Lyme Disease and Related Tick-Borne Infections - Symptoms

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Heart Symptoms

The infection may affect electrical conduction to the heart and cause symptoms suggesting heart rhythm disturbances:

• Palpitations
• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain
• Dizziness
• Fainting can occur if the infection affects the heart

These symptoms almost never produce serious problems in people without other types of heart disease.

Eye Symptoms

Symptoms in the eyes have been reported at every stage. Conjunctivitis ("pink eye") may be a symptom in the early stages. In late, untreated Lyme disease, neurologic problems can affect the eye, causing pain and sensitivity to light.

Review Date: 01/18/2007
Reviewed By: Harvey Simon, MD, Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital