As great as summer is, one major downside is the season’s swarms of nibbling little critters. While some insect bites only result in uncomfortable itching, others can have consequences that are much, much scarier.
Lyme disease is a bacterial infection passed on to humans from infected ticks, which are tiny spider-like insects that tend to hang out in grassy areas, gardens and woodland. Data from the UK Health Security Agency suggests that more Lyme disease cases have been reported in the first three months of 2023 compared to last year, with 152 cases this year compared to 139 in 2022. The organisation added that this is likely to be an conservative estimate.
As cases increase, the UKHSA also advised on the regions of England with the most cases last year and in recent months. A warning has been issued that residents of Dorset should be particularly wary of the disease. Overall, the south east of England experienced the highest number of acute cases in both 2022 and the first three months of this year, with 251 and 23 cases respectively.
The south west came next with 213 reported cases of acute Lyme disease in 2022 and 16 cases so far this year. London followed behind with 160 cases last year but ranked higher for reports so far this year with 18.
It’s estimated that between 2.5 and five percent of ticks are infected, so if you are bitten it does not necessarily mean you will catch Lyme disease. However, if infected, you are likely to develop a distinct circular red rash with a ring around it between three and 30 days after being bitten. It can either be flat or slightly raised. On white skin it may appear pink, red or purple but on brown and black skin can be harder to see and may resemble a bruise.
The symptoms to look out for include:
- High temperature
- Headache
- Muscle and joint pain
- Tiredness and loss of energy
If treatment is delayed more severe symptoms can occur. These might include:
- Pain and swelling in joints
- Nerve problems such as pain or numbness
- Heart problems
- Trouble with memory or concentration
To avoid tick bites, the official advice is to cover as much of your skin as possible when walking outdoors, use insect repellent containing DEET on both your skin and clothes and wear light-coloured garms so you can spot a tick easily. You can find more information about Lyme disease and how to remove ticks on the NHS website.
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