Lyme Disease

Lyme disease has made the news recently as, it is reported, cases have quadrupled over the last few years.

Rarely mentioned in most health and safety training courses, this is a disease that can be work related, especially if you work in rural and woodland areas. It may be time to raise your awareness about this particular disease.

Lyme disease is spread by rural vectors (such as deer) to human through ticks. The ticks live on the deer (and other mammals) and transfer the infection when they bite humans. The ticks are found in woodland and heath areas. They feed on the blood of birds and mammals, including humans. Ticks that carry the infective bacteria responsible for Lyme disease are found throughout the UK as well as in other parts of Europe and North America.

According to NHS Choices, it is estimated there are 2,000 to 3,000 new cases of Lyme disease in England and Wales each year. About 15% of cases occur while people are abroad.

Lyme disease can often be treated effectively if it’s detected early on. But if it’s not treated or treatment is delayed, there’s a risk you could develop severe and long-lasting symptoms. Many people with early-stage Lyme disease develop a distinctive circular rash at the site of the tick bite, usually around 3 to 30 days after being bitten.

The rash is often described as a target rash, looking like a target bull’s-eye on a dart board. The affected area of skin will be red, and the edges may feel slightly raised. The size of the rash can vary significantly, and it may expand over several days or weeks. Typically it’s around 15cm (6 inches) across, but it can be much larger or smaller than this. Some people may develop several rashes in different parts of their body. It is also reported that about a third of victims do not develop this rash.

Some people with Lyme disease also experience flu-like symptoms in the early stages, such as tiredness (fatigue), muscle pain, joint pain, headaches, a high temperature (fever), chills and neck stiffness. 

Back in 2013, there were news articles on Lyme disease, such as Ignorance of tick-borne Lyme disease ‘costing lives’

Lyme Disease: When to see your GP

You should see your GP if you develop any of the symptoms described above after being bitten by a tick, or if you think you may have been bitten. Make sure you let your GP know if you’ve spent time in woodland or heath areas where ticks are known to live.