The prevalence of ticks—and the diseases they carry—has been on the rise in recent decades as reforestation and climate change expanded the range of the eight-legged bacterial vectors.
A tick, tiny spider-like creatures, that causes Lyme disease to a person by biting the skin and embedding their mouths. Ticks can be found in wooded, heath, and grassy areas, or can be found in a person’s own garden or local park.
Most cases of Lyme can be successfully treated with a few weeks of antibiotics, according to the CDC.
Untreated, the illness can spread to the joints, heart, and nervous system.
Dr. Joshua Berkowitz, founder of the Lyme Disease Clinic in London has put forward the six symptoms indicating you may have been infected.
“Caught early, Lyme disease and these co-infections can often be treated with a course of antibiotics,” says Dr Berkowitz.
He said:
“However, you need to act quickly as the bacterium moves fast through the body and is highly resistant to the immune system.
“If Lyme disease is not caught early enough or treated successfully at its acute stage, the chronic form occurs presenting debilitating long-term symptoms including muscle joint pain and constant fatigue.”
According to the expert:
“Other symptoms include feeling like you have flu, fatigue, joint pain, headaches, fever, heart palpitations and neurological shakes.
“Many people experience memory loss, mental confusion, anxiety and depression.
“Of course, these symptoms are also associated with other illnesses and diseases, making a definitive Lyme disease diagnosis difficult.”
He continued:
“A tick bite can only cause Lyme disease in humans if the tick has already been bitten by an infected animal.
“But it’s still important to be aware of ticks and to safely remove them as soon as possible, just in case.
“Ticks that may cause Lyme disease are found all over the UK, but high-risk areas include grassy and wooded areas in southern England and the Scottish Highlands.”
How to prevent Lyme disease
Dr. Berkowitz recommended some simple things a person can do to lower their chances of being bitten by a tick which includes:
Wear an insect repellent when outdoors- check it’s one that repels ticks
Take extra care in wooded areas, long grass and heath-land
Cover your arms and legs – tuck your trousers into your socks
Check yourself, your family and your pets when you’re out and about – brush off any ticks that are unattached
Check yourselves thoroughly when you return home – remember you can’t see the back of your body well so get someone else to check too
If you find an embedded tick, remove it with a tick removal tool: if you can’t remove it, go to your doctor immediately.
If you feel unwell or see a rash after being bitten, see your Doctor. Push for the antibiotics as this is the first line of treatment and, if taken in time, can be successful in eliminating the disease.
If your symptoms persist or worsen, visit your Doctor or hospital.
If they can’t help you or dismiss your concerns, look for a specialist clinic that can take a variety of blood tests to give you the best chance of diagnosis before prescribing treatment.