If you are bitten by an infected tick which carries the disease causing bacteria, it can result in an infection known as Lyme disease. If you are not sure about the symptoms you are experiencing, it is important to check whether your symptoms are of Lyme disease. It is very important to show yourself to a doctor in case you get bitten because though treatable, Lyme disease can give rise to some serious health issues if left untreated for long.
Know If Your Symptoms Are Lyme Disease
Want to know if your symptoms are Lyme disease? Is an important issue if you are bitten by ticks or are experiencing vague flu like symptoms. There are several factors which make the diagnosis of Lyme disease extremely difficult. One of the first reasons is that many people do not know that they have been bitten by a tick and do not opt for medical care until the symptoms begin to develop. Another reason why diagnosis becomes difficult is that the symptoms of Lyme Disease mimic the signs of flu and other illnesses. Also, the ticks which develop are small in size and not easy to spot even if it’s full with blood inside.
Another issue which comes up with patients of Lyme disease is that the blood tests used to diagnose the problem may not always be able to detect the disease and may give a false negative report. Hence knowing if your symptoms are Lyme disease is necessary.
Symptoms of Lyme Disease
In many cases, the person suffering from Lyme disease does not know about it until the symptoms have advanced and started causing complications This is the reason why knowing the signs and symptoms of Lyme disease will help you get early treatment and prevent any further complications from taking place. Also, if you are suffering from certain symptoms check them to know if your symptoms are Lyme disease.
One of the most common symptoms of Lyme disease is a rash (erythema migrans), which is similar to a bull’s eye. Almost 80 percent of Lyme disease patients experience such a rash after being bitten by an infected tick. The area which surrounds the tick bite becomes red in color and the skin rises above normal replicating a normal bug bite. Moreover, as the rash spreads it takes on a circular pattern which is dark on the outer rings but light in the centre.
The early symptoms of Lyme disease which occur in almost all patients are:
- Muscle ache
- Headache
- Fever and fatigue
These symptoms generally start after the third day of the tick bite and may show for the next 30 days after the infection takes place. Many people are often confused about their incubation period and this makes them confused about the symptoms too. If they are unable to recall that they are bitten by a tick, they analyze the symptoms to be that of flu and fail to connect it with the tick bite.
Advanced Symptoms of Lyme disease
It is also important to know if your symptoms are Lyme disease in its advanced stages. In some severe cases the patient experiences advanced symptoms of Lyme disease, which can prove to be quite troublesome. These would include joint pain which is excruciating in the knees and an extremely stiff neck which worsens over time. You might also be unable to sleep due to a striking headache and body pain. Some other common advanced symptoms of Lyme disease include dizziness and changes in the rhythm or rate of heart beat.
If left untreated for long, Lyme disease is harmful enough to affect the nervous system and cause major issues in the same. You might soon be unable to control the muscle functions on your face, resulting in Bell’s palsy which is a neurological disorder of this disease. Many people experience severe movement issues especially in the legs and arms. These are some of the serious symptoms of Lyme disease.
In the late stages of Lyme disease, the patient starts developing heart issues along with inflammation of the liver and eyes which becomes quite difficult to control.
Treatment of Lyme Disease
If your symptoms are Lyme disease, antibiotics are the best way to treat this condition. If Lyme disease is diagnosed early, appropriate treatment can increase the chances of complete recovery. If the patient is diagnosed with early symptoms of Lyme disease, it allows the patient to get well within 2 to 3 weeks of the incubation period by taking the prescribed oral medications. However, in cases where the symptoms are quite severe and the person suffers from neurological impairment, then intravenous antibiotics might have to be administered to control the disease and prevent it from causing any more damage. In such cases, the treatment of Lyme disease might run for several weeks or even months, depending on its severity.
Conclusion
The faster you identify Lyme disease and start treatment for the same, the better it is. So be aware of the symptoms of Lyme disease and know if your symptoms are Lyme disease. Also, learning about the symptoms of Lyme disease helps you to stay healthy. An essential thing to do is to be aware of insects and bugs near you and make sure your home and the surrounding environment is tick-free.
Also Read:
- Symptoms of Seed Tick Bites & How to Remove Seed Ticks at Home?
- African Tick Bite Fever: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, Precautions, Diagnosis, Who is at Risk
- How Does A Tick Bite Look Like & Remedies to Get Rid of it
- Common Tick Borne Diseases
- Lyme Disease: Causes, Symptoms, Staging, Diagnosis, Treatment