Experts are urging people to be cautious after it was revealed that Lyme Disease is on the rise in the UK. The rare disease is caused by a tick bite which leads to a bacterial infection and can cause severe physical and mental problems if not diagnosed at an early stage.
A spiral-shaped bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi forms around the tick bite. Ticks are mostly found in grassy areas and woodland but have also been found in urban parks and gardens.
It is estimated that around 10% of ticks in the UK carry Lyme disease, and there are around 3,000-4,000 cases of Lyme disease in England and Wales every year, however, research published in 2019 showed that real numbers could be at least three times higher.
Charity Lyme Disease UK is urging people to be vigilant. The UK Health Security Agency states: "Since data collection began in 2005, there has been a general trend of increasing cases of Lyme disease, although yearly fluctuations have been observed.
"In 2021, there were a total of 1,156 laboratory-confirmed cases of Lyme disease in England and Wales. The rise in total cases may be due to a combination of increased awareness of Lyme disease as well as improved surveillance, better access to diagnostics, increased potential for encounters with ticks due to changes in wildlife populations and habitat modification that may have resulted in changes in tick distribution across the country."
What is Lyme disease?
Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that can be spread to humans by infected ticks, according to the NHS. Not all ticks carry Lyme disease but it is important to be aware of ticks and to safely remove them as soon as possible, just in case.
Lyme Disease UK advises using tick repellent on outdoor trips and says it is best not to walk through long grass, and stick to paths where possible. Another tip if you do spend a lot of time outdoors is to wear long clothing.
What are the symptoms of Lyme disease?
According to the NHS, the first symptom of Lyme disease will appear as a circular or oval shape rash around a tick bite. The rash sometimes takes up to three months after being bitten by an infected tick to appear, but usually appears within one to four weeks.
The rash often has a darker or lighter area in the centre and might gradually spread - it is not usually hot or itchy.
The rash may be flat or slightly raised and look pink, red or purple on white skin. It can be harder to see the rash on brown or black skin and it may look like a bruise.
Other symptoms may include feeling like you have the flue. These may appear within a few days or weeks after a tick bite. The flu-like symptoms you may feel include:
- a high temperature, or feeling hot and shivery
- headache
- muscle and joint pain
- tiredness and loss of energy
More severe symptoms of Lyme disease can develop months or even years later, this is more likely if treatment is delayed. The more severe symptoms include:
- pain and swelling in joints
- nerve problems – such as pain or numbness
- heart problems
- trouble with memory or concentration
A few people who are diagnosed and treated for Lyme disease continue to have symptoms like tiredness, and loss of energy that can last for years. The symptoms are often compared to fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. It's not clear why this happens to some people and not others. This means there's also no agreed treatment.
Treatment for Lyme disease
According to the NHS, the most important thing to do upon first being bitten by a tick is to remove it. This can be safely done using fine-tipped tweezers or a tick-removal tool. You need to grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible and pull slowly upwards, taking care not to squeeze or crush the tick. Once it is removed and disposed of, clean the bite with antiseptic soap and water.
You do not need to seek treatment for a tick bit unless you notice a rash or become unwell. You should see a GP if you have a tick bite or visited an area in the last three months where infected ticks could be and have developed a rash or flu-like symptoms.
Lyme disease can be difficult to diagnose, it has similar symptoms to other conditions and there's not always an obvious rash. Two types of blood test are available to help confirm or rule out Lyme disease, but they aren't always accurate in the early stages.
If a GP thinks you have Lyme disease, they will prescribe a course of antibiotics. You may need to take them for up to 28 days, depending on your symptoms.
Some people with severe symptoms will be referred to a specialist in hospital so antibiotics can be given directly into a vein. Most people with Lyme disease get better after antibiotic treatment. This can take months for some people, but the symptoms should improve over time.
People with symptoms of Lyme disease that last a long time after treatment may be referred to a specialist in hospital for advice and more blood tests.
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