This Rare Disease Can Be Misdiagnosed as Rheumatoid Arthritis

In the United States, Lyme disease is the most recognized infectious disease caused by the bacteria Borrelia. Borrelia is spread by ticks and it mainly presents symptoms such as body aches, redness of the skin, muscle stiffness, joint inflammation, fever, and tiredness. Advanced Lyme disease, also known as monoarticular inflammatory arthritis, usually affects one joint in the lower portion of the body and causes swelling.  While rheumatoid arthritis most often affects the same joint on both sides of the body, it is possible for it to affect only one joint on one side of the body, thus leading to misdiagnosis.