Also known as Lyme borreliosis, Lyme disease is a type of bacterial infection that can have a wide range of symptoms. If you are worried about the condition, knowing more about it can certainly help you gain control of your diagnosis. That’s why we’ll cover everything you need to know about Lyme disease, from what it is, to the symptoms of the condition, treatment, and more. You can also share your experiences with the disease with us at Carecircle, and let others know how you manage your diagnosis. Together, we can build a better tomorrow.

What is Lyme disease?

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that is spread to humans from the bite of an infected black-legged tick, also known as a deer tick (Ixodes Ricinus). Typically, these parasites must maintain their bite for around 36 to 48 hours (or more) to transmit the Lyme disease bacterium.

You’re more at risk of a tick bite – and of getting Lyme disease – if you spend time in tall grasses and woodlands. You can also be at more of a risk if you have a domesticated animal, such as a dog, which could carry the tick on its body, bringing it into human contact.

Lyme disease symptoms

An early symptom of Lyme disease is a flat and circular rash (erythema migrans) that looks like a bullseye or a dartboard, sometimes with a raised edge. This rash typically forms 3 to 30 days after a bite from an infected tick. It’s not usually painful or itchy, although it can be warm to the touch. It can also form on more than one part of the body. This rash does not always develop with Lyme disease. That’s why it’s important to take note of the other symptoms as well. These include:

• A high temperature
• Fever
• Chills
• A headache and/or stiff neck
• Muscle and joint pain
• Feeling sick and/or shivery
• A lack of energy and feeling tired
• Swollen lymph nodes

If left untreated, Lyme disease can develop other symptoms. These can be more serious and include:

• Pain and swelling in the joints
• Nerve problems – such as numbness, pain, and weakness in your limbs
• Difficulty concentrating and other memory problems
• Heart problems, such as an irregular heartbeat
• Impaired muscle movement
• Inflammation of the liver (hepatitis)
• Arthritis
• Bell’s palsy (paralysis to one side of the face)
• Neurological problems, such as swelling around and of the brain (meningitis and encephalitis)

Visit your doctor if you show these symptoms and get a professional diagnosis and treatment. If you’ve been bitten by a tick and these symptoms go away, you should still see your doctor as soon as possible, as the absence of symptoms does not mean the disease is gone.

Stages of Lyme Disease

There are three stages of Lyme disease: localised, disseminated, and late disseminated. Let’s go into more detail about each one.

• Localised Lyme disease usually occurs within 1-28 days following an infected tick bite. During this stage, symptoms can include a bullseye rash, fever, a stiff neck, headaches, redness around the eyes, and other flu-like symptoms.
• Disseminated Lyme disease typically develops within 3-12 weeks as the bacteria begins to spread throughout the body. Symptoms include general malaise, fever, dizziness, headaches, muscle and joint pain, chest pain, heart palpitations, and in some cases cognition and memory problems.
• Late disseminated Lyme disease is where the bacteria have spread throughout the body to develop from the early symptoms to a chronic (long-lasting) disease. This stage typically occurs within 12 months, although it can also happen years after the initial infection. Late-stage Lyme disease can cause arthritis, severe headaches, Bell’s palsy, joint and bone pain, heart palpitations, and inflammation of the brain or spinal cord, in addition to the early-stage Lyme disease symptoms.

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What causes Lyme Disease?

Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium, Borrelia burgdorferi, and less commonly by Borrelia mayonii. It can be transmitted to humans following a bite by an infected black-legged (deer) tick.

Tick Bites

Ticks do not search for a host. These arachnid parasites wait on the end of grasses, shrubs, and other tall plants, such as bracken. They have their upper legs outstretched and sit ready to grab on to whatever brushes by. At which point they’ll climb on and find a place where they can bite.

