How do you tell the difference between herx and Lyme symptoms?

Answer by  CatherineKlay (440)

You don't. A competent doctor can. Herx response (fever, chills, headache, myalgia (muscle pain), and exacerbation of skin lesions) can also indicate: salmonellosis, echinobacter coli infections, pseudomonas infections, moraxella, stenotrophomonas maltophilia, legionella, borelia recurrentis, neisseria meningitidis, gonorrhea. See your doctor (primary care or infectious disease specialist) immediately.

Answer by  Christian9247 (5042)

You don't. Even the most competent Doctors can't tell the difference without some blood work. They both have the same symptoms such as fever, chills and headache. With Lyme however you have more muscle pain than with herx.

Answer by  arinbasu (15)

Usually herx refer to a set of general symptoms due to release of toxins by bacteria when they die from being exposed to antibiotics and symptoms can range between pain in the joints, body ache, listlessnes. The onset of these symptoms can vary widely (some arise slowly others arise rapidly). Lyme symptoms are similar; however, they have very slow onset.