Erythema migrans occurs in about 72% of people infected with Lyme disease.

These symptoms occur in approximately 10% to 12% of people and often last for weeks or months.

These can develop days to months after you’ve been bitten by a tick.

lyme disease symptoms

Illustration by Joshua Seong. © Verywell, 2018.

Arthritis

After several months ofB.

Meningitis

WhenBorreliabacterium spreads through thelymphatic systemto the brain and spinal cord, it can lead tomeningitis.

Lyme meningitis can cause fever, headache, stiff neck, and extreme sensitivity to light.

Doctor Discussion Guide Man

Get our printable guide for your next doctor’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.

Hepatitis

Some people with Lyme disease have liver function abnormalities.

Although not common, chronic infection can also lead tohepatitis(inflammation of the liver).

The skin can start to harden and shrink, forming deep lines.

In the United States, this includes the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, or north-central states.

Get our printable guide for your next doctor’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.

If you do have Lyme disease, infection is normally easilytreatedwith common antibiotics.

This condition is known as post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS).

It’s still unclear why this occurs.

However, symptoms usually improve over time.

Summary

Symptoms of Lyme disease can vary widely from person to person.

This may include heart inflammation, weakness, arthritis, sensory symptoms, meningitis, and cognitive problems.

In some cases, yes.

This depends largely on the throw in ofBorreliabacteria and genus of tick involved.

Yes, but it is uncommon.

Earlydiagnosisandtreatmentare essential for preventing disease progression and complications.

Lyme disease is not fatal, and the recurrence of symptoms is rare in people who are treated.

Shapiro ED.Borrelia burgdorferi (Lyme disease).Pediatr Rev.

2014;35(12):500-9. doi:10.1542/pir.35-12-500

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Lyme disease.

Hu L.Patient education: Lyme disease symptoms and diagnosis (Beyond the Basics).

2012;2012:451727. doi:10.1155/2012/451727

Bertholon P.Sensorineural hearing loss: a complex feature in Lyme disease.Otology & Neurotology.

2013;34(8):1543. doi:10.1097/MAO.0b013e3182a007d4

Weinberg RS.Ocular involvement in Lyme disease.

American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Scheffold N, Herkommer B, Kandolf R, May AE.Lyme carditis–diagnosis, treatment and prognosis.

2015;112(12):202-8. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2015.0202

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Lyme carditis.

American Academy of Dermatology Association.Signs of Lyme disease that appear on your skin.

Arvikar SL, Steere AC.Diagnosis and treatment of Lyme arthritis.

Infect Dis Clin North Am.

2015;29(2):269-80. doi:10.1016/j.idc.2015.02.004

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Lyme arthritis.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Neurologic Lyme disease.

UpToDate.Clinical manifestations of Lyme disease.

Krause PJ, Bockenstedt LK.

Cardiology patient pages.Lyme disease and the heart.

2013;127(7):e451-4.

doi:10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.112.101485

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Post-treatment Lyme Disease syndrome.

Wright WF, Riedel DJ, Talwani R, Gilliam BL.Diagnosis and management of Lyme disease.Am Fam Physician.

Skar GL, Simonsen KA.Lyme disease.

In:StatPearls [Internet].

Halperin JJ.Chronic Lyme disease: misconceptions and challenges for patient management.Infect Drug Resist.

2015;8:119-28. doi:10.2147/IDR.S66739

Crossland NA, Alvarez X, Embers ME.Late disseminated Lyme disease.Am J Pathol.