Ticks are small spider-like creatures that live in forests, tall grass areas, and sometimes in urban parks and gardens. Although ticks may seem harmless, they can infect humans with Lyme disease if bitten. Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that can cause flu-like symptoms. The symptoms someone may experience depend on the stage of the infection. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), symptoms usually appear three to 30 days after the initial bite. The early symptoms include:
1. Fever
2. Chills
3. Headache
4. Fatigue
5. Muscle and joint pain
6. Swelling of lymph nodes in the absence of a rash
Later signs and symptoms (which may occur days to months after the tick bite) include:
- Swollen knees
- Facial paralysis (or drooping of one or both sides of the face)
- Severe headaches and stiff neck
- Additional rashes in other areas of the body
- Arthritis with severe pain and swelling in the joints, especially the knees and other large joints
- Intermittent pain in tendons, muscles, joints, and bones
- Heart palpitations or irregular heartbeat
- Episodes of dizziness or shortness of breath
- Inflammation of the brain and spinal cord
- Nerve pain
- Sharp pain, numbness, or tingling in the hands or feet
How does the rash look? According to the National Health Service (NHS), the rash, an early warning sign, is usually round or oval-shaped. The health body explains: "The rash may have a darker or lighter area in the center and may spread gradually. It is not hot or itchy." It adds: "The rash may be flat or slightly raised and appears pink, red, or purple when it shows on white skin. It may be difficult to see the rash on brown and black skin, and it may look like a bruise."
How serious is Lyme disease? The Mayo Clinic explains: "Lyme disease can spread to other parts of the body for months to years after infection, causing arthritis and nervous system problems." Due to its potential severity, the health body states: "Visit your doctor even if the signs and symptoms disappear; the absence of symptoms does not mean the disease has ended." According to the health service, it can be difficult to diagnose Lyme disease because "it has symptoms similar to other conditions and does not always have a clear rash," noting that tests are not always accurate in the early stages of the disease.
How is Lyme disease treated? The CDC states: "Early diagnosis and appropriate antibiotic treatment for Lyme disease are important and can help prevent late Lyme disease." It notes that some patients report ongoing symptoms of pain, fatigue, or difficulty thinking even after treatment for Lyme disease. The centers add: "The state of knowledge regarding ongoing symptoms associated with Lyme disease is limited, emerging, and unstable," hence the need for further research to better understand how to treat, manage, and support individuals with ongoing symptoms related to Lyme disease.
Source: Express
