Stages of Lyme Disease

There are three stages of Lyme disease. If the disease isn't treated, it may progress in stages from mild symptoms to serious, long-term problems.

• Stage 1 (early localized Lyme disease) occurs within 1 month of the tick bite. You may have flu-like symptoms and a round, red rash (erythema migrans) that gets larger over time. Some people do not have symptoms.
• Stage 2 (early disseminated Lyme disease) develops in the weeks after you become infected, as the infection spreads through the body. If Lyme disease isn't found and treated early, it may affect the skin, joints, nervous system, and heart in the months after the initial infection.
• Stage 3 (late persistent Lyme disease) can develop months or years later if the infection is not treated. More serious problems throughout the body can happen.