About Tertiary Lyme Disease

Lyme disease is spread by ticks and is not uncommon in the warm months. If caught early, the condition can be easily controlled and treated with antibiotics. If Lyme disease is not treated in its early stages, symptoms can become more intense and may possibly cause permanent damage. Tertiary Lyme disease is a late stage of the disease and potentially dangerous to the individual.

Alternate Names

• Tertiary Lyme disease is also called stage 3 Lyme disease. Other terms used to describe this stage include "late," "advanced" and "chronic."

Time Frame

• As stated by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) through the MedlinePlus service, tertiary Lyme disease symptoms do not appear immediately after being bitten by an infected tick. Advanced symptoms are usually noticeable long after the infection, such as months or even years later.

Symptoms

• Symptoms of this late stage of Lyme disease include arthritis-like joint pain, numbness in the limbs, mood shifts, confusion and having an increased sensitivity to sunlight.

Treatment

• Antibiotics can treat tertiary Lyme disease. You may take oral medications or be treated through an IV line.

Complications

• Some symptoms of tertiary Lyme disease linger after treatment is concluded, including arthritis. Some people will always have joint pain as a result of chronic Lyme disease.