Lyme disease can turn into a serious problem that can leave people bed-bound if it is left to develop. It can also cause a range of unusual symptoms people can look out for
People can look out for six symptoms of a debilitating disease that can leave people bed bound.
Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that can be spread to humans by infected ticks. Ticks are often found in woodland and moorland areas, even parks, gardens and grassy areas and feed on the blood of mammals including humans. If a tick carrying the bacteria bites a human, it can transfer the disease to them. NHS Inform said: “Ticks don’t jump or fly. They climb on to your clothes or skin if you brush against something they’re on. They then bite into the skin and start to feed on your blood.
“You’re more likely to become infected the longer the tick is attached to your skin. This means that removing them quickly is important. Ticks are very small and their bites are not painful, so you may not realise you have one attached to your skin.” While Lyme disease is treatable, it is much better to catch the disease early. So what are the symptoms?
Symptoms of Lyme disease
Rash
There are a number of symptoms of Lyme disease, but one clear sign is an oval-shaed rash around a bite. This can take a little time to form, with some known to have appeared around three months after a person was bitten by an infected tick. Rashes usually appear within one to four weeks, however. NHS Inform said: “The rash can have a darker or lighter area in the centre and might gradually spread. It’s not usually hot or itchy. The rash may be flat, or slightly raised, and look pink, red, or purple when it appears on white skin. It can be harder to see the rash on brown and black skin and it may look like a bruise.”
Flu-like symptoms
An infected person may begin to have a high temperature and feel hot or shivery. People who notice ticks can remove them safely. Not all of them carry Lyme disease. To remove a tick, people should use fine-tipped tweezers or a tick-removal tool, grasp the tick as close to the skin as they can and pull upwards. They should be careful not to squeeze or crush the tick.
After disposing of the creature, people should wash their bite with soap and water or antiseptic. A person should tell their doctor if they believe they may have been bitten by a tick. Other than a temperature, flu-like symptoms include a headache, tiredness and a loss of energy. NHS Inform said: “Most people with Lyme disease get better after antibiotic treatment. This can take months for some people, but the symptoms should improve over time.”
Arthritis
Lyme disease can lead to arthritis. This occurs when Lyme disease bacteria go into joint tissue and cause inflammation. The US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention said: “The main feature of Lyme arthritis is obvious swelling of one or a few joints. While the knees are affected most often, other large joints such as the shoulder, ankle, elbow, jaw, wrist, and hip can also be involved. The joint may feel warm to the touch or cause pain during movement. Joint swelling can come and go or move between joints, and it may be difficult to detect in the shoulder, hip, or jaw. Lyme arthritis typically develops within one to a few months after infection.”
Memory loss
More severe cases of Lyme disease can lead to complications and can even impact a person’s cognitive ability. Amen Clinics explained: “Memory loss, cognitive impairment, and brain fog. The forgetfulness and cognitive issues some people with Lyme disease experience can be mistaken for the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias. As shown above, there is some scientific evidence pointing to a link between a history of infection with Lyme disease and dementia.”
Nerve pain
Lyme disease can be debilitating in serious cases. Some people can experience nerve pain. The Foundation For Peripheral Neuropathy said: “Early diagnosis and treatment are important to stop the progression of the disease. If untreated, the disease can result in neurological disorders such as peripheral neuropathy, including Bell’s palsy, as well as pain, numbness or weakness in the limbs. The onset of peripheral neuropathy typically develops weeks, months or years later, if the disease is left untreated.”
Heart problems
Lyme disease can affect the heart in a condition known as Lyme carditis. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) said in a 2018 report that looked at the managing Lyme carditis, a heart condition caused by Lyme disease, that it can be treated. “Carditis caused by Lyme disease responds well to antibiotic therapy, but if it is left untreated, it can be potentially harmful,” the report said. People can experience an abnormal heart rhythm among other concerning symptoms.
The report said: “Symptoms may include dizziness, chest pain and collapse. Inflammation may also occur at other sites such as the pericardium (lining of the heart) and myocardium (heart muscle). In rare cases, carditis can be severe or even fatal. Antibiotic treatment is effective and usually resolves symptoms within 1–4 weeks; however, people with severe Lyme disease will require specialist hospital input until the symptoms recover.”
