Lyme disease is a serious illness caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, which enters the human body via an infected blacklegged tick. Ticks become infected with this harmful bacterium if they feed off deer or mice that have Lyme disease. The three stages of Lyme disease can cause difference symptoms, and while treating this infectious disease at its beginning stages is best, patients can typically expect a full recovery when treated with proper medications.Stage One SymptomsStage one Lyme disease typically occurs immediately upon being infected. This stage of the disease is also referred to as localized Lyme disease. The symptoms associated within this stage of Lyme disease are very similar to flu symptoms, and they typically begin to showcase several days after being infected. If you've found a tick on your body and begin to experience symptoms such as chills, headache, muscle pain, fainting, body-wide itching and a stiff neck then you should immediately visit your physician to be tested for Lyme disease. Another telltale sign of Lyme disease is a "bull's eye" rash, which is a circular red rash with a clear, or white, area in the center of the rash. This typical rash can be small, but will typically expand over time.Stage Two SymptomsStage two Lyme disease, also referred to as early disseminated Lyme disease, begins to show symptoms weeks or months after the initial infection. These symptoms are more serious, and will be difficult to overlook. The most common symptoms associated with this stage of Lyme disease include: muscle pain, swelling of knee joints, swelling of other joints, face muscle weakness or paralysis as well as heart palpitations or other heart problems.Stage Three SymptomsStage three Lyme disease, also known as late disseminated Lyme disease, occurs months or years after being infected and the most typical symptoms associated with stage three Lyme disease are joint and muscle pain; however, further symptoms include: overall numbness, abnormal muscle twitches, muscle fatigue and speech problems.TreatmentWhile specific treatment options can vary according to the patient, typically treatment consists of antibiotics, which may be taken for two to four weeks. To help relieve joint stiffness commonly associated with this disease, physicians typically prescribe ibuprofen or other pain medications.