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There are three different stages of Lyme disease. The first is called the Localized Early (Acute) Stage, the second is the Early Disseminated Stage, and the third and final is called the Late Stage. The following are some symptoms that may occur in each stage, but are not necessarily always present.
1. Localized Early (Acute) Stage: 1 month after bite
- A rash develops around the bite 3-30 days after the person has been bitten. Often this rash looks sort of like a bull’s eye, with a ring of red surrounded by a ring of clear skin surrounded by another ring of irritated skin. This is often the most telling indication that a person has contracted the disease, but about 25% of the time, this rash (specifically called erythema migrans, or EM) does not develop. The rash usually lasts for about 3 weeks and is not typically painful.
- Tiredness
- Swelling and achiness of the joints (such as the knees)
- Headaches
- Swollen glands
- Chills
The symptoms during the first stage of Lyme disease may be brief and do not often cause intense or long discomfort. However, left untreated they may become much more severe.
2. Early Disseminated Stage: 2-4 months after bite
- Rashes appear in areas not close to the bite
- Extreme fatigue
- Pain in the joints
- Stiff neck
- Meningitis
- Paralysis of facial muscles (Bell’s Palsy)
- Fever
- Change in vision
- Sore throat
3. Late Stage: 4 months after bite
- Arthritis in large joints
- Irregular heart beat
- Mental confusion (loss of short term memory, inability to complete sentences, confusion, dizziness)
- Numbness in hands or feet
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