Lyme Disease and Related Tick-Borne Infections - Symptoms

Bell's Palsy. In between 5 - 10% of untreated Lyme patients, the facial nerve is affected, which results in Bell's palsy. This is a sudden weakness and drooping of the facial muscles and eyelid on one side of the face. Nerves around the facial area may also cause numbness, dizziness, double vision, and hearing changes. Another common neurologic problem is pain in the lower spine. It resembles low back pain from arthritis (although in the case of Lyme disease the skin near the spine may have abnormal sensations). Of note: Lyme disease has been observed in more than half the children who develop Bell's palsy.

text continues below

Symptoms of Meningitis. In about 10 - 15% of patients, the infection takes place in the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord (called meningitis). This can cause:

Episodes of headache not relieved by over-the-counter medication
Mild stiff neck
Sensitivity to light

Symptoms of Lyme Encephalopathy. In some cases of untreated disease, the infection causes a condition called Lyme encephalopathy or neuroborreliosis. This causes the following symptoms:

Unexplained mood changes
Depression
Trouble concentration and remembering
Irritability
Feelings of "pins and needles" or numbness in the arms or legs

Other Neurologic Symptoms.

If the infection affects the white brain matter, symptoms resemble multiple sclerosis.
If the infection occurs in the nerves affecting the skin, some patients experience pricking, tingling, or creeping feelings.
Children have a higher risk than adults for neurologic effects on the eye. (This is still rare, however.)
Some parents have reported more severe mental changes in children diagnosed with Lyme disease, including depression and mood changes, anxiety, attention deficit disorder, learning disabilities, poor school performance, and even psychotic behavior. Well-conducted studies are needed to determine if these reports have any significance.

Heart Symptoms

The infection may affect electrical conduction to the heart and cause symptoms suggesting heart rhythm disturbances:

Palpitations
Shortness of breath
Chest pain
Dizziness
Fainting can occur if the infection affects the heart

These symptoms almost never produce serious problems in people without other types of heart disease.

Eye Symptoms

Symptoms in the eyes have been reported at every stage. Conjunctivitis ("pink eye") may be a symptom in the early stages. In late, untreated Lyme disease, neurologic problems can affect the eye, causing pain and sensitivity to light.