Lyme disease what doctor

But at this point a specialist, such as a rheumatologist for a joint problem, a neurologist for a nerve problem, or an infectious diseases expert may be consulted and also would likely be knowledgeable about Lyme disease in its later stages. A more vexing and frustrating problem for the patient is when there are long-standing symptoms, which may be fluctuating in their severity and which are hard to ascribe to a single disease.

Symptoms like persistent fatigue, generalized muscle or joint aches without actual joint swelling, and difficulty concentrating or a foggy brain sensation can be disabling but not indicative of one disease. There may several different causes for unexplained physical symptoms like these, some of which are infectious in origin but most of which are not. In such cases a primary care physician with a broad general perspective might be helpful in sorting things out and coming up with a plan for improved health.

The person may also have come to that diagnosis on her or his own after seeking answers on the web or through various Lyme disease advocacy groups in the United States and Canada. If there is another explanation, the physician with this training and experience is usually competent to explore with you other treatment options. Of course, if these more general symptoms, like fatigue, are accompanied by disorder of a particular body part or system, e.

That year, two mothers living in Old Lyme, Conn. The mothers reached out to the Connecticut State Department of Health and the Yale School of Medicine for help, starting an epidemiological study that would ultimately uncover the bacterial infection transmitted by ticks.

Thanks to a powerful partnership with research programs at Yale Medicine, patients benefit from the most recent advantages in treatment. Skip to Main Content. Print Share Download. What are the symptoms of Lyme disease? How is Lyme disease diagnosed? What kinds of neurological problems are caused by Lyme disease?

Typically, three main neurological complications develop in people with untreated Lyme disease. Cranial neuropathy: If the infection affects nerves of the face, some patients might experience cranial neuropathy—or dysfunction of the peripheral nerves—causing drooping or swelling. Meningitis: If the bacterial infection reaches the meninges, or the tissue lining the brain and spinal column, it may cause inflammation and tissue damage.

Patients with meningitis are likely to experience fevers, headache, fatigue, and stiff neck. Radiculoneuritis: If the bacterial infection reaches the nerve root, or the part of the nerve cells that attaches to the central nervous system spine and brain , it can cause severe pain, numbness, and other abnormal sensations. What are the antibiotics used to treat Lyme disease? How long do I need to take them? What are the side effects? What to ask your doctor about Lyme disease; Lyme borreliosis - questions; Bannwarth syndrome - questions.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Lyme disease. Updated December 16, Accessed July 13, Steere AC. Lyme disease Lyme Borreliosis due to Borrelia burgdorferi.

Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; chap Wormser GP. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. Updated by: David C. Editorial team.