Advanced Lyme Disease: Symptoms, Risks & What to Do

Lyme disease is a potentially serious bacterial disease transmitted by tick bites. Although fairly easy to treat when caught in its early stages, Lyme disease can be a debilitating illness in advanced stages and treatment becomes increasingly difficult. See your doctor if you encounter any symptoms of advanced Lyme disease.

General Symptoms

• Advanced Lyme disease can result in a feeling of general poor health. Chronic fatigue and problems with short-term memory can occur in some patients.

Pain

• Arthritis and muscle pain and weakness are very common in advanced Lyme disease. Arthritis pains are known to migrate across the body.

Neurological Symptoms

• Irritability, Bell's palsy (temporary facial paralysis), difficulty concentrating, numbness and severe headaches can occur in some patients.

Heart Problems

• Lyme disease may effect your cardiovascular health. Irregular heartbeat, palpitations, heart block and chest pain are sometimes encountered by patients of advanced Lyme disease.

Other Symptoms

• In a few cases, advanced Lyme disease can cause liver disease and eye inflammation.