Conditions
Lyme Disease
Lyme disease can be passed on to humans by tick bites. Ticks are small parasites, often found in woodland, which feed off the blood of mammals. They are normally red-brown colour, but become paler as they feed. The most common symptom of Lyme disease is a red circular rash that looks like a bull’s eye which develops around the bite mark. Other symptoms include tiredness, fever and blurred vision.
When the infected tick bites it usually releases the bacteria after a period of 36 hours, though, in some cases, transmission can occur prior to 24 hours. Though tick bites are hard to notice because the bite does not cause pain, remove a tick as soon as you spot it to prevent infection. This is relatively easy to do with a pair of tweezers: steadily pull the tick away from the skin avoiding squeezing or twisting the tick. It is best to remove all of the tick, but if the mouth parts remain in the skin, don’t be alarmed. Though this can cause local infection, you are not at risk of Lyme disease when the tick’s body is not attached to the mouth part. For a detailed description of the best method to remove ticks, universally accepted by all disease prevention authorities, visit: BADA-UK. It is important to remove ticks correctly, as incorrect tick-removal techniques can increase the risks of disease transmission at any time by inducing regurgitation of the tick’s saliva and gut contents.
If Lyme disease is diagnosed in its early stages, within the first 30 days, it can be treated successfully with 2 – 3 week course of antibiotics. Diagnosis is made through two blood tests which look for antibodies fighting the bacteria in the blood. If the disease is left untreated for many months it can lead to arthritis, nervous system problems and meningitis. So it is very important to see a GP if you suspect you have been bitten.
The most common symptom of Lyme disease is the Erythema Migrans (Bull’s-eye rash), but not all patients present with this. In fact, of the last available figures for laboratory-confirmed cases, only 32% presented with the rash. As sometimes rashes can be hidden under body hair or hair on the scalp, it is important that anyone who develops flu-like symptoms or sudden ill health following a tick bite should visit their doctor for advice.
You can reduce the risk of being bitten by wearing long sleeved clothing, tucking trousers into socks, and wearing hats during any activity in woodland or heathland areas. Insect repellent can also be used as a deterrent, and make sure to check children thoroughly for any ticks after any countryside activity.
For more information on Lyme disease, visit the following sites:
BADA-UK
Lyme Disease Action
British Lyme Disease Foundation
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My daugther is being tested for Lyme, diagnosed with Chronic Pain and Autism. I really don't think that the doctors have a clue about this complex disease, misinformation is all over the net and people are desperately trying all sorts of things. The media and programmes like this should take on board the fact that this is bigger than Aids in the states and it's in the Uk and Europe. Awareness of tick bites, how to remove ticks is one thing. Research and diagnosis is another.. don't get bitten because if you do and come up with a load of symptoms years later, you are STUFFED! Educate the masses about ticks and parents and schools and local authorities!!!
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Hi , I suspect my grandmother could have Lyme Borreliousis , 7 years ago she returned from the Cheque Republic with flue like symptoms and has progresivly got worse over the years chronic head pain constantly ,interupted sleep if she gets any at all from day to day she didnt inform us she had a lump at the base of her scalp near her neck that she had for four months after returning from Chech which after combing her hair came out from under her skin ( a tick ). we were then told by family last Aug that some ticks can carry Lyme diease and after reading up about Lyme she has all the symptom's we have contacted her GP who to be honest thinks she cant possibly have this disease and couldn't be more disinterested so we are geting no where fast and my grandmother is in so much pain we really are at a loss what to do as the chronic head pain she suffers from is excrutiating you would only need to take one look at her to see how much pain she is in PLEASE any advice would be appreciated on how to get her well
Asked on 27 Apr 2012 14:28 by [No first name supplied]
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I was diagnosed in Germany with Lymes in 1991 after a stay in a psychiatric hospital.[Scary or what!!] Although IV antibiotics were administered & the immediate symptoms abated [mental confusion, palpitations, joint pain etc] the symptoms return regularly. I was referred at one point to an consultant who was interested in Rheumatism & Lymes. Whilst he could see I had Lymes anti bodies in my system & that I was suffering arthritic problems, since it wasn't a current full blown Lymes attack he wasn't really interested. On the scale at that time I wasn't deemed a priority for arthritic treatment. Since then I have suffered from almost constant joint pain, sweating, sleeplessness. I was taking doxcylin for a while & this seemed to help alleviate the joint pain but I then have suffered from kidney pain so have had to discontinue the treatment. Is there any ongoing treatment for Lymes sufferers long after the initial infection?
