Lyme disease is an infection that can occur from a bite by a deer tick. It typically progresses in three stages, with the third stage being the chronic phase of the disease. Symptoms in stage three can appear in a few months or take years to develop. At this stage the central nervous system (CNS) can be infected, causing neurological problems. These problems can range from mild to life threatening.
Ears
Lyme disease CNS infection affects the ears by causing tinnitus, which is ringing in one or both ears. Hearing may change from day to day. One day things may be too loud and the next not loud enough. Hearing fluctuations may cause sounds to fade, then return to normal. There can also be an intolerance to any noise because it causes pain.
Head
Symptoms of Lyme CNS infection can include headaches that are frequent, severe and are recurring. There may be sudden onset of migraine headaches. Other symptoms include a feeling of numbness, tingling or itching sensations in the head and face, or difficulty moving the tongue to speak.
Neuropsychiatric
The central nervous system can affect mood and memory. In the chronic stage of Lyme disease it is not uncommon to experience symptoms such as depression, memory loss and anxiety. Some people may experience mood swings, become irritable, have poor concentration, insomnia and disorientation. The inability to think clearly, a symptom referred to as "brain fog," can also affect some people.
Muscles and Joints
Lyme disease may cause tremors in the hands, severe muscle weakness and muscle spasms anywhere in the body. There can be pain deep in the muscles due to inflammation, and pain in the joints of the body that are not relieved by over-the-counter pain relievers. Rheumatoid arthritis is a common disorder during the chronic stage of Lyme disease.
Neurological
Lyme CNS symptoms affecting the neurological system in the body include fainting, reflexes that are diminished or not present at all, blackouts and paralysis. The touch or weight of clothing on the skin could cause extreme discomfort or pain. The extremities or torso may have numbness in spots or tingling sensations. There can also be a hypersensitivity or hyposensitivity to smell and taste.
Significant
Chronic Lyme disease could cause life-threatening complications such as aseptic meningitis, also known as viral meningitis. An infection of the brain called encephalopathy can also be a result of Lyme CNS infection. Both meningitis and encephalopathy can be treated with medicines but serious cases can result in death.
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