Recently we did an article on Lyme Disease. This is a follow-up article for information on the three stages of Lyme disease. This disease comes from harmful spirochetes (bacteria) spread through tick bites. If you or a family member or friend believe that you have lyme disease, it is important to seek lab testing and treatment as soon as possible.

Spirochetes are invaders for the body tissue and can live in musculature, joints, bone tissue, and in the brain. Cognitive, emotional, and mood disturbance can occur due to their presence. The unusual symptoms and timing involved with Lyme disease can make it hard to diagnose, so it is important to get second and third opinions if any of these symptoms sound like you or someone you know.

Stage 0: Exposure to ticks. A tick touching you will not spread Lyme disease. The tick bite is the risk of exposure.

Stage 1: Medical name: Early Localized or Localized Stage

Erythema Migrans (migrating rash) – patches of redness which appear 1 day to 1 month after the bite. Bull’s eye rash is also common in the first stage after a tick bite. The Bull’s eye rash looks like a red and white target surrounding the area of the bite. It is common to not get a Bull’s eye rash after a tick bite.

In the first stage of Lyme disease, heat and inflammation will appear as a fever, feeling hot, or having heated body aches and pains. Old injuries or problem areas can suddenly “flare up” feeling more painful than usual.

A cold or flu-like illness may appear in Stage 1. This may include sneezing, chills, runny nose, aches, malaise, headaches, congestion and swollen lymph nodes.

Stage 2:

Medical name: Early Disseminated Stage / Severe Phase

If this stage occurs, it usually happens 2 weeks to 2 months following the tick bite. It is common to only have a few symptoms of this phase or perhaps none at all. Lyme disease, unlike other diseases, can go “dormant” for long periods of time before displaying symptoms. 

Large rash- called an expanded rash will appear near the area of the bite and can take up a wide surface area on the skin (up to 1 foot across). Pain may appear in the area of the bite, or multiple small rashes will appear. Joint pain and swelling, neck stiffness or meningitis-like symptoms, paralysis or weakness of the face muscles, and musculoskeletal weakness could appear. Heart palpitations and anxiety occur in this stage. The wide variety of symptoms apparent in this stage can lead for multiple diagnoses of various conditions. The best time to get evaluated for Lyme disease is the same day of or the day after the tick bite. The second best time is in this stage when many symptoms appear.

Stage 3:

Medical name: Late Stage, Late Disseminated Stage

The last stage occurs around 6 months after the tick bite and it is unclear how long the Lyme spirochetes remain in the body. This 3rd stage is similar to the dormant “phase” of the spirochetes.

Neurological symptoms like brain fog, confusion, memory loss, depressed mood, and anxiety.

Arthritis-like pain, joint inflammation and body pain may occur. Extreme fatigue and weakness of muscles and joints can accompany pain. Feeling “run down”, numbness and tingling of different body areas are common in this stage.

Being educated and aware of the timing of Lyme disease following the three stages will help with its diagnosis and treatment. Research into Lyme disease is advancing. In the meantime while new diagnosis and treatment options are discovered, we can all do our part in staying alert to symptoms and avoiding tick bites as much as possible.

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Dr. Kimberly McMurtrey DNP, APRN, FNP-C is the Primary Provider at Tri Cities Health, located on West Elk Ave., Elizabethton. If you would like to submit a question for her to answer you can call 423-543-7000 or email your questions to tricitieshealth@outlook.com.

**Medical Disclaimer: The information contained in this column is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.