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I think I have Lymes Disease but Dr's wont believe me, i dont know where to turn, please help me, here are my syptoms (long winded but help would be appreciated) * Age 11 - Told i was allergic to bites and stings as bit in Germany and reaction was so bad advised to wear an S.O.S necklace, been bitten since and stung not such bad reactions, sometimes bad sometimes not. * Age 11 - Ongoing abdo pain - suspected appendix and dehydration as joints were blue... Wasnt appendix but took it anyway, continuing abdo pain for a yr and a half - put down to IBS. *Age 11 - Sickness and swelling put down to allergy to some kind of white fish?? Eat fish all the time no allergy. *Age 12 - Osgoodsclaters(spelling) - right leg in plaster for 12 weeks, ankle to hip. * Age 16 - Developed panic attacks for no reason. * Age 16 - Breathing problems and chronic cough, x-ray showed inflamation and shadows thought to be bronchitus. * Age 17 - Lips and face swelling -put down to an allergy to cats, kept cats for years since with no problems. * Age 17 - Optician found swelling at back of eye -referred to hospital after a few weeks, nothing found. * Age 17 - Miscarriage. * Age 17 - Recurrent blinding headaches one so bad rushed to hospital with suspected viral meningitus - wasnt. * Age 18 - Swelling of lips, face and neck - put down to an allergy to Vodka, drank it since with no problems * Age 18 - Severe tiredness, sickness, headaches, body aches - put down to being spiked in a night club. Hadnt been drinking. * Age 18 - Massive scabs on scalp -put down to an allergy to hair dye. Stopped using dye but continued to get big scaly scabs periodically. * Age 19 - Problems with hearing started, referred for hearing test, all normal, still ongoing hearing problems. *Age 19 - Left eye started to droop. * Age 19 - Problems swallowing and eating on and off for about 6 months - had a camera down couldnt find anything, put down to possible floppy larynx, no problems since. * Age 21 - Anemia during pregnancy and abdo pains. * Age 22 After giving birth, high hormone levels and the 6 weeks post natal, derealisation. * Age 23 - Pain in lower abdo - Enlarged right ovary. * Age 27 - Palpatations started, one episode so bad dialled 999 as thought i was having a heart attack - nothing. * Age 27 - Abdo pains - ultrasound scan showed polycystic ovaries. Derealisation attacks on and off. * Age 28 - Hip and kidney pain, could hardly walk for 6 months - no diagnosis. RECENT * Age 29 - Glands on back of neck swelled to the size of golf balls, no pain - no diagnosis. * Age 29 - Pregnancy anemia - severe sickness, headaches and slept 24 hrs a day -abdo pains, all put down to pregnancy. Extreme chronic cough throughout pregnancy. Developed a lace like rash in sunshine, assumed it was pregnancy, didnt go to gp. * Age 30 - Couldn't breathe properly after giving birth,? pulmonary embolism, ct scan revealed no evidence a week later. Sickness and severe headaches. * Age 30 - 6 weeks post-natal cellulitus in left eye then started with derealisation. * Age 30 - Severe abdo pain - out of hours explained my bowel was incredibly enlarged but didnt know why that would be. * Age 30 - started passing out. * Age 30 - Severe abdo pain - gallstones, gallbladder removed, continuing abdo pain. Couldn't breathe properly when woke up from op. Abnormal liver and kidney function, all now returned to normal. Had low sodium and potassium too. Tingling sensation in right shoulder blade on and off. Eyes flicker/floaters. I have corned beef skin, scaly skin patches (GP diagnosed discoid excma) and extremely cold hands/feet, joints turn blue when cold. My eyes will puff up for no reason and my eyesight is rapidly deteriating. Extreme tinitus and headaches, with bad fatigue. I have derealisation, neck pain, panic attacks. Palpations on and off but ecgs shows nothing Burning pain in hips and knees on and off (mostly on my right side) Resting pulse is always about 100. Bones break easily. Prone to thrush and athletes foot. * June 2011 - Glands in groin swelled up, Gp advised this was an immune response to an infection that wasnt there. * July 2011 - Urine infection.
Asked on 11 Sep 2011 20:44 by Adelle
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i have had just about all the same complaints as you have and i have been also fobbed off by my gp with different explainations of what it might be and from what i can gather from other people ive spoke to on other bloggs it sounds like some form of bacterial infection like lymes disease ect
Posted on 5 Mar 2012 22:43 by darren
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This is a good answer
I have now been diagnosed, please see: http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/2012/01/17/new-marske-mum-warns-teessiders-of-the-dangers-of-ticks-84229-30134428/
Posted on 6 Mar 2012 08:59 by Adelle
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This is a good answer
a few months a go itchy red marks appeared on both my legs, they stopped itching and bcame raised, but since then they have not been a bother, although they remain on my legs, i;ve treid using e45 cream on my legs, and been to my gp but i did not recieve a answer. i live in the lake district, but as far as im aware ive not been bitten by a tick or anything.
Asked on 22 Jun 2011 19:54 by josie
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I had Lyme desease as far back as when I was 19 yrs of age I am now 58 ys old and only just found out last week that I had Lyme desease. Since 1990 i have been disgnosed with M.E. and now Ihave fibromyalgia and I put this down to not being treated when I first got Lyme desease which back in 1971 not one doctor had a clue what was the matter with me the rash I had was painfull red hot to touch an sprad to around 12 ins at the back of my leg, it came back yr after yr after yr after yr went away but reered it's ugly head in the form of M.E. on xmas day 1990 and I have suffered ever since with bad health and can you imagine only finding all this out last week I was heartbroken because my family life suffered so much when My son was little I feel that I missed out so much with being ill. Only if the medical proffesion had picked this up when I went to them with the desease all those yrs ago and I have suffered and still am suffering after all this time so please make sure you get to your GP and tell him about what I have just said If I can stop another human siffering like I HAVE since 1971 them I am glad that I was able to do that.
Posted on 29 Jun 2011 21:18 by Christine
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This is a good answer
I think I have Lyme disease, All the doctors I have seen over the past year have not a clue about it and im left getting worse and worse. I've read so much on it and have alot of the symptoms. I am yet to find a Dr who knows anything about this disease. Does Dr Jessen do private consultations? I know he would know whats wrong with me! He's brilliant!
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I was disappointed that on the show you suggested one was likely to get Lyme's Disease in the water in the US and that it was more likely on the east coast. It is common in the plains states and in the Rockies and you are more likely to get it in grassy or wooded areas than in the water.
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I'm glad Jen posted this comment; as a doctor I was a bit shocked to hear the misinformation and warning to be careful in freshwater lakes in the USA due to ticks.They're not uncommon even in the UK e.g. Lake District.
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I would like to speak to you barbara, please reply to me if you can...
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