The Stages of Lyme Disease
Lyme disease is an under-researched and underreported disease caused by bacteria. This bacterium has four main species affecting different locations. In the United States, Borrelia burgdorferi and Borrelia mayonii are responsible for the spread of Lyme disease. However, in Europe and Asia, people suffer from the disease because of Borrelia garinii and Borrelia afzelii.
The common reason why you might develop Lyme disease is through the bite of the deer tick. A deer tick is a black-legged tick that sucks blood from big animals such as deer. Furthermore, they also bite humans, causing diseases such as babesiosis, anaplasmosis, and Lyme disease.
People residing in wooden areas have a high risk of developing Lyme disease because these blood-sucking parasites live in grassy and wooden areas.
Stages of Lyme Disease
Lyme's disease is a condition with wide-ranging symptoms. These symptoms may appear in various stages. However, it is possible that you experience an overlap in the stages. Different people undergo different patterns and symptoms, making it hard for healthcare experts to diagnose and identify the actual reasons for the symptoms. Here are three stages of Lyme disease that you might undergo after the bite:
Early localized
Early disseminated
Late disseminated
It is important to understand these stages because you will experience the symptoms depending on the stage. However, as you already read in the above section, the symptoms are not dependent and may vary by individual. The following description of the stages based on a common pattern of the symptoms will give you a general idea:
Early Localized Disease
Once the deer tick bites you on the skin, you develop a red and small bump. This bump is similar to the mosquito bite, so it is possible that you might confuse it at first. Also, you will not develop the signs and symptoms for almost a month after the bite. The appearance of bull’s-eye rash is one of the early signs. The rash occurs on the spot where the tick bites.
However, the appearance of the rash is not necessary. You may also develop a clear spot similar to the mosquito bite. You may feel warmness on the spot when you touch. Another strange thing about this spot is that it does not pain or itch. Also, in some people, the rash gradually disappears in few days.
You can formally refer to this type of rash as erythema migrans. It is one of the characteristics of Lyme disease. If you have a dark complexion, you will likely develop a bruise-like rash. Some people also develop a solid red rash on the spot. The development of inflammation may cause flu-like or systemic viral-like symptoms to the body. Here are some other symptoms you might develop during the early localized stage of the disease.
Fever
Sore throat
Chills
Enlarged lymph nodes
Muscle aches
Fatigue
Vision changes
Headaches
Early Disseminated Lyme Disease
You will develop the symptoms from this stage after several weeks or months of the bite. Generally, the intensity of the symptoms will increase and the rash will appear in different parts of your body. When you reached this stage, your entire body, including the organs consists of the infection. Here are the symptoms that you might show during this stage:
Neuralgic conditions including tingling, numbness, meningitis, and facial and cranial nerve palsies. During this condition, you will develop a membrane around your brain causing temporary paralysis on the one side of your face, impaired muscle movement, and weakness in your limb.
Lyme carditis will change the rhythm of your heartbeat.
Multiple erythema multiforme lesions appear in which you develop rash on different parts of your body.
The above symptoms may overlap in different peoples suffering from the disease. Some people experience the first stage before others.
Late Disseminated Lyme Disease
If you did not get proper treatment for the first and second stages of the disease, you may develop the third stage of the infection. This stage may appear after months or even years of the bite. Some characteristics of this stage are:
Brain disorders, including encephalopathy. This condition includes difficulty in concentration, short-term memory loss, mental fogginess, sleep disturbance, and other problems affecting your conversational abilities.
You will also develop numbness in your hands, arms, feet, or legs.
Arthritis of large joints cause severe pain and inflammation in the affected area. However, the pain may also shift to other joints.
People on the third stage of the condition may also experience these less common symptoms:
Eye inflammation
Heart problems
Severe fatigue
Liver inflammation