The first symptom is usually a rash, which may look like a bull’s eye. As the infection spreads, you may have the following lyme disease symptoms:
• A fever
• A headache
• Muscle and joint aches
• A stiff neck
• Fatigue
The later phases of Lyme disease can affect the heart, causing inflammation of the heart muscle. This can result in abnormal heart rhythms and heart failure. Patients with late stage Lyme disease have been shown to experience a level of physical disability equivalent to that seen in congestive heart failure. In rare cases, Lyme disease can be fatal. Having such a wide range of symptoms can make Lyme disease difficult for doctors to diagnose, although certain blood tests can be done to look for evidence of the body’s reaction to Lyme disease.
