Can Lyme disease mimic shingles?

Because the symptoms of Lyme disease overlap with those of other disorders, it is possible to receive a false diagnosis. Some patients with Lyme disease are misdiagnosed as having shingles, a painful skin inflammation caused by the same virus that causes chicken pox, according to Wormser.

What illness can be mistaken for shingles?

Shingles can sometimes be mistaken for another skin conditions, such as hives, psoriasis, or eczema. Share on Pinterest A doctor should always be consulted if shingles is suspected. The characteristics of a rash may help doctors identify the cause. For example, hives are often raised and look like welts.

What rash mimics Lyme disease?

An erythema migrans rash may feel warm when you touch it, but it's rarely painful or itchy. Because the rash is an early sign of Lyme disease, you might also experience: fever.

What else mimics Lyme disease?

What is Lyme disease commonly misdiagnosed as?

As a result, sometimes people who are infected with Lyme disease are incorrectly diagnosed with other ailments such as fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis (MS). These chronic conditions aren't the only illnesses that can be mistaken for Lyme disease.

Think the Lyme Disease Rash is Always a Bull's-eye? Think Again! | Johns Hopkins Rheumatology

Can Lyme disease cause Multiple rashes?

The most common early sign of Lyme disease is a skin rash that has a "bull's eye" appearance. It begins as a reddened area near the tick bite. As the rash increases in size, it clears in the middle and develops a red ring around the outside. A person may experience multiple rashes, such as you see here.

How long can you have undiagnosed Lyme disease?

Symptoms. Late Lyme disease usually develops 6-36 months after a person first receives the causal infectious tick bite. The symptoms of late Lyme disease differ from the earlier stages. In North America, joint pain and swelling is very common.

What does Lyme disease look like on the skin?

Most Lyme disease skin lesions are uniformly red without the rings or target appearance. They are distinguished from other skin rashes by their round or oval shape and sharply demarcated borders. Skin lesions often hide in difficult to see places such as behind the knee or in the groin or armpit.

Does a Lyme disease rash itch?

The rash (erythema migrans) expands slowly over days and can spread to 12 inches (30 centimeters) across. It's typically not itchy or painful but might feel warm to the touch. Erythema migrans is one of the hallmarks of Lyme disease, although not everyone with Lyme disease develops the rash.

What are the symptoms of Bartonella?

The symptoms of Bartonella can vary from mild to severe, and usually begin 5 to 14 days after infection. Common symptoms include fever, headaches, fatigue, poor appetite, brain fog, muscle pain, and swollen glands around the head, neck, and arms.

What are the 3 stages of Lyme disease?

Can you have Lyme disease without the bullseye rash?

The rash has been reported in about 60 to 80 percent of Lyme disease cases. Not everyone with Lyme disease gets the rash. Sometimes the rash does not have a bull's eye appearance. It may appear as a reddened area without an outer ring.

What Happens If Lyme disease goes untreated?

What happens if Lyme disease is untreated? Left untreated, Lyme disease can spread to joints and organs, causing significant damage. Arthritis, heart disease, and nervous system problems are common complications of untreated Lyme disease.

What rash is similar to shingles?

Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that is easy to confuse with the shingles rash. As with the shingles virus, psoriasis forms red patches on the skin, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. One type of psoriasis — pustular — can lead to the development of blisters.

What does shingles pain compare to?

The first sign of shingles, which is also called herpes zoster, is pain that might feel like burning or tingling on one side of your face, chest, back, or waist. It can be intense. You might also feel like you're coming down with the flu, with symptoms such as: Fever.

Can shingles be just a few blisters?

Usually, shingles develops on just one side of the body or face, and in a small area. The most common place for shingles to occur is in a band around one side of the waistline. Most people with shingles have one or more of the following symptoms: Fluid-filled blisters.

Is Lyme disease rash flat or raised?

EM is the characteristic rash of Lyme disease. Classic EM is a flat to slightly raised erythematous lesion that appears at the site of the tick bite after 1-33 days bite (average, 7-10 days). Without therapy, erythema migrans typically fades within 3-4 weeks.

Can Lyme disease cause skin problems?

Where you see these signs: Because the infection has spread, small rashes can appear anywhere on your skin, except for your palms and soles. Most rashes appear on the arms, legs, and face. Some people develop a lump, which your doctor may refer to as borrelial lymphocytoma.

What does a Lyme flare up feel like?

a red, expanding bull's-eye rash at the site of the tick bite. fatigue, chills, and general feeling of illness. itching. headache.

How long does a Lyme disease rash last?

The rash tends to have a red center, surrounded by a clear ring with a red circle around it. They can spread and may measure up to 12 or more inches across. The rash will usually appear within 30 days of a bite from a tick that carries the Lyme disease bacteria. The rash typically remains for 3–5 weeks.

Can Lyme disease affect your face?

The bacteria that cause Lyme disease can damage joints and the nervous system including the facial nerve. If the facial nerve is damaged, then the infected person may experience weakness or paralysis of the facial muscles, usually on one side of the face. The medical term for this is 'facial palsy'.

When do Lyme disease symptoms start?

Early symptoms of Lyme disease start between 3 to 30 days after an infected tick bites you. The symptoms can include: A red rash called erythema migrans (EM). Most people with Lyme disease get this rash.

What triggers Lyme disease flare ups?

Triggers for Lyme disease vary by person, but they can include: emotional stress (such as a divorce, death in the family, or accidents) physical stress to the body (i.e., surgery, physical harm, concussion) life stress or stressful events.

Can Lyme disease go undetected in blood test?

No. The tests for Lyme disease detect antibodies made by the immune system to fight off the bacteria, Borrelia burgdorferi. Your immune system continues to make the antibodies for months or years after the infection is gone.

What is Stage 4 Lyme disease?

The CDC reports that late stage Lyme disease may appear days to months after the initial tick bite and may include but are not limited to: Severe headaches and neck stiffness. Additional EM rashes in new places on the body. Facial palsy, also known as Bell's palsy – paralysis of one side of the face.