Although infection occurs in only one to three percent of deer tick bites, recognizing the symptoms of Lyme disease is important because treatment is most effective in early stages of the disease when the worst symptoms can be completely avoided.

Anyone at risk of being bitten by deer ticks, and everyone who has already been bitten, should be aware of the warning signs to expedite proper medical treatment. Not all patients will have all of the following symptoms.

The first and most easily recognizable symptom is the erythema migrans (EM) rash. It appears in up to ninety percent of Lyme disease cases, generally within the first thirty days after infection, and is thus an excellent indicator. Rashes are usually at the location of the bite, but may appear elsewhere, especially as the disease progresses.

The rash will be red, circular, and expanding, sometimes having a diameter of up to twelve inches. The center may clear and the rash will resemble a bull’s eye. The rash is not itchy, not usually painful, and may clear on its own after three to five weeks. This does not mean however that the Lyme disease is cured.

Other early symptoms are easily confusable with other illnesses and are often considered too minor for medical treatment. Fever, headaches, a stiff neck, joint and muscle pain, and severe fatigue are all flu-like symptoms of Lyme disease. In early stages of the disease, without a recognizable EM rash, diagnosis is difficult.

Once Lyme disease progresses sufficiently, sixty percent of patients experience arthritis or chronic joint swelling, especially in larger joints. Neurological disorders such as tingling and numbness, confusion, or palsy and cardiac disorders such as an abnormal pulse can also occur although in fewer cases.

Many of the symptoms of Lyme disease may disappear with or without treatment. It is important that they are not ignored because more, and much more serious, symptoms will develop but they may take weeks, months, or even years. Only proper medical care can cure Lyme disease and anyone who may have Lyme disease should consult their physician.

In most cases, antibiotic treatments are very effective, especially if taken during the early stage of the disease. In rare cases, symptoms persist for months to years after the antibiotic treatment is complete and the infection has been cured.

Proper prevention and careful monitoring of deer tick bites greatly increases the chances of catching Lyme disease in its early stages and avoiding the suffering that it causes untreated.