Lyme disease is considered as a type of bacterial infection that is capable of affecting both animals and humans. The disease attacks the immune system of the individual which can lead to various temporary and long-term health issues and accompanying symptoms.
Lyme disease is spread by the black-legged tick that is commonly known as the deer or bear tick. The disease can be transmitted by a bite from the western black-legged tick. It is vital to seek immediate treatment once the symptoms are apparent to ensure full recovery from the disease. If you want to learn measures to properly manage the symptoms of this disease, read here.
Rashes
One of the initial indications of Lyme disease is a rash that is usually known as erythema migrans. These circular lesions manifest as minor in scope and eventually enlarge to 12 inches in diameter. The middle part of the rash might have a bull’s eye appearance with a darker reddish center, white-colored perimeter and another red circle. Take note that the rash can develop other lesions in other parts of the body. In some individuals, they do not even feel the bite of the tick or know that the tick has already buried its head into the skin surface.
Flu-like symptoms
An individual who acquired Lyme disease can experience flu-like symptoms. Take note that Lyme disease targets the immune system and the body tries its best to fight off the disease which leads to the manifestation of symptoms such as headache, fever, chills, swollen lymph nodes and muscle aches. Acetaminophen can be given to temporarily relieve most of these symptoms.
Pain
The initial symptoms of Lyme disease can include harsh pain or muscle aches all over the body. Some can experience shooting pain that can wake them up from sleep as well as piercing leg and arm pain. In some cases, they have reported severe arthritis pain after ending up with Lyme disease. Take note that puffiness, joint pain and inflammation are also reported even among those who have no previous history of arthritis or pain.
Alterations in the heart rhythm
Many individuals who are infected with Lyme disease can suffer from alterations in the heart rhythm that can be felt as a racing heart or palpitations. The start of the disease in the body can lead to palpitations. These can also be instigated by the flu-like symptoms that make the body work harder to carry out daily tasks. Aside from the racing heartbeat, the heart will even skip or miss beats. Basically, these symptoms diminish once the disease is managed properly with an antibiotic.
Neurological symptoms
There are various neurological symptoms that can manifest at the start of Lyme disease. Minor to severe migraine headaches, numbness, dizziness and tingling are all early indications of the disease. In some cases, short-term memory issues as well as concentration problems can occur abruptly after becoming infected.