As temperatures rise and more people spend time outdoors in shorts and short-sleeved clothing, there is an increased risk of tick bites and the potential transmission of Lyme disease.
Ticks are commonly found on vegetation including grass, shrubs, garden borders and woodland undergrowth. Activities such as walking through tall grass, picnicking in grassy areas or cycling through wooded trails can bring people into contact with these small creatures. Ticks do not jump or fly; instead, they crawl onto exposed skin before attaching themselves and feeding.
If a tick is carrying the bacterium Borrelia, the bite can lead to Lyme disease. An itchy, raised red bump can develop at the site of the bite, although symptoms of Lyme disease may not appear for up to three months. Many people are unaware they have been bitten, while others may attempt to remove an attached tick incorrectly, increasing the risk of bacterial transmission.
Common symptoms of Lyme disease include a distinctive “bullseye” rash, which is typically not itchy and often appears around the site of the bite. Other symptoms can include:
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Joint pain
- Altered sensations
- Headaches
- Eye problems
- In rare cases, patients may experience chest pain.
Diagnosis is often based on the presence of the characteristic rash or through blood tests that detect antibodies to the bacteria. However, these tests can sometimes produce false-negative results in the early stages of infection or in individuals with weakened immune systems, making diagnosis more challenging.
Treatment generally involves a three-week course of oral antibiotics. Doxycycline is usually prescribed as the first-line treatment, while amoxicillin or azithromycin may be used as an alternative. Patients with severe symptoms may require hospital treatment.
Dr Markides advises taking precautions to reduce the risk of tick bites. These include:
- Using insect repellent
- Wearing long sleeves and trousers in high-risk areas
- Choosing light-coloured clothing, which can make ticks easier to spot before they attach to the skin.
Getting into the habit of checking yours and loved ones skin after being out and about is also helpful to spot ticks which may otherwise go unnoticed.
If a tick is found embedded in the skin, it should be removed using a dedicated tick-removal tool. The tool should be carefully inserted between the skin and the tick before gently lifting the tick away. Dr Markides advises caution against squeezing or pinching the tick, as this can force bacteria from the tick’s abdomen into the body and increase the risk of infection.
Not all ticks carry the bacteria, but if you are unlucky enough to be bitten by an infected tick, the good news is that prompt removal of the tick following the correct procedure, and quick access to antibiotics leads to a successful outcome in most cases.
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