Health care providers across western Connecticut are warning of ticks and Lyme disease earlier in the season.

Doctors are warning that they're seeing early cases of Lyme disease and symptoms that could possibly be Lyme disease already this year.

Ken Goldberg at AFC Urgent Care in Norwalk says patients have been showing up since April, saying they've had tick bites and suffering symptoms like severe headache and achy joints.

Health experts say that if you think you might have Lyme disease, you should seek medical attention immediately because the disease needs to be treated early to avoid long-term medical problems.

"It can lead to neurological issues," says Stacey Cisero, a registered nurse at Norwalk Hospital. "The further down the road, the longer you have it, the more difficult it is to treat."