These variable clinical manifestations, coupled with the difficulty of confirming the diagnosis in many patients, has led to many misconceptions about Lyme disease. In the majority of cases, Lyme disease is easily treated and does not progress to the chronic stage. Because Lyme disease is a tick-borne spirochetal infection, the initial symptoms of the illness occur primarily during the late spring and early summer, when the ticks are active, but late manifestations can occur throughout the year. Late disseminated Lyme disease. Early localized infection may begin within several hours to several weeks after infection.
Patients have a typical annular rash, called erythema migrans.
Some patients will have a flu-like illness, with fever and myalgias, as the only manifestation of early Lyme disease. Patients may complain of fever, myalgias, headache, and malaise. Late disseminated Lyme disease can develop within a few weeks to two years following infection. The arthritis tends to be intermittent, lasting from several days to weeks. Late Lyme disease can affect the central nervous system.