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Symptoms of Lyme Disease |
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Fever and chills
Fatigue
Headache
Body aches
Joint pain
Bullseye rash
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When to See the Doctor
The symptoms depend on the stage of the disease and range from:
Symptoms of acute stage:
- Headache.
- Body aches.
- Joint pain.
- Bull's eye rash.
The following symptoms may mean Lyme disease is more advanced and needs immediate medical care. Call 911 if you have any of these symptoms.
- Numbness and pain in arms or legs.
- Meningitis - fever, stiff neck and severe headaches.
- Abnormal heartbeat.
Symptoms of later-stage Lyme disease:
- Bouts of pain and swelling, usually occurring in one or more of the large joints, especially the knees. This is called Lyme arthritis.
- Nervous system problems, including memory loss and difficulty concentrating.
- Chronic pain in muscles.
- Restless sleep.
If you think you may have Lyme disease, see a doctor right away. The sooner treatment starts, the quicker and more complete the recovery will be.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also advise that people contact their doctors when a tick may have been attached for a while. Your doctor may recommend an antibiotic to prevent Lyme disease.
More on Lyme It's Lyme Disease Time
Lyme Disease
In the Encyclopedia:
Lyme disease
This article was reviewed and updated June 2007.
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