Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment of Lyme Disease
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What are the symptoms of Lyme disease?
Symptoms of Lyme disease can be different from person to person. You may not have any symptoms at all, while others may suffer severe symptoms.
Symptoms of Lyme disease can include any of the following:
• skin rash
• headache
• fever or chills
• fatigue (tiredness)
• spasms or weakness
• numbness or tingling
• swollen lymph nodes
• oval-shaped organ found in the body, such as the armpit or stomach
Additional symptoms can include:
• dizziness
• abnormal heartbeat
• muscle and joint pain
• paralysis (unable to move parts of your body)
• mental confusion or inability to think clearly (brain fog)
• nervous system disorders (involving the brain, nerves and spinal cord)
Sometimes, you may not experience symptoms for weeks after you are bitten by an infected tick.
If left untreated, Lyme disease symptoms can last from months to years. In rare cases, Lyme disease can lead to death.
Post-treatment symptoms
You may experience symptoms that last months to years after treatment. This is a condition known as post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS).
Symptoms can include:
• sleep disturbance
• fatigue (tiredness)
• muscle and joint pain
• mental confusion or inability to think clearly
What do you do if you become ill?
See your health provider right away if you develop symptoms of Lyme disease in the weeks after a tick bite. Tell them about your symptoms and if you participated in any activities in an at-risk area.
If you saved the tick that bit you, bring it to your medical appointment. Tell them:
• how long the tick was attached to you
• where you were when you were bitten by the tick
The sooner you get treatment, the better your chance of recovery.
How is Lyme disease diagnosed?
Getting a diagnosis of Lyme disease can be difficult as symptoms vary from person to person. Symptoms can also be similar to other illnesses. Your health care provider will likely:
• examine your symptoms
• determine if you were potentially exposed to Lyme-infected blacklegged ticks by asking about your recent activities
• request (if necessary) laboratory testing to support a clinical diagnosis
Consult a family doctor as soon as possible if you have symptoms. Also consult with a doctor if you feel unwell in the weeks following a tick bite. The sooner you get treatment, the more rapid will be your recovery.
What is the treatment?
Most cases of Lyme disease can be effectively treated with 2 to 4 weeks of antibiotics. Depending on the symptoms and when you were diagnosed, you may require a longer course of antibiotics.
Some people experience symptoms that continue more than 6 months after treatment. Research continues into the causes of these persistent symptoms and possible treatment methods.
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