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Chronic Lyme Disease

People contract Lyme disease from the bites of infected deer ticks. First and second stage Lyme disease symptoms include fever, rash, headache, facial paralysis, and arm or leg numbness. If not treated, the condition will progress to third stage, or chronic Lyme disease.

  1. Symptoms

    • Classic symptoms of chronic Lyme disease include sporadic episodes of arthritic joint swelling and pain. The knees are especially vulnerable. Other typical symptoms are broken sleep, muscle pain, and impaired memory or concentration.

    Time Frame

    • Chronic Lyme disease, according to the American College of Physicians, can occur anywhere from weeks to years after the initial infection.

    Causes

    • People reach the chronic stage of Lyme disease either because they never took antibiotics for their initial symptoms, or because the antibiotics they got didn't completely eradicate their infections.

    Treatment

    • Antibiotic therapy, by IV if necessary, is the standard treatment for chronic Lyme disease, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. While the arthritis may not improve, this treatment is usually effective for other symptoms.

    Prevention/Solution

    • Early diagnosis with antibiotic intervention to prevent first-stage Lyme disease is the best prevention for chronic Lyme disease. Wearing protective clothing, using a tick repellent and avoiding deer tick habitat can also help you avoid first-stage Lyme disease.

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