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  • Q&A with Australian Health Practitioners

    What are the signs and symptoms of Lyme disease?

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    Infectious Diseases Lyme Disease
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    Sarcoidosis Lyme Australia

    Sarcoidosis Lyme Australia is for sufferers, families and carers affected by Sarcoidosis and Lyme Disease and was established in August, 2011.We believe that the incidence … View Profile

    What are the symptoms of Lyme Disease?

    Lyme Disease is generally categorized into:
    1.      early Lyme Disease &
    2.      late (or Chronic) Lyme Disease
    Early Localised Lyme Disease Symptoms:

    • flu like symptoms such as headache, fever, muscle soreness & unexplained fatigue.
    • Fewer than 50% of  people with Lyme Disease develop the “bulls-eye” (or erthema migrans) rash a few days or even a few weeks after their tick bite (if they remember the bite - only 30% of people with Lyme Disease remember being bitten by a tick)

    Late (Chronic) Lyme Disease Symptoms (no one will have every symptom)

    Head, Face, Neck
    • Unexplained hair loss
    • Headache, mild or severe, Seizures
    • Pressure in head, white matter lesions in brain (MRI)
    • Facial paralysis (Bell’s Palsy, Homer’s syndrome)
    • Tingling of nose, (tip of) tongue, cheek or facial flushing
    • Stiff or painful neck
    • Twitching of facial or other muscles
    • Jaw pain or stiffness
    • Dental problems (unexplained)
    • Sore throat, clearing throat a lot, phlegm ( flem ), hoarseness, runny nose
    • Difficulty swallowing or feeling of food stuck in throat
    • Changes to skin - bumpy rash on neck, chest and back
    Eyes/Vision
    • Double or blurry vision
    • Increased floating spots
    • Pain in eyes, or swelling around eyes
    • Oversensitivity to light
    • Flashing lights/Peripheral waves/phantom images in corner of eyes
    Ears/Hearing
    • Decreased hearing in one or both ears, plugged ears
    • Buzzing in ears
    • Pain in ears, oversensitivity to sounds
    • Ringing in one or both ear
    Digestive and Excretory Systems
    • Diarrhea
    • Constipation
    • Irritable bladder (trouble starting, stopping) or Interstitial cystitis
    • Upset stomach (nausea or pain) or GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease)
    • swollen or distended abdomen
    Musculoskeletal System
    • Bone pain, joint pain or swelling, carpal tunnel syndrome
    • Stiffness of joints, back, neck, tennis elbow
    • Muscle pain or cramps (Fibromyalgia) 
    Respiratory and Circulatory Systems
    • Shortness of breath, can’t get full/satisfying breath, cough
    • Chest pain or rib soreness
    • Night sweats or unexplained chills
    • Heart palpitations or extra beats
    • Endocarditis, Heart blockage
    Neurologic System
    • Tremors or unexplained shaking
    • Burning or stabbing sensations in the body
    • Fatigue, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, weakness, peripheral neuropathy or partial paralysis
    • Pressure in the head
    • Numbness in body, tingling, pinpricks
    • Poor balance, dizziness, difficulty walking
    • Increased motion sickness
    • Lightheadedness, wooziness
    Psychological well-being
    • Mood swings, irritability, bi-polar disorder
    • Unusual depression
    • Disorientation (getting or feeling lost)
    • Feeling as if you are losing your mind
    • Over-emotional reactions, crying easily
    • Too much sleep, or insomnia
    • Difficulty falling or staying asleep
    • Narcolepsy, sleep apnea
    • Panic attacks, anxiety
    Mental Capability
    • Memory loss (short or long term)
    • Confusion, difficulty in thinking
    • Difficulty with concentration or reading
    • Going to the wrong place
    • Speech difficulty (slurred or slow)
    • Stammering speech
    • Forgetting how to perform simple tasks
    Reproduction and Sexuality
    • Loss of sex drive
    • Sexual dysfunction
    • Unexplained menstrual pain, irregularity
    • Unexplained breast pain, discharge
    • Testicular or pelvic pain
    • Miscarriage or stillborn pregnancies
    General Well-being
    • Phantom smells
    • Unexplained weight gain, loss
    • Extreme fatigue
    • Swollen glands/lymph nodes
    • Unexplained fevers (high or low grade)
    • Continual infections (sinus, kidney, eye, etc.)
    • Symptoms seem to change, come and go
    • Pain migrates (moves) to different body parts
    • Early on, experienced a “flu-like” illness, after which you have not since felt well.
    • Low body temperature
    • Allergies/Chemical sensitivities
    • Increased effect from alcohol and possible worse hangover
    • feelings of skin “crawling”
    • Skin irritations and unexplained itching and scratching

    For More information go to www.lymedisease.org.au 

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