A campaign is running this summer to raise awareness of tick bites and the symptoms of Lyme Disease.
Ticks are tiny spider-like creatures found in woodland and moorland areas. They feed on the blood of birds and mammals, including humans.
Lyme disease is a bacterial infection spread to humans by infected ticks. It’s also known as Lyme borreliosis.
Key symptoms of Lyme disease include a large, reddened skin rash spreading out from the site of a tick bite or flu-like symptoms after being bitten by a tick. Both situations should trigger a call to a GP practice so that the risk of Lyme disease can be assessed and treatment offered.
The symptoms of Lyme disease tend to be mild and, if detected early, respond very well to a course of antibiotics. If early symptoms are missed or ignored it is more likely that longer-term symptoms will develop.
To avoid being bitten by ticks, cover up bare skin with long trousers and long sleeves when in outdoor green spaces. Using insect repellents also helps.
It’s also really important to check for ticks after spending time in outdoor green spaces.
If you do discover a tick attached to you or someone who you’re with, there’s no need to panic. Removing attached ticks properly and quickly using a specially designed tick removal tool greatly reduces the likelihood that they can pass any bugs on to you. The plastic ones shaped like a little claw hammer (Tick twister) or credit card (Tick card) are generally the easiest to use.
For more information visit NHS inform here.
