The Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) has alerted physicians on Lyme disease and also noted that the tick-borne disease is found in seven counties including Mobile County.

ADPH revealed recently that among 23 Lyme disease cases reported in Alabama at least two cases were from Mobile County. The health officials have declared the disease an endemic since it is prevalent in that area, according to Fox 10 TV.

"What's surprising is we're getting some cases," said Dr. Jim McVay with ADPH. "In the past, 96 percent of confirmed cases have been from 14 states and all of those being in the Northeast to the Midwest," he noted. McVay added that though the disease is uncommon in the region people that often spend their time outdoor should be aware of the signs and symptoms of the debilitating disease.

Lyme Disease Symptoms

Early Lyme disease symptoms include fever, headache, chills, fatigue, muscle and joint aches, and swollen lymph nodes. About 80 to 90 percent of the infected people suffer Erythema migrans (EM) rash.

The EM rash would appear in the site of tick bite within three to 30 days and expand gradually up to 12 inches, reported CDC. The rash in some cases will clear gradually show a "bulls-eye" appearance often feeling slightly warm and rarely itchy or painful.

The later stage Lyme disease symptoms include neck stiffness and severe headaches with EM rashes in many areas of the body other than bite site. Arthritis like symptoms including pain and swelling in the joints will be experienced by the patient most commonly in knees and large joints.

Facial or Bell's palsy as well as pain in tendons, muscles, joints, and bones will also be seen. Irregular heart-beat and dizziness or shortness of breath are some of the symptoms of the disease. Nerve pain and inflammation of the brain and spinal cord resulting in numbness, or tingling in the hands or feet are symptoms of later stage Lyme disease. Problems like short-term memory are also one of the outcomes of the disease.