Stage 1: Early Localized Disease
Symptoms with early localized (or acute) Lyme disease may begin hours, a few days or even weeks after a tick bite. At this point, the
infection has not yet spread throughout the body. Lyme is the easiest to cure at this stage.
Symptoms may include:
- skin rash, which may or may not look like a bull’s eye
- flu-like illness, including chills and fever
- fatigue
- headache and stiff neck
- muscle soreness and joint pain
- swollen lymph nodes
- sore throat
Stage 2: Early Disseminated Lyme
Early disseminated Lyme may occur several weeks or months after the tick bite. Bacteria are beginning to spread throughout the body. In addition to flu-like symptoms, this stage is often characterized by increase in symptoms such as:
- chills
- fever
- headaches
- fatigue
- pain, weakness or numbness in the arms, legs
- vision changes
- heart problems, such as palpitations, chest pain
- rash may appear on body
- facial paralysis (Bell’s palsy)
Stage 3: Late Disseminated Lyme Disease
If Lyme disease isn’t promptly or effectively treated in the first two stages, late disseminated (post-treatment, chronic, or neurological) Lyme occurs weeks, months or even years after the tick bite. The Lyme bacteria have spread throughout the body and many patients develop chronic arthritis as well as an increase in neurological and cardiac symptoms. Symptoms may include:
- arthritis in joints or near the point of infection
- severe headaches or migraines
- vertigo, dizziness
- migrating pains that come and go in joints/tendons
- stiff, aching neck
- sleep disturbances, insomnia
- disturbances in heart rhythm
- mental fogginess, concentration issues
- numbness in the arms, legs, hands or feet
- problems following conversations and processing information
- severe fatigue
Learn more
Lyme Disease Symptoms
Lyme Symptom Tracker App
About Lyme Disease Testing
Find a Doctor
All About Ticks
How to Prevent Lyme Disease
