Lyme disease is a bacterial infection transmitted to humans by infected ticks carrying the Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria.
Ticks are tiny spider-like creatures found in woodland and heath areas throughout the UK, Europe and North America.
Lyme disease is the most common tick-born infectious disease in the northern hemisphere and the disease is now endemic across many parts of the UK. Each year in the UK, there are around 1,500 laboratory-confirmed cases of Lyme disease, with an additional 1,500 to 2,500 cases that are not laboratory-confirmed.
Whilst not all ticks carry the bacteria, those that do transmit the infection by biting humans and feeding on their blood. The longer they are attached, the higher the risk of infection.
The most common symptoms include flu-like symptoms such as muscle and joint pain, a headache, fatigue, fever, and a skin rash shaped like a bullseye. Most rashes appear within four weeks of being bitten, but in some cases, it can take up to three months after being bitten. It is usually about 12 inches in diameter and can last for several weeks.
If left untreated, more serious symptoms may develop such as inflammatory arthritis, problems affecting the nervous system, meningitis, and even heart problems. One of the more severe symptoms includes Bell’s Palsy (paralysis on one side of the face).
Lyme disease may be difficult to diagnose as people can have common and unspecific symptoms, like a headache or fever, and they may not notice or remember a tick bite.
Where are you most at risk of catching Lyme disease?
Tick warning in the forest
Ticks live in areas of overgrown or deep vegetation such as parks and woodlands, so it is best to stick to footpaths if you are near long grass.
The South of England and the Scottish Highlands have been earmarked as high-risk areas for Lyme disease. Exmoor, the New Forest, and other rural areas of Hampshire, the South Downs, parts of Wiltshire and Berkshire, parts of Surrey and West Sussex, Thetford Forest, the Lake District, and the North York Moors are all known to have a high population of ticks.
How can you prevent tick bites?
Ticks cannot fly or jump; they climb onto clothes or skin if you brush past them. Steering away from long grass can certainly help, as well as using insect repellent.
Covering up bare skin and wearing light-coloured clothing will also help to reduce the risk of being bitten and make spotting ticks a bit easier.
What should you do if you’re experiencing any symptoms?
If you’re experiencing any symptoms associated with Lyme disease, seek medical advice or visit your GP straight away who can carry out blood tests to confirm or rule it out. The best treatment will depend on the stage of your condition. If caught early, people can usually take a course of antibiotics.
Most people will recover, but this can be a slow recovery over the course of several months. A small proportion of people will continue to have symptoms such as aches, fatigue, and a loss of energy, which can last several years.
How do you safely remove a tick?
It is possible to remove a tick yourself either using tweezers or a tick removal tool. Be warned – ticks can be as small as a poppy seed or as large as a small pea.
To remove one with tweezers, you need to grasp onto the tick as closely to the skin’s surface as possible. Then, you can pull it out and away! Once out, wash the area well.
Despite what you may have heard, it is not recommended to attempt any methods that involve Vaseline or matches. Using chemicals can make the tick worse and can force tick saliva into the bite, increasing risk of infection.
What happens if you don’t catch it early? And how will it be treated?
How quickly you treat the infection can impact how long you experience symptoms and can affect your treatment plan.
Blood tests are useful, but in some cases it can take a few weeks for the infection to show up. In these cases, a GP would treat you based on your symptoms. If you have a rash, you should definitely seek treatment and not wait for a blood test, as late-stage treatment can lead to more severe symptoms.
Unfortunately, there is no evidence to suggest that once you’ve contracted Lyme disease you’re immune to it.
