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Atypical Lyme Disease Symptoms

Lyme disease is caused by a bacteria, borrelia burgdorfi, and is transmitted to humans and animals by tick bites. The disease itself has many standard associated symptoms, however, the Lyme bacteria can cause some patients to develop unusual symptoms.

  1. Classic Presentations

    • The bull's-eye shaped rash at the site of the tick bite is a classic hallmark of Lyme disease. However, this rash only occurs in roughly 30 percent of patients, per Canadian Lyme Disease Foundation. Other classic symptoms include marked fatigue, joint pain and swelling like arthritis, and headaches.

    Atypical Symptoms

    • What makes Lyme disease so difficult to diagnose is that it can manifest in many atypical symptoms that can also be symptoms of other diseases or conditions such as flu-like symptoms, headaches, stomach upset and various rashes, per Medline Plus.

    Neurological

    • The Lyme bacteria can affect the seventh cranial nerve and cause a temporary paralysis of one side of the patient's face, much like the symptoms of Bell's palsy, especially if left untreated. It can also cause short-term memory loss and troubling concentrating, per the Mayo Clinic.

    Psychiatric

    • Lyme can also cause a myriad of psychological symptoms, including mood swings, trouble sleeping and irritability.

    Gastroinestinal

    • Lyme patients can develop stomach upset, irritable bowel syndrome, unexplained nausea, weight gain, weight loss, diarrhea and constipation.

    Cardiac

    • Patients with late stage Lyme disease can present with cardiac symptoms including chest pains, shortness of breath and chest pressure, which mimic heart attacks, according to the Canadian Lyme Disease Foundation.

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