First Symptoms of Lyme Disease

The first symptoms of Lyme Disease are a signal that it's time to see a doctor. Caught early, the affliction can be cured, in most cases, with a course of antibiotics. Common antibiotics used to treat Lyme Disease include doxycycline, amoxicillin and cefuroxime axetil. These can be taken orally. Some patients with more advanced symptoms of Lyme Disease, such as neurological or cardiac problems, might need intravenous treatments.

How Lyme Disease Attacks the Body
Lyme Disease is caused by a bacteria spread through the bite of an infected tick. Over time, these bacteria multiply and attack different parts of the body. In the early stages, when the bacteria are confined to the bloodstream, it is easy to eradicate them. Once they get into muscle and bone tissues, they can cause a condition known as Chronic Lyme Disease that is incurable, although the symptoms can be managed.

Symptoms to Watch for
The first thing to remember is that Lyme Disease is almost always contracted through a tick bite. The tick usually needs to be attached to a person for at least 10 hours for the bacteria to transfer, but any tick bite should be watched carefully for signs of infection.

In most cases, the first sign is a circular rash (erythema migrans), known as the bulls-eye rash.. According to the US Centers for Disease Control, 70% to 80% of the people who are infected get this rash at the site of the bite. The rash might show up as early as 3 days after a bite, or as late as 30 or more days after a bite. The rash normally spreads over time, and may reach 12 inches in diameter. While enlarging, the center sometimes clears, so the rash looks like a bulls eye.

Other early symptoms of Lyme's disease include fatigue, fever, headache, chills, sore muscles, sore joints and swollen lymph nodes. All of the symptoms could signify other medical conditions as well. If you experience these symptoms, ask your doctor for a blood test to rule out Lyme disease, especially if you've been in wooded or grassy areas.