of five victims. What you will find on this page is vital information on what to look for if you or somebody you know is concerned that they may have been exposed to lyme disease.

Lyme disease symptoms in humans not just present in humans

As we have already mentioned it is possible that as well as lyme disease symptoms in humans being a problem it is also possible for animals to catch the disease, most commonly dogs. Lyme disease symptoms have also been found in horses, chickens, cattle, deer and even some wild mice and birds. Whereby this page is primarily based on lyme disease symptoms in humans we do have a specific page on lyme disease in dogs for further information. Studies on lyme disease in animals has shown that the primary signs to look out for are mild fever, fatigue, soreness to muscles and joints and a reduction in appetite Another of the lymes disease symptoms in animals is said to be depression but the last time I asked a horse how he was feeling he didn't have much to say and he was fit and healthy! Animals that have been infected will show a real reluctance to move due to the stiffness and pain in their joints. Although the lyme disease rash is the most common of lyme disease symptoms in humans it is not usually present on animals.

What is Lyme Disease?

We will begin with the obvious question, what is Lyme disease? Lyme disease is a vector-borne infection which most commonly effects the skin of the victim but in some cases it can also effect their heart as well as tissues and joints and sometimes even the nervous system. The cause of the illness is bacteria which enters the victims bloodstream via the bite of a tick, often referred to as a Lyme tick. The bacteria in question is called Borrelia burgdorferi and is only transmitted by certain types of tick which are from the Ixodes ricinus family and which must already be infected. Lyme ticks just like any ticks are tiny, spideresque creatures found in woodland, moorland, heathland and other grassy areas and they love to feed on the blood of birds and mammals. By feeding on something infected with the Lyme disease bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi, they too become infected and when they then go on to bite and feed on something else they subsequently pass on the infection. Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne infection found in areas of the northern hemisphere that are temperate as well as areas of the USA, Canada, temperate parts of Asia and countries all over Europe.

A vector-borne disease is an infection that is transmitted by the bite of creatures such as mosquitoes, flies and ticks, a prime examples being Malaria via the bite of mosquitoes and lyme disease via the bite of lyme ticks.

So discovering what lyme disease is beckons the next question why 'lyme' disease?. The name lyme disease derived from the town of Lyme in the state of Connecticut in the USA, where in 1975 a group of children began suffering from arthritis. The type of arthritis was believed to be rheumatoid arthritis however when it was thoroughly investigated it came to light that their illness was caused by an infection which was a result of them all having been bitten by a tick. It was not a new found illness it had been known by a variety of names for many years in other areas of the world but this one stuck.

The Symptoms of Lyme Disease

So now let's move on to the actual signs and symptoms of lyme disease. It is a fact that not everybody who become infected will display the symptoms of lyme disease.

However what you will need to look out for are the following:

Lyme Disease Rash

The lyme disease rash is the most common lyme disease symptom and is found in approximately 80% of cases where the symptoms are displayed. The lyme disease rash is called erythema migrans and is a pale pink and red in colour, it will not necessarily be irritating or painful and on dark skin it can be relatively hard to make out. This can spread out quite a way from the actual place of the lyme ticks bite anywhere between 3 and thirty days afterwards. It is also possible for there to be swelling of the lymph glands where the rash is one of the common signs of lyme disease early on. The rash will usually only last for up to 4 weeks but in some cases it can hang around for longer. When it does clear it will characteristically begin to clear from the centre outwards. The lyme disease rash can disappear in a month or so but without the appropriate treatment the later signs of lyme disease which can be much more serious will follow.

Other Lyme Disease Symptoms

Fever, high temperature - In addition to the lyme disease rash the victim could also become feverish and experience high temperatures as one of the signs of lyme disease.

Aching pains and tiredness - Victims may also experience aching and pains in their muscles and joints and feel lethargic.

Nervous system problems - It is possible in some cases for the victim to develop a problem with their nervous system by paralysis of facial muscles otherwise known as facial palsy. There are also several other neurological symptoms of lyme disease such as mild viral-meningitis and also a burning sensation on the skin, numbness, weakness and pains in the torso and limbs similar to those experienced in shingles. These are called neuroborreliosis complications and will take place several weeks or even months after the victim has been bitten. Those that experience these neurological signs of lyme disease may not actually recall having been bitten and may also not have been subject to the lyme disease rash beforehand.

Arthritis - Whilst experiencing the symptoms of lime disease it is possible to also develop arthritis in the knees or other larger joints. In some cases and this is relatively infrequent, the arthritis can last longer because the victim has a genetic susceptibility to it.

Heart problems - Lyme disease can also cause problems with the heart by changing the usual heart beat rhythm of the victim within just a few weeks of the bite having taken place, however this is a very rare in the signs of lyme disease.

How are lyme disease symptoms diagnosed?

In areas of the country where lyme disease is common it is possible for a doctor to diagnose a patient just from the rash that they have, as we have mentioned the lyme disease rash is the main lyme disease symptom occurring in four out of five infections. The doctor will also check for a series of other lymes disease symptoms, most commonly those that are listed above being especially interested in tenderness of joints and muscles. Without sight of the rash lyme disease symptoms can be tough to diagnose because they represent symptoms found in many other illnesses, what can make a diagnosis harder still is if the victim is nowhere near a place that that the disease is found or is not aware that they have been to such a place recently and been exposed to the disease. The most common method of diagnosing lyme disease symptoms is by way of a blood test.

How serious are lyme disease symptoms?

If you are quick to recognise lyme disease symptoms and seek medical help then there is no reason for the disease to cause you any real harm. One vital thing to remember is that lyme disease symptoms can come and go without being treated and just because they have subsided it does not mean that you are better and no longer infected with the disease. Lyme disease symptoms can come back later on but with the more serious symptoms such as issues with the nervous and cardiac systems as well as arthritic pain, these can come on months or years after the initial tick bite.

We hope that this page has been of use to you in learning about what the signs of lyme disease are and where you will likely have come across lyme ticks. Remember that the lyme disease rash is found in around 80% of cases so this is the main thing to look out for when it comes to lyme disease symptoms. Please follow these links if you would like some information on lyme disease treatment or specifically on the early symptoms of lyme disease. If lyme disease symptoms are a concern for you as a dog owner then please check out our lyme disease in dogs page.