Before I start this post, let me preface by saying that this is in no way meant to fear monger and make everyone obsess over every flu or cold popping up. Rather, bring awareness that an acute exposure to a tick or biting insect can mimic flu-like symptoms and be overlooked.

Early Lyme disease may feel and/or be mistaken for the flu. Common acute symptoms of a biting insect exposure such as a tick may include: fever, chills, fatigue, numbness and tingling, headaches and/or migraines. These can easily be mistaken for or treated as a flu or other V!ru$es

Others may see more significant symptoms such as muscle aches, joint pain, facial drooping or bell’s palsy, swollen lymph nodes and more.

Some people may develop a bullseye rash post tick exposure. However, it’s estimated less than 40% of people (I honestly see this even less) get a bullseye rash so it shouldn’t be the only symptom to look out for.

Facial drooping, bell’s palsy, migrating joint pain, reactivated V!ru$es and symptoms that linger after several weeks and months should be investigated further.

If you or a loved one believed to have been exposed to a tick bite, or want to better prevent exposures, please check out my new ebook called “After the bite.” Purchase the e-book here!