Symptom Checklist for Lyme-Associated Disease

This checklist by Joseph Burrascano, M.D. (reprinted with permission from the author), is not intended for diagnosis but only to show how easily we can be exposed to tick bites and what a broad range of symptoms can be associated with Lyme Disease.

Did you know that:

Only 17% of people with a diagnosis of Lyme Disease ever remember getting a tick bite.

Only 36% of people with a diagnosis of Lyme Disease ever recall having a bull’s eye rash
or other warning sign of having been bitten by a tick.

Only proper laboratory testing can help determine if multiple symptoms are due to Lyme Disease.

These factors increase the risk for tick bites:	Have you had many of the following symptoms?
	1.  Unexplained fevers, sweats, chills, flushing
Visiting tick-infested area	2.  Unexplained weight change (loss or gain)
Frequent outdoor activities	3.  Fatigue, tiredness, poor stamina
Hiking	4.  Unexplained hair loss
Fishing	5.  Swollen glands
Camping	6.  Sore throat
Gardening	7.  Testicular pain / pelvic pain
Hunting	8.  Unexplained menstrual irregularity
Ticks noted on pets	9.  Unexplained milk production or breast pain
	10.  Irritable bladder or bladder dysfunction
Risk of Lyme increases if you:	11.  Sexual dysfunction or loss of libido
Remember being bitten by a tick	12.  Upset stomach or abdominal pain
Have or have had a bull’s eye rash	13.  Change in bowels (constipation or diarrhea)
Have any other suspect rash	14.  Chest pain or rib soreness
Have other household members	15.  Shortness of breath, cough
who developed Lyme Disease	16.  Heart palpitations or pulse skips
	17.  History of heart murmur or prolapsed valve
	18.  Joint pain or swelling of joints
	19.  Stiffness of joints or back
	20.  Muscle pain or cramps
	21.  Twitching of the face or other muscles
	22.  Headache
	23.  Neck creaks and cracks, neck stiffness or pain
	24.  Tingling and numbness, burning/stabbing pain
	25.  Skin hypersensitivity
	26.  Facial paralysis (Bell’s Palsy)
	27.  Ears buzzing, ear pain, sound sensitivity
	28.  Double vision, blurry vision, light sensitivity
	28.  Motion sickness, vertigo, poor balance
	29.  Lightheadedness, unavoidable need to sit or lie
	30.  Tremor
	31.  Confusion, difficulty thinking
	32.  Difficulty with concentration and reading
	33.  Forgetfulness, poor short-term memory
	34.  Disorientation and getting lost
	35.  Difficulty with speech or writing
	36.  Mood swings, irritability, depression
	37.  Disturbed sleep (too much or too little)
	38.  Fractionated sleep, early awakening
	39.  Exaggerated symptoms from drinking alcohol

 

Related Article

• Lyme Disease: Symptoms, Causes, And Treatment
• Symptom Checklist for Lyme-Associated Disease
• Lyme Disease