3 Stages Of Lyme Disease And Their Symptoms

Lyme disease and its symptoms are classified into multiple stages, the first stage is considered to be the early stage, the next is considered to be the second stage, the last and third stage is officially known as chronic Lyme disease. At an early stage, it displays a rash and flu-like symptoms and then in second stage symptoms of the first stage increases and then at the third stage arthritis, neurological problems and other conditions prevails.

Lyme disease can be described as a bacterial infection that is transmitted by a tick bite. Normally it can be treated with antibiotics. You may experience complications or chronic illness as a result from the infection, when it is not responsive to medication or when left untreated for too long. If you are aware of chronic Lyme disease symptoms in its various stages, then you can control this from worsening and becoming a serious condition.

Early stage

The early stage of Lyme disease lasts the first four weeks after getting bitten by an infected tick. A red, circular rash that looks like a bull's eye may be one of the symptoms associated with chronic Lyme disease. The red rash is called erythema migrans. However, there are a lot of patients that don't experience a rash after they are bitten by a tick; so, you need to know what the other signs of a tick bite are. These include flu-like symptoms, such as headache, muscle ache, fever, chills, and swollen lymph nodes. Immediately seek your doctor for diagnosis and treatment if you know that you have been bitten by a tick, before the onset of any symptoms to avoid complications.

The second phase

When there is a delay in the treatment of Lyme disease, or no symptoms present in the early stage of the disease, it can transition to the second stage. This Lyme disease stage normally happens after the period of nearly one to four months since the date of tick biting. The symptoms during this stage include joint pains, headaches, muscle pains, numbness in the arms and legs, fainting, fatigue, low concentration, memory loss and conjunctivitis.

The third stage is Chronic Lyme disease

Lyme disease can become chronic especially in the elderly or have poor health. This later stage in Lyme disease could also be caused by very late diagnosis and treatment of the infection or persistent infection despite medication. At this stage, the symptoms can be beyond your wildest imaginations and may include:

* Arthritis--In the later stage of Lyme disease, you may develop arthritis. You'll have redness, swelling, pain in your joints and stiffness in your shoulders, elbows, hips, knees, and smaller joints.

* Neurological problems: Neurological problems will arise during the second stage, and they will increase in intensity. You could experience more severe numbness in your arms, legs and other parts of your body, along with an itch or burn. More headaches may be felt, as well as problems with speaking, memory loss, depression, anxiety, and panic. Additional neurological indications could be Bell's Palsy, or facial nerve paralysis, and aseptic meningitis.

* Conditions which are serious symptoms and are a part of chronic Lyme disease include heart inflammation, visual dysfunction causing blurred vision, chronic fatigue, ringing in the ears (tinnitus), abdominal pain, pelvic pain, irregular heartbeat rate, hearing loss,urinary frequency,shortness of breath, fever, sweats, Diarrhea and irritable bowel

Death does not usually occur with Lyme disease according to studies. While not necessarily life-threatening, Chronic Lyme disease can be devastating. You need to know the signs that occur in the early stage so you can seek treatment right away and then you can avoid a lifetime of dealing with it.