Rainer,

Definitely not something one wants to leave untreated......... :(

*Always prudent to the protecting of leadership*

Untreated Lyme disease rarely results in death but can cause a number of different complications, including adverse pregnancy outcomes, persistent chronic health issues, significant neurological damage, and a reduction in the quality of life for patients in terms of work, family, and emotional well-being. Lyme disease cure is possible in most cases (around 95%) when treated early and appropriately, but the long-term ramifications of the untreated condition can be profound.

Some Lyme disease advocates have connected the condition to autism, multiple sclerosis (MS), chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS or myalgic encephalomyelitis [ME]), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia, and other illnesses.

Patients who are left untreated for the longest period are those most at risk of developing persistent symptoms of Lyme disease. Increased awareness of the early symptoms of Lyme disease, and the recognition of Lyme-endemic areas has had some success in reducing the rates of late-stage Lyme disease. Even with treatment in the late stage of the disease only 5% of patients are considered to have continuing problems associated with the infection.

Early infection that is untreated will likely disseminate and cause problems extending beyond the initial skin reaction, erythema migrans, that can occur around the bite. Erythema migrans itself may appear at a site far from the original bite as untreated Lyme disease bacterial infection spreads through the skin. Other symptoms of disseminated Lyme disease include Lyme arthritis, fatigue, neuropathy (numbness and tingling, particularly in the hands, feet, arms, or legs), cognitive and mood irregularities, atrioventricular block and complications of the heart, lungs, and nervous system, and, in rare cases, frank psychosis which may be misdiagnosed as bipolar disorder or schizophrenia.