Ticks can bite anywhere on the body. They can also be very small and difficult to spot and you might not notice the tick or even its bite. That’s why it’s important to always do a tick inspection after spending time in woodlands or tall grasses. You want to check:

• Your clothes
• Between your toes
• Your lower legs and backs of your knees
• Your groin
• Your body
• Your arms
• Your armpits
• Your scalp
• Behind your ears
• And the rest of your body

Not all ticks are infected with the bacterium that causes Lyme disease. However, if you are bitten by an infected tick, there is a greater risk of getting Lyme disease the longer it is on your body. Try to remove the parasite as quickly as possible, as infection of the disease is less likely if the tick is removed within 36 hours of its bite.

How to remove a tick

The best way to safely remove a tick is by using a specialised tick-removal tool. These are designed to remove a tick with ease and to minimise the risk of the parasite regurgitating into your bite wound, which can increase the risk of infection. You can also use a pair of fine-tipped tweezers to remove a tick. In both cases:

1. Grasp the tick as close to your skin as possible
2. Gently and slowly pull upwards – if using tweezers take care not to squeeze or crush the tick
3. Dispose of the parasite once you have removed it
4. Clean the bite area with antiseptic or soap and water

How to prevent tick bites

There is a number of things you can do to help prevent a tick bite. You can:

• Stay on paths where possible and avoid walking in tall grasses
• Use a DEET-based insect repellent on your clothes, particularly around the lower legs
• Wear light coloured clothing so it’s easier to spot and brush off any ticks that have climbed aboard
• Tuck your trousers into your socks and wear clothes that cover your skin

Lyme disease diagnosis

It can be difficult to diagnose Lyme disease as often the symptoms can be similar to other conditions. Your doctor will ask questions about how you feel and whether or not you’ve been bitten by a tick. They will likely perform a physical exam to look for a rash and signs of other symptoms.

In addition, there are two types of blood tests that can confirm a Lyme disease diagnosis. However, these tests are not always effective in the early stages of the disease, so it’s possible your clinician will also send you to be retested at a later date, following a negative result.

Lyme disease test

A two-step approach is often used to test Lyme disease. The first test is usually the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) blood test, which detects antibodies to the bacteria infection. This test can sometimes produce false-positive results, so it might also be followed by the Western blot test, which looks for antibodies to the proteins of the bacteria infection that causes Lyme disease.

What to do if you have Lyme disease?

If you think you have Lyme disease, see a doctor to get a professional diagnosis and antibiotic treatment. To support recovery from Lyme disease, it is recommended that you:

• Get plenty of rest
• Exercise 3 times a week for a minimum of 30 minutes
• Eat a healthy diet
• Limit your sugar intake
• Reduce your stress levels

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Lyme Disease Treatment

Treatment of Lyme disease can fully cure the condition. The treatment involves taking a course of antibiotics, which you may have to take up to 28 days. If you feel better at any stage, you still need to finish the course to ensure the treatment is complete. With severe cases of Lyme disease, you may be taken to the hospital to have the antibiotics administered intravenously through a vein. Always speak to your doctor if you think you may have Lyme disease.

Sometimes, you can still have serious symptoms of Lyme disease after treatment – such as difficulty thinking, fatigue, and/or pain. This is known as Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome (PTLDS). Currently, it is not known what causes PTLDS and there isn’t a proven treatment for it. However, in most cases, those with PTLDS get better over time, although it can take many months.

If left untreated or undertreated, Lyme disease can lead to a range of problems with the brain and nervous system, muscles, joints, the heart, and circulation. This is also known as PTLDS, and Chronic Lyme Disease (CLD). Always see a doctor if you have symptoms of the condition to start treatment as soon as possible.

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Lyme Disease FAQs

Here, we answer all your frequently asked questions on Lyme disease. We get to the point and answer your queries directly so you can get the health information you need in an instant.

What does a tick look like?

Black-legged deer ticks are usually flat, longer than they are wide, and oval-shaped. They are typically orange-brown in colour with darker legs, as their name suggests. Engorged and bloated after feeding, their bodies can look darker. Young ticks (nymphs) can be the size of a poppy seed, with adults growing to around 2.5mm.

