The Signs and Symptoms of Lyme Disease

Lyme disease is a vector-borne disease caused by a single tick bite- specifically the blacklegged ticks found around the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Upper Midwest, and Pacific Coast. Caused mainly by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, it can also rarely be caused by the bacterium Borrelia mayonii. In this article, we will take a closer look at the signs and symptoms, how to get a diagnosis, and ways to treat the disease. While there is no clear way to cure the disease, there are ways you can relieve the symptoms. 

First Bite

If you notice you’ve been bitten by a tick and the tick is still burrowed in your skin, it is important to get the tick removed immediately. While there are kits you can purchase to remove the tick, using a pair of tweezers will do the trick: 

1. First and foremost, you want to make sure that the pair of tweezers you are using are clean and sterilized. This can be done by buying a fresh pair or sterilizing them with rubbing alcohol. 
2. You want to get a good grasp on the tick and gently pull upwards. You want to make sure you’re not pulling it too quickly or at an angle- this can cause the part attached to your skin to break off from the tick leaving its mouth in your skin.
3. Once removed, you want to thoroughly clean the affected area with rubbing alcohol or gentle soap and water.
4. Kill the tick by crushing it and dispose of it by flushing it down your toilet or placing it in a Ziploc bag and tossing it out. 
5. Immediately get in touch with your primary care doctor to be able to see if treatment is necessary so the disease doesn’t progress.

Signs and Symptoms

Once bitten by a tick, you may begin to experience the symptoms of Lyme disease within 3 to 30 days. There are early signs/symptoms and there are signs/symptoms that indicate the disease has been in your system untreated- such as spreading to your heart, joints, and nervous system:

Early Signs & Symptoms

• Erythema migrans (EM), is the red rash most commonly associated with Lyme disease. This bulls-eye pattern can feel warm to the touch
• Fever
• Chills
• Headache
• Fatigue
• Swollen lymph nodes

Progressed Signs & Symptoms

• Severe headaches
• Neck stiffness
• More erythema migrans
• Facial palsy
• Arthritis
• Joint pain
• Neurological problems

Diagnosis

If you suspect you have Lyme disease, it’s important to get with your healthcare provider to be able to properly diagnose and choose the best treatment plan for you. How exactly does Lyme get diagnosed?:

• Telling your healthcare provider of the symptoms you’ve been experiencing
• Informing them of the possibility you were bitten by a tick (hiking, bike riding, etc.)
• Lab testing (Done in 2 steps, a blood sample is taken. If the first sample is negative, then there is no Lyme disease detected. However, if the first test is positive, a second test is run with the same blood sample to check if the levels are equivocal or positive)

Treatment 

If you’ve been diagnosed with Lyme disease, there is no need to feel fear or panic. If caught early, you can treat the disease and recover from its symptoms:

• If detected early, you will most likely be prescribed oral antibiotics such as Doxycycline, amoxicillin, or Ceftin
• If the disease has spread to other areas such as the nervous system, oral antibiotics won’t be enough, so you will be recommended intravenous antibiotics
• Home remedies for lingering symptoms (essential oils, acupuncture, enemas, saunas, etc.)

Prevention

While it is hard to completely prevent the possibility of a tick getting to you and biting you, there are ways you can try to prevent it from happening:

• Avoid tick habitats such as grassy, brushy, and wooded areas
• Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants- cover any exposed skin
• Wear bright colors to be able to identify if a tick is on you
• Use insect repellent with DEET (the active ingredient N, N-diethyl-meta-toluamide that fight against mosquitoes and ticks)