Lyme disease is a condition that is caused by bacteria and specifically bacteria that comes from ticks. Ticks attach themselves to our skin and use this position in order to draw blood and feed off of the host. This can often lead to an infection.
Ticks are tiny creatures that look a lot like spiders but with round, hard bodies. When they attach to the body, they dig their legs deep into the skin and use these to anchor themselves in. When removing ticks, it is highly important to use specific tick removal tools or otherwise you can risk leaving the legs behind which may result in skin infections as the wound remains open.
Lyme disease is a particularly frustrating condition that can cause a range of flu like symptoms along with extreme lethargy and impaired mood. It can also seem to drag for a very long time, sometimes lasting more than 6 months. Many people who suffer with the condition will also report that they subsequently experience symptoms of tiredness and even depression for many years following.
For all these reasons, it is highly important to look out for the signs of Lyme disease early on. If caught early, then a 2-4 week course of antibiotics can help to more quickly end the infection and reduce the longevity of the lingering symptoms.
In this post, we’ll take a look at 11 common signs of Lyme disease. If you notice any of these, then go and see your doctor at your earliest convenience…
1. Fever
Many of the symptoms of Lyme disease are very similar to that of a flu. You are thus likely to notice symptoms such as a fever causing you to feel very hot. Fevers occur as the body goes into overdrive attempting to fight off the infection and as it tries to make your body inhospitable to the bacteria. In other words then, the fever itself might be very unpleasant but it can actually be a sign that the body is fighting. You need to keep an eye on the fever and keep drinking lots of water to avoid dehydration – the most dangerous complication that can occur as a result of fever.