subject: 10 Critical Neurological Symptoms Of Lyme Disease You Need To Know [print this page] Some of the symptoms of Lyme disease are numbness, abnormal feelings in the limbs, Bell's palsy, vision problems, difficulty in concentrating, loss of memory, encephalopathy, sleep disturbances and cognitive impairment.
Lyme disease is an infection that results from the bite of an infected tick. The bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi causes the illness itself. Forested areas and those with lush grasses are ripe for tick habitat so if you live near these, always protect yourself when you go outside. One of the symptoms of Lyme disease is a rash in the area of the bite, which can expand over time. Other flu-like symptoms are fever, body pain, fatigue and chills. Lyme disease can often have a delayed onset of symptoms, despite some symptoms appearing very soon after being infected other symptoms can lay dormant in the body for weeks or even years before they begin to affect the patient.
Numbness
People who have nerve damage or nerve disease often experience a sensation of numbness. Several people describe the feeling as something similar to pins and needles on their skin, and people suffering from Lyme disease will often feel a prickling or burning pain in the affected area. Numbness causes patients to experience a loss of sensation unlike paralysis where patients are unable to move.
Uncommon sensations in the limbs
Patients will often feel a weakening sensation in the muscles of their limbs. They may also experience swelling, burning, bruising, and a tingling sensation in their arms and legs.
Bell's palsy
Another neurological symptom of Lyme disease is Bell's palsy. Bell's palsy is characterized by a sudden paralysis of the facial muscles caused due to the complications in the facial nerves of the patient. Patients can and usually do feel paralyzed in at least half of their face or more.
Meningitis
As much as 15% of Lyme disease patients are infected in the membranes that are located around the spinal cord and brain. This condition is referred as meningitis and patients can experience stiff necks and headaches which are not cured by typical over-the-counter medicines. They also become sensitive to light.
Vision problems
This may result in problem in the eye sight. Vision troubles may arise ranging from trouble seeing at night to total blindness or impaired vision.
Problems in terms of concentration
Lyme disease is one of the known physical conditions that can affect a patient's concentration. Lack of focus and attention on one task is a feature of such patients.
Cognitive disorder
People suffering from Lyme disease may also experience memory loss. They can have difficulty recalling details and may feel disoriented when trying to remember something.
Encephalopathy
If Lyme disease is not treated early on, encephalopathy could develop. Some symptoms of encephalopathy are dramatic mood swings, depression and a tingling sensation in the limbs.
Sleep disruptions
People infected with Lyme disease may experience changes in their sleeping patterns. Individuals may be afflicted with trouble getting/falling asleep and trouble with breathing while asleep.
Cognitive impairment
Lyme disease can also cause cognitive impairment. It may be hard for the patient to think or to make decisions rationally. Poor concentration and memory loss are also associated with cognitive impairment.
It is vital to be aware of the several symptoms of Lyme disease, hence, proper treatment can be administered before the disease worsens. All the same, prevention is still better than treatment, so follow every means of precaution to avoid getting infected with the illness.
