What is a common early symptom of Lyme disease aside from the rash?

A common early symptom of Lyme disease, aside from the characteristic erythema migrans rash, is fever and chills. These systemic symptoms often accompany the infection as the body responds to the Lyme borreliosis-causing bacteria, Borrelia burgdorferi. When an individual is infected with Lyme disease, they may experience flu-like symptoms, including fatigue, malaise, fever, and chills, typically appearing within a few weeks after a tick bite.

Joint pain, while common in later stages of Lyme disease, is not typically an early symptom; it often develops as the disease progresses. Severe headache can occur, particularly if the central nervous system is affected, but it is generally less common as an immediate early sign. Loss of appetite can be associated with many infections but is not a hallmark symptom directly tied to the early phase of Lyme disease. Therefore, fever and chills are the most representative of the early systemic response linked to this infection.