Lyme disease
Lyme disease
Overview
Lyme disease is a bacterial infection spread to humans by infected ticks. It’s also known as Lyme borreliosis.
Ticks are tiny spider-like creatures found in woodland and moorland areas, grassy places, parks and gardens. They feed on the blood of birds and mammals, including humans.
Lyme disease is usually easier to treat the earlier it’s diagnosed.
Common Symptoms
⚠️ This symptom list is for educational purposes. Having these symptoms does not mean you have this condition. See a doctor for proper diagnosis.
Medicines Commonly Used
⚠️ These medicines are commonly used for confirmed diagnoses of this condition. This is NOT a recommendation or prescription. Treatment must be determined by your doctor.
No medicines have been linked to this condition yet.
Causes
What causes Lyme disease?
Certain wild animals can carry the bacteria that cause Lyme disease. If a tick bites one of these animals, the tick itself becomes infected. That tick can then pass the bacteria on to a person by biting them.
Ticks can't jump or fly. They simply climb onto your clothes or skin when you brush past something they're resting on. Once there, they bite into the skin and begin feeding on your blood.
The longer a tick stays attached to your skin, the greater your chance of becoming infected, so it's important to remove one quickly if you find it. Ticks are extremely small and their bites don't hurt, which means you may not even notice one has attached itself to you.
Where ticks are found
Ticks live throughout the UK, as well as in parts of Europe and North America, and are especially common in the Scottish Highlands.
You'll find them in places with thick or overgrown vegetation where they can easily reach animals to feed on. They're common in woodland and moorland, but they also turn up in gardens and parks.
Who is most at risk of Lyme disease?
Your risk of getting Lyme disease is higher if:
- you spend time in woodland or moorland areas
- it's between March and October, when more people are out taking part in outdoor activities
Only a small proportion of ticks actually carry the bacteria that causes Lyme disease, so being bitten doesn't automatically mean you'll be infected. Even so, it's worth staying alert to the risk, and it's a good idea to speak to a doctor if you start to feel unwell afterward.
Diagnosis
Diagnosing Lyme disease
Diagnosing Lyme disease is often difficult. Many of the symptoms are similar to other conditions.
There are 2 kinds of blood tests that are used to diagnose Lyme disease. The tests are not always accurate in the early stages of Lyme disease. You may need to be tested more than once if you still have symptoms after a negative result.
Treatment
If you show signs of Lyme disease, doctors will usually start you on antibiotics.
If antibiotics are prescribed, finish the whole course even after you start feeling better. This gives the medicine time to clear out all the bacteria.
For more severe symptoms, antibiotics may need to be given as injections into a vein.
Some antibiotics used for Lyme disease can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight, so avoid long periods in the sun and stay off sunbeds until treatment is finished.
Sometimes symptoms carry on even after the antibiotic course ends. This is known as post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome. Since doctors do not yet fully understand what causes it, there is no agreed best treatment for it.
Stay cautious about websites offering alternative tests or treatments for Lyme disease, as these claims are often not backed by scientific evidence.
Prevention
There's currently no vaccine to prevent Lyme disease, but you can take some simple steps to lower your chances of being bitten by a tick.
Do
- stay on paths and avoid walking through long grass
- wear a long-sleeved shirt and trousers tucked into your socks when you're outdoors
- wear light-coloured clothing when walking outdoors, as this can make it easier to spot a tick that has landed on you
- apply insect repellent to any exposed skin
- check your skin and clothing for ticks once you're back indoors
- check your children's skin for ticks too, especially around the head, neck and scalp
- check that your pets haven't carried any ticks into the house in their fur
Complications
Complications of Lyme disease
More serious symptoms may develop if Lyme disease is not treated, or it’s not treated early. These symptoms can include:
- pain and swelling in the joints
- nerve problems – like numbness or pain in your limbs
- memory problems
- difficulty concentrating
- heart problems
Some of these problems will get better with treatment but they can continue if treatment starts late.
Some people with Lyme disease can develop long-term symptoms. These may be like the symptoms of fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome. This is known as post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome.
It’s not clear why this happens but it may be linked to overactivity of your immune system.
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