You can get Lyme disease after being bitten by a tick. This is usually a deer tick, infected with the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. If the tick is not removed for 48 to 72 hours, you may develop this infection. Some people think that once you are infected with Lyme disease, you can't get infected again. This is not true. That's why it's important to try to prevent the disease in the first place. In this article, we will look at the symptoms of Lyme disease.

Common symptoms caused by Lyme disease

The first symptom of Lyme disease is often the classic skin rash known as erythema migrans. However, it is important to be aware of all the symptoms of Lyme disease as they may be different for each individual.

Erythema Migrans

This circular rash occurs at the siteof the tick bite, about seven to 14 days after being bitten. Erythema migrans occurs in 70 to 80% of people infected with Lyme disease.

Because rashes look different on different people and stages of the disease, it's a good idea to have your health care provider look at suspicious rashes. If you live in an area where ticks are abundant and/or Lyme disease is common, it is even more important to be aware of unusual skin rashes.

This erythema migrans rash can be described as follows:

• Have the typical red outer ring with a dark purple lightening between the
• Have a red outer ring, a red center and a purple-tinted clearing between the
• An advanced rash, which probably started much smaller and looks less like a center ball.
• Be irritating, hot and sometimes painful
• Gradual expansion to a size of 7 to 14 inches

Flu-like symptoms of Lyme disease

Other symptoms of Lyme disease may resemble flu and may include:

• Fever
• Myalgia (muscle pain)
• Thrills
• Headaches
• Fatigue
• Joint pain (arthralgia)
• Swollen lymph nodes (adenopathy)

Although these symptoms may resemble those of viral infections common, symptoms of Lyme disease may persist or occur.

Rare symptoms of Lyme disease

Less commonly, if Lyme disease is not treated, you may develop other symptoms weeks, months, or even years after infection, including:

• Multiple erythema migrans skin rashes
• Ocular inflammation
• Hepatitis (liver disease)
• Extreme fatigue

None of these problems are likely to occur withoutthe presence of other symptoms of Lyme disease.

Complications of Lyme

Severe symptoms and complications can occur if your Lyme disease is not treated. These can develop days to months after you have been picked by a tick.

Arthritis

After several months of infection with B. burgdorferi, 30-60% of untreated antibiotic individuals develop recurrent attacks of painful and swollen joints that last from days to months. Arthritis can pass from one joint to another, and the knee is most often affected.

Neurological problems

Lyme disease can also affect your nervous system,provoking symptoms such as:

• Stiff neck and severe headache (meningitis)
• Temporary paralysis of the facial muscles in which one side of the face collapses (Bell's palsy)
• Numbness, pain or weakness in the limbs
• Poor muscle movement

More subtle changes have also been associated withuntreated Lyme disease, such as:

• Memory loss
• Difficulty concentrating
• Changes in mood or sleep patterns

Problems of the nervous system can develop weeks, months, or even years after an untreated infection. These symptoms occur in about 10-12% of people and often last for weeks or months.

Heart problems

About 1% of people with Lyme disease develop heart problems, such as irregular heartbeats. These signs may begin with dizziness or shortness of breath and may indicate Lyme carditis, the cause of heart blockage. With treatment, these symptoms rarely last more than a few days or weeks.

When to see a doctor after a tick bite?

Keep in mind that not everyone has all of the classic symptoms of Lyme disease. So it's important to see your doctor if you develop a rash or fever after a tick bite. This is even more important if you live in or have traveled to an area with a lot of Lyme disease cases.

Even in hyperendemic areas (places where there are many cases of Lyme disease), the risk of developingLyme disease is generally estimated to be 3.5% or less. It is so low because, even though up to 50% of ticks in endemic areas are infected with the bacteria that causes Lyme disease, most people remove them before the bacteria has had time to infect them.

Lyme disease can be treated with common antibiotics. The sooner you are treated for Lyme disease, the better. Even in more advanced cases, medications usually respond well.

How can we be sure that Lyme disease is gone?

Simple blood tests, which may need to be repeated to rule out infection, can give you and your family peace of mind.

Sources:

http://www.doctissimo.fr/html/sante/encyclopedie/sa_1238_lyme.htm
https://www.passeportsante.net/fr/Maux/Problemes/Fiche.aspx?doc=maladie_de_lyme_pm