To know if one has Lyme disease, look for symptoms that typically appear 3 to 30 days after a tick bite. Key early symptoms include:
- A red expanding rash called erythema migrans (EM) that often looks like a bull's-eye but can have other shapes and may feel warm but usually isn't painful or itchy. About 70-80% of people with Lyme disease develop this rash.
- Flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills, headache, fatigue, muscle and joint aches, and swollen lymph nodes.
- Some individuals may not notice the rash or flu-like symptoms.
If untreated, Lyme disease can spread and cause more severe symptoms like severe headaches, neck stiffness, additional rashes, facial muscle weakness (facial palsy), arthritis with joint pain and swelling (especially knees and large joints), heart palpitations, dizziness, nerve pain, and shooting pains or numbness in hands or feet. Because symptoms of Lyme disease overlap with other illnesses, medical evaluation including exposure history to ticks or tick-infested areas is important. Blood tests may be used for diagnosis particularly if the rash is not present. Early diagnosis and treatment with antibiotics greatly improve outcomes. If you observe these symptoms and have been bitten by a tick or spent time in areas where Lyme disease is common, it is advised to seek medical attention promptly for proper diagnosis and treatment.
