Watch out for ticks & Lyme disease now the warm weather is here
07/06/2010 12:13:44
Lyme disease on the increase in the UK
Soon summer will be in full swing and many of us will be spending more time wildlife watching, walking, climbing, cycling and camping. Few, however, will be aware of, or indeed prepared for, the hidden danger of tick bites and what can come with them - Lyme disease.
The highest risk period for tick bites is from May to October when the tick is most active and feeding.
Ticks - tiny (the size of a full stop on an A4 page) blood-sucking parasites - are present in woods, moors and parks throughout the UK; London parks are no exception, and tick numbers are on the rise due to changing habitats and climate. Lyme disease, caused by the bite of an infected tick, is also on the rise, and is found throughout North America, across the UK and Europe, and Scandinavia - so it's important for everyone, at home and on holiday, to know what to look out for and to seek early treatment if necessary.
Lyme disease
Lyme disease causes a range of unpleasant symptoms which may include a circular red rash, headaches, a stiff neck, extreme fatigue, muscle and joint pain, and disturbances of sight, hearing, digestive system and sleep. If left untreated it can progress to the joints, the heart and the nervous system.
Stay safe
To reduce the risk of being bitten by an infected tick, Lyme Disease Action advises people take the following precautions:
- Wear light-coloured clothing so ticks are easier to spot
- Use an insect repellent effective against ticks (look for those containing the chemical DEET)
- Keep to pathways and try to avoid areas of overgrown vegetation
| - Wear long sleeves and trousers
- Check for ticks regularly during the day
- Remove any ticks found attached as soon as possible
- Pack a tick remover if walking or holidaying away from home.
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Tick removal
Ticks should be removed immediately with a tick removal tool or fine pointed tweezers. Gently pull the tick's body away from your skin directly outwards, without jerking. Do not try to pull the tick out with your fingers, burn the tick or cover it with creams or chemicals.
Treatment
If you have been bitten by a tick and notice any of the above symptoms, seek medical help straight away. Diagnosed and treated early, Lyme disease can be treated successfully with antibiotics.
Lyme Disease Action (www.lymediseaseaction.org.uk) is a UK-registered charity striving for greater awareness of Lyme disease and associated tick-borne diseases.
Lyme disease: Know the facts - Lyme Disease Action (LDA) is a UK-registered charity striving for the prevention and treatment of Lyme disease and associated tick borne diseases. Ticks are tiny parasitic, blood-sucking arthropods related to spiders, mites and scorpions. There are many different species of tick in the UK, each preferring to feed on the blood of different animal hosts - though they will feed on human blood too if given the chance.
- What is Lyme disease and what are its symptoms? Lyme disease is caused by the bite of an infected tick and causes a wide range of symptoms which may include a circular red "bull's eye" rash, headaches, a stiff neck, extreme fatigue, muscle and joint pain, and disturbances of sight, hearing, digestive system and sleep.
- Where are ticks found? Ticks can be found all over the UK in gardens, woods, moors, and parks - London parks are no exception. They are also found across Europe, Eastern Europe, Scandinavia and North America. NOT ALL ticks carry Lyme disease. Infection rates in tick populations vary by tick species and geographic region.
- How do you remove a tick? Ticks should be removed as soon as possible with a tick removal tool which hooks underneath the tick, or fine pointed tweezers. Disinfect the area around the bite using antiseptic cream. DO NOT try to pull the tick out with your fingers, burn the tick or cover it with creams or chemicals.
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- How is Lyme disease diagnosed? The symptoms mentioned above may appear between two and 30 days after a tick bite. Although a rash may appear quite shortly after a tick bite, blood tests will probably be negative initially. The test detects antibodies produced by the body in response to the infection, but they are not produced in detectable amounts for several weeks, or sometimes months, after infection. Many patients with untreated Lyme disease have positive blood tests within three to six weeks of being infected - but some never produce enough antibodies to achieve a positive blood test.
- Lyme Disease Action recommends treatment according to clinical diagnosis.
- What is the treatment for Lyme disease? Diagnosed and treated at an early stage, it is usually curable with antibiotics, but in the UK there is a problem with a lack of early diagnosis. Due to widespread lack of knowledge and awareness regarding tick-borne diseases - by GPs and the medical profession as a whole - many people with typical symptoms will not actually be tested for the disease. Many people with Lyme disease do not receive treatment at all because they remain undiagnosed or misdiagnosed.
- Can Lyme disease be prevented? There are many measures you can take to protect yourself from infection. These include wearing suitable clothing (keep your arms and legs covered) and frequently checking the skin for ticks. Make sure you know how to remove a tick properly and seek medical advice promptly if you notice any symptoms.
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Read the comments about this article and leave your own comment
Thank you for raising awareness of Lyme Disease here in the UK. Very few people are aware that it can be caught in the UK and the lack of public and doctor awareness is disgraceful.
I was aware of Lyme Disease but thought it to be unique to USA. During my long illness I even asked one doctor if it could be from an insect bite(yes I know a tick is an arthropod so not actually an insect) her response was no.
It took 5 doctors and 3 Rheumatologist 4 years to diagnose me. I was diagnosed with ME/CFS, Fibromyalgia, Polymyalgia Rheumatica, Arthritis, Musculo skeletal disease, and eventually Lyme Disease. A chance course of antibiotics significantly improved my symptoms and led my GP to suspect Lyme Disease. There had been other cases of Lyme disease at my surgery. I had presented at the surgery at times of bites, bulls eye rashes, summer flu and migrating arthralgias before chronic illness and disabilty set in all had been documented on my records.
On long term antibiotics as per ILADS Guidelines found through Lyme Disease Action website, I am nearly 100%, I have my health back and my life. At my worst I had difficulty standing from a chair and walking across a room, I was not able to walk up or down stairs properly for 3 1/2 years and I was Retired early on ill health grounds from the Civil Service, now I can garden again and cycle with no pain and no disability.
The controversy over this illness is a disgrace more needs to be done to raise awareness.
Not everyone recognises the tick as it can be the size of a poppy seed and not everyone gets the classic bulls eye rash, although if you do that is the hall mark of lyme and you should be treated. If adequately treated at this early stage then years of ill health could be avoided.
Where I live now in Guildford I am in touch with about 20 other cases where people have gone on to develop Chronic Lyme Disease.
Posted by: Joanne60 | 04 Jul 2010 10:52:45