Why do I need a Lyme disease test?
You need a Lyme disease test if you are experiencing any signs of infection or you come in contact with an infected ticks. According to research, the first symptoms of Lyme disease often occur between 3 and 30 days after the tick bite.
The first symptoms of a Lyme infection include:
- Swollen lymph nodes (“swollen glands”) [1]
- Fever [2]
- A reddish round skin rash that grows in size after a few days. The rash doesn’t itch or hurt, but it may get warm after a while. It starts to appear like a bull’s-eye (a red ring with a smooth center).
- Chills
- Fatigue [3]
- Muscle and joint aches
- Headache [4]
Late signs and symptoms of Lyme disease are mostly seen in your nervous system and joints. Some of them include:
- Rashes on other parts of your body
- Facial palsy (drooping of one or both sides of your face) [5]
- Pain that comes and goes in your muscles, joints, bones, and tendons
- Severe headaches and neck stiffness
- Arthritis [6] with serious pains in the joint and swelling, especially in the knees
- Arrhythmia (a problem with the rate or rhythm of your heartbeat) [7]
- Periods of feeling dizzy or short of breath
- Shooting pains, numbness, or tingling in your hands or feet