Lyme Disease

The Suffolk Argus

Lyme Disease

Lyme disease is the most common tickborne infectious disease in Europe. People who spend time in woodland or heath areas are more at risk of developing Lyme disease because these areas are where tick-carrying animals, such as deer, live. Tick bites often go unnoticed and the tick can remain feeding for several days before dropping off. The longer the tick is in place, the higher the risk of it passing on the infection.

If you do find a tick on your skin remove it by gently gripping it as close to the skin as possible, preferably using a special tick removal device or finetoothed tweezers.

The earliest and most common symptom of Lyme disease is a pink or red circular rash that develops around the area of the bite, three to 30 days after someone is bitten. The rash is often described as looking like a ‘bull’s-eye’ . If you get a rash photograph it for a record.

Flu-like symptoms, such as tiredness, headaches and muscle or joint pain may develop. If Lyme disease is left untreated, further symptoms may develop months or even years later and can include: muscle pain, joint pain and swelling of the joints, and neurological symptoms, such as temporary paralysis of the facial muscles. Unless in its early stages when a rash is present, diagnosing Lyme disease is often difficult as many of the symptoms are similar to those of other conditions. Blood tests are useful but don’t always confirm diagnosis. Diagnosed cases of Lyme disease can be treated with antibiotics.

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) estimates that there are up to 3,000 cases of Lyme disease in England and Wales each year, and that about 15%20% of cases occur while people are abroad.

The best way of preventing Lyme disease is to avoid being bitten when you are in wooded or heath areas known to have a high tick population. The following precautions might help to prevent Lyme disease: • Tuck your trousers into your socks. • Try not to brush against vegetation. • Check yourself for ticks.

More detailed information is available from Lyme Disease Action at: http://www.lymediseaseaction.org.uk/ab out-lyme/faq/

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