Think you know about Lyme Disease? Think again. If you spend time outdoors there are some very important facts you need to know to keep yourself and those around you safe.

Listen to Julia Knight from Lyme Disease UK talking about Lyme Disease, how it can go undiagnosed and be mistaken for other illnesses. Learn how to get a test and get the treatment you need quickly. Let’s enjoy the outdoors but go equipped with the knowledge needed to be protected from this serious illness.

Wake Up To Lyme as symptoms overlap with Covid-19!

With the weather warming up, many of us are eager to get outside to enjoy our country’s green spaces. In doing so, it’s important to Wake Up to Lyme!

The symptoms of acute Lyme disease can overlap with Covid-19 symptoms. These include flu-like symptoms, fatigue and headaches. For Lyme disease patients, being diagnosed quickly and correctly is crucial in order to avoid long-term complications. A lot of people are unaware of the illness and so Lyme disease is often misdiagnosed or left untreated.

As we spend time outside in the warmer weather, it’s important to be aware of how to prevent tick bites. Ticks can be prevalent in woodland and countryside as well as in urban parks and gardens. It’s also important to know what to do if bitten by a tick to prevent further cases of Lyme disease this year.

• Ticks can be as small as poppy seeds and so careful checking is key.
• Take a look at a map to see if where you live or where you’ll be visiting is considered high-risk for tick activity.
• It’s important to be aware that whilst some areas are considered higher risk, ticks have been found throughout the UK in urban parks and gardens, as well as in rural areas with long grass and woodland.
• Take effective tick repellent on outdoor trips and a tick removal tool.
• Some people who are diagnosed and treated for Lyme disease continue to have debilitating symptoms such as tiredness, brain fog and aches and pains that can last for years. Symptoms are often compared with fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and of course these days, with long-Covid.
• It’s unclear why some people remain unwell following a tick bite and standard Lyme disease treatment has been administered but more research is desperately needed to explore better testing options and treatment protocols.
• Testing is not accurate meaning cases can be missed.
• There is no test for cure to indicate when Lyme disease has been eradicated.
• There are no Lyme disease specialists within the NHS.
• Ticks can carry multiple other infections in addition to Lyme disease, known as co-infections.

UK registered charity, Lyme Disease UK, will be carrying out their sixth ‘Wake Up to Lyme’ campaign this May, which is International Lyme Awareness Month. Lyme Disease UK is a volunteer-led charity that offers support for Lyme disease patients and their loved ones. What is Lyme disease?

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that can be spread to humans by infected ticks. Lyme Disease UK has a detailed and comprehensive guide available on their website and want to help the public ‘wake up’ to how vital tick bite prevention and early intervention can be. We can still enjoy and be amongst nature, as long as we’re informed when it comes to what steps should be taken in the event of a tick bite:

“We don’t want people to be scared of enjoying the outdoors but rather that people go out armed with the facts and knowledge they need to protect themselves and others from Lyme disease. Early intervention is key, and getting that message out to the public is crucial.” Natasha Metcalf, Co-founder and Chair of Lyme Disease UK.

What is the impact?

Lyme disease is a serious illness that can have a huge impact on the lives of those suffering with the condition. However, it is preventable and treatable, especially if caught early and treated immediately. Current sufferers face a high chance of misdiagnosis and inadequate treatment. This is because Lyme disease symptoms mimic many other conditions, such as ME/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, arthritis, fibromyalgia and depression. Lyme Disease UK hopes to spread valuable knowledge amongst the public, as we collectively Wake up to Lyme.

The campaign aims to: 

• Alleviate pressure on NHS services by reducing the incidence of patients seeking medical attention for tick bites. 
• Make local communities aware of how to prevent tick bites and reduce the likelihood of more people contracting Lyme disease.
• Share advice on how to safely remove a tick. 
• Inform people that if they do become unwell following a tick bite, they should seek early treatment from their GP in order to stand the best chance of recovery and avoid complications. 

What are the facts?

For a disease that many know little about, Lyme disease is more common than we tend to believe. Let’s consider the facts:

• Ticks are found in woodland and rural areas as well as in urban parks and gardens and in every county in the UK.
• In 2016, the Big Tick Project discovered that a third of dogs checked in a study had ticks attached, which their owners did not know about. 
• A third of people don’t get an EM (Erythema migrans), Lyme disease rash which is diagnostic of the disease.
• There are around 3000 new cases each year in England and Wales, according to Public Health England.
• Cases may be up to three times higher than estimated as this figure is based on positive blood test results and excludes all clinical diagnoses of Lyme disease, including people diagnosed based on the presence of a Lyme disease (EM) rash.

Why do we need to Wake up to Lyme?

Lyme disease is considered an invisible illness and the consequences can be serious, isolating and costly to the patient. With little help available via the NHS, our charity’s Wake Up to Lyme campaign hopes to prevent tick bites and provide key knowledge to those who are concerned that they may have been bitten by a tick. Only by sharing this knowledge can we support those who are suffering, and ensure that as few people as possible are impacted.

Public Health England estimates that there are around 3,000 new cases per year but the true number is unknown, and likely to be far higher. Many people are likely to be infected this year and inevitably, some will be misdiagnosed and not treated promptly. This may lead to chronic health issues masquerading as chronic fatigue syndrome, depression, fibromyalgia, Alzheimer’s and multiple sclerosis. Many of the members of Lyme Disease UK’s Online Community have had difficult and prolonged experiences trying to obtain an accurate diagnosis of Lyme disease and adequate treatment.

The Wake Up to Lyme awareness campaign aims to reduce the number of new infections and educate people on how to enjoy the outdoors safely.

Contact Julia Knight (Press and Community Outreach Manager) by email: media@lymediseaseuk.com