7 signs and Symptoms of Lyme Disease

Just living in New Jersey puts us at high risk of contracting Lyme disease. It has been estimated that 3,200 new cases of Lyme disease are diagnosed in our state every year. Back in the spring of this year, the state encouraged residents to take steps to reduce your risk of Lyme disease. The full warning from the Christie administration is available here. 

You will likely begin to experience the common symptoms of Lyme disease between 3 and 30 days after you have been bitten by an infected tick.  Part of the difficulty in early recognition of Lyme disease is that you often don’t realize you were ever bit by a tick.  Nymphal stage ticks are quite small, the size of a poppy seed, and can go unnoticed on the body.  Both nymphs and adult ticks may be carriers and can transmit Lyme disease. 

Lyme disease is treatable when a test shows up positive and a 2-4 week antibiotic regimen is followed. The problem arises when tests for Lyme disease show up negative and a person rules out Lyme disease and goes on to ignore their symptoms. Chronic Lyme disease has become a controversial matter but a very real one to those who suffer from it.  The disease can be quite debilitating leading to such illness that the person may lose his or her job or drop out of school. Experts encourage those suffering to not ignore symptoms and to push for an answer and confirmed diagnosis. If you are suffering from the symptoms and believe you may have Lyme disease you may want to consider researching a Lyme literate doctor, one that has experience in proper diagnosis and management of the disease. A database of Lyme-literate doctors can be on the Lyme Disease Association website. 

One of the most important things you can do for yourself is to be educated on the symptoms of Lyme disease and in tune with how your body feels. The Center for Disease Control lists the signs and symptoms of Lyme disease. Common symptoms of the disease include:

1. A bulls-eye rash is warm to the touch, itchy, and even painful.  Be aware that not everyone with Lyme’s disease will experience a rash.
2. Facial or Bell’s palsy
3. Severe headaches and stiffness of the neck
4. Pain and swelling in the joints
5. Heart palpitations and dizziness
6. Extreme fatigue

For additional signs and symptoms of the disease in different stages visit the Center for Disease Control’s page.  

Although the peak season for ticks occurs in May, June and July do not let your guard down as ticks are active year round! Protect your family when you are outdoors by wearing long sleeves and long pants and/or using an insect repellent that protects against ticks. Do tick checks every night after time is spent outdoors and consider showering soon after coming back inside. Consider our 2-for-1 Tick and Mosquito Reduction Program around your property to lower the number of ticks around your home and lawn.