lyme disease and symptoms
About Lyme Disease. Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi and is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected blacklegged ticks. Typical symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, and a characteristic skin rash called erythema migrans. If left untreated, infection can spread to joints, the heart, and the nervous system. Lyme disease is diagnosed based on symptoms, physical findings (e.g., rash), and the possibility of exposure to infected ticks.
Lyme disease symptoms can appear quickly or gradually over time, and they are incredibly varied and can wax and wane. The first physical signs of Lyme infection are often flu-like symptoms â sore throat, headaches, congestion, stiffness, etc. â so many people, including doctors, dismiss the symptoms as the flu or the common cold. During its nymph stage, a tick is only about the size of a period on a sentence.
Lyme disease is a bacterial illness that is spread by tick bites. Lyme disease can affect the skin, joints, heart, and the nervous system. Lyme disease occurs in phases, with the early phase beginning at the site of the tick bite with an expanding ring of redness.