How to remove a tick safely?

To remove a tick safely use a specialised tick-removal tool or a pair of flat-tipped tweezers. Grip the parasite as close to your skin as possible and gently and slowly pull upwards to remove the tick. Dispose of the arachnid and then clean the bite area with soap and water or antiseptic.

What does a tick bite look like?

Not all ticks are infected with the bacterium that causes Lyme disease. A normal tick bite typically looks like a small red bump, similar to the bite of a mosquito. An infected tick bite, however, can lead to a round, bullseye-like rash, which is a symptom of Lyme disease.

When is tick season in the UK?

Tick season is from March to June and August to November in the UK. However, there is a risk from ticks all year round.

Can you die from Lyme Disease?

It is rare to die from Lyme disease, although it can be a debilitating condition with some serious symptoms if left untreated. If you think you may have Lyme disease, see a doctor to get a professional diagnosis and treatment.

How do you get Lyme disease?

Lyme disease is transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected black-legged (deer) tick. It is a bacterial infection caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, and less commonly by Borrelia mayonii.

Are there ticks in the UK?

Yes, there are ticks in the UK and they are more commonly found in woodlands and tall grasses. However, not all ticks carry the bacterium that causes Lyme disease.

Is Lyme disease contagious?

No, there is no evidence to suggest Lyme disease can be passed from person to person. It is transmitted by black-legged (deer) ticks.

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Lyme disease resources

Below are some additional resources about Lyme disease, which patients, carers, and interested individuals may wish to explore further. At Carecircle, we’ll always point you in the right direction towards other information that could bring you greater help, hope, and control.

• Lymedisease.org
• CDC – Lyme Disease
• GOV.UK – Lyme Disease
• GOV.UK – Tick Bite risks and prevention of Lyme Disease
• Lyme Disease Resources for non-members
• Lyme Resource Centre
• Lyme Disease Association
• Lifespan.org – Lyme Disease Resources
• Columbia University – Lyme Disease resources
• Public Health England – Ixodes Ricnus Map 2021
• Mayo Clinic – Lyme Disease

Although Lyme disease can be a debilitating illness, antibiotic treatment can often cure the condition. You can also take steps to reduce the risk of getting the disease, which is contracted through the bite of an infected deer tick. These steps include using a DEET-based insect repellent spray, sticking to paths, and wearing clothes that cover your skin whenever you’re in high-risk areas of ticks, such as woodlands and tall grasses. If you show symptoms of Lyme disease, you should see your doctor to get a professional diagnosis and treatment.

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Guide Sources

• https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/infections-and-poisoning/lyme-disease
• https://www.lymedisease.org/
• https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/index.html#:~:text=Lyme%20disease%20is%20the%20most,bite%20of%20infected%20blacklegged%20ticks.
• https://www.lymediseaseaction.org.uk/
• https://www.healthline.com/health/lyme-disease#symptoms
• https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/lyme-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20374651
• https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/index.html
• https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/lyme-disease/
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK431066/#:~:text=Like%20syphilis%2C%20Lyme%20is%20classified,12%20months%20of%20the%20infection.
• https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/001319.htm
• https://www.pestworld.org/pest-guide/ticks/blacklegged-deer-ticks/#:~:text=Unengorged%2C%20their%20abdomen%20is%20a,are%20clearly%20visible%20from%20above.
• https://www.bayarealyme.org/about-lyme/what-causes-lyme-disease/blacklegged-tick/
• https://www.larkmead.co.uk/news/2018/tick-season-upon-us#:~:text=Tick%20infestations%20are%20usually%20seasonal,them%20up%20all%20year%20round.
• https://www.lifespan.org/sites/default/files/lifespan-files/documents/centers/lifespan-lyme-disease-center/Study-QOL-LT-Antibiotic-Therapy.pdf
• https://igenex.com/tick-talk/what-are-the-symptoms-of-chronic-lyme-disease/
• https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/lyme-disease-guidance-data-and-analysis