6 Early Symptoms of Lyme Disease

6 Early Symptoms of Lyme Disease

Tooba Pasha Waqar |Dec 7, 2021

What Are the Early Symptoms of Lyme Disease?

Considering how common Lyme disease is, it is surprising that more people are not aware of its early symptoms.

Lyme disease is a common vector-borne disease; it is transmitted through fleas, ticks and mosquitoes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 20,000 to 30,000 cases of Lyme disease are reported each year.

Although it is not as rampant as the common cold or the flu, Lyme disease is still problematic. Symptoms of Lyme disease include loss of energy and tiredness. However, if treatment is withheld for longer, the symptoms often lead to further serious health issues that take time to resolve.

Here are some symptoms you should be aware of.

What Are the Early Symptoms of Lyme Disease?

As it is for any disease or infection, Lyme disease symptoms do not erupt all at once. Instead, they develop gradually and can take weeks, if not days, to fully infect you.

For the first stage, here are some of the symptoms you may experience within the first week to the first month.

Stage 1

1. A Red Circular Rash

Also known as an erythema migrans, this rash is circular and appears on the skin in a bulls-eye formation. The rash typically occurs in the area where a bug may have bitten you. This rash can spread to about 12 inches and can be scary-looking. But it is not particularly painful or itchy. More often, the rash only feels warm to the touch.

This red circular rash is a confirmed sign of Lyme disease. However, you may even develop Lyme disease without the rash, so you must keep up with all the other symptoms of the disease.

2. Overall Stiffness, Pain and Chills

These symptoms are hallmarks of Lyme disease. While you may regard them as signs of a cold, these symptoms are typical of your body’s reaction to any foreign contaminant.

Your body redirects your internal energy toward getting rid of what is infecting you. With your body fighting off the illness, this causes overall stiffness, headaches, joint pain, fever and chills. You may also experience muscle stiffness and a lack of energy.

3. Swollen Lymph Nodes

Unfortunately, it is unclear why Lyme disease targets the body’s lymph nodes. We know that the bacteria transmitted through the tick bite travel to the nodes to hide. Perhaps because the system suspects a foreign body, bacteria triggers your immune response and causes your lymph nodes to swell.

Your lymph nodes are located in different body parts, mainly the armpit, chest, neck, abdomen and groin. When infected with Lyme, the lymph nodes in your neck, armpits and groin are always more likely to swell. They may become sensitive to the touch and may feel larger than usual.

Stage 2

4. Increased Red Circular Rashes

Alongside the rash that occurs from the bite, you will also find more rashes appearing on your body. This typically occurs within the first four months after being bitten, and the rash only increases if you have not been treated.

However, it may also occur if you have not had the rash before in the early localized period within the first four weeks.

5. Numbness

The pain and stiffness will gradually increase to weakness, numbness and the inability to move your facial muscles. Again, because your body is still trying to drown the effects of Lyme disease, your extremities will not be able to get the strength they need to move.

Also, considering the weakness you will feel, you may also experience fainting spells and headaches.

6. Heart Palpitations

Your body will be working overtime to keep all your functions up and running. As such, you will feel the occasional bouts of rapid heartbeats.

If you have any heart conditions, it would be wise not to skip the doctor’s visit. Also, if you have a family history of heart problems, you will want to get in touch with a medical professional immediately. Lyme disease can cause serious heart issues in rare cases, and you should catch this problem beforehand.

Consequences of Not Treating Lyme Disease

If Lyme disease is not promptly treated, it leads to a myriad of health issues that take months and even years to heal. Your joints, nerves, heart and brain suffer, all because of an infected tick bite.
Why stop yourself from getting treatment?

If caught early on, Lyme disease can easily be controlled and treated. All it takes is some pre-emptive action on your part. So, pay attention to your body. You never know what it may be trying to tell you.

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