1 week Ago By [email protected] (Matt LLoyd, Alex Evans)
UK households are being cautioned about the risk of contracting a serious illness this spring, specifically between April and June, which can be triggered simply by walking through long grass. Lyme Disease, a potentially severe condition, is spread by tiny ticks that hide in grass and can bite individuals, children, or pets. As people spend more time outdoors, exploring nature, countryside, woods, or even their own gardens, the risk of tick bites increases, which can, in some cases, lead to Lyme disease, warns charity Lyme Disease UK.
With May being Lyme Disease Awareness Month, the charity is urging the public to be vigilant for the tiny arachnids that may carry the disease. If left untreated, Lyme Disease can have severe consequences, including neurological or cardiac issues. According to Lyme Disease UK: "Lyme disease is a bacterial infection, usually caused by the bite of an infected tick.
"Ticks can be found in every county across the UK and can be as small as poppy seeds, so can easily be missed. If you spend a lot of time outdoors or you own a pet, you may be at higher risk of being bitten," reports the Express . The charity emphasizes the importance of raising awareness about Lyme disease, as delayed diagnosis or misdiagnosis can lead to serious long-term health problems, including neurological and cardiac issues.
To identify potential cases, the charity advises people to look out for key symptoms if they've spent time outside or found a tick on their skin: Lyme disease can be transmitted by the bite of an infected tick. Ticks can be as small as a poppy seed. Bites are normally painless, so can easily be missed.
Not everyone with Lyme disease develops a rash. It is important to look out for symptoms as well. The rash can appear up to three months after being bitten by an infected tick, but usually appears within one to four weeks.
It can last for several weeks. Early symptoms can include fatigue, headaches, flu-like illness, facial palsy, migratory muscle and joint pain, nausea, and a stiff neck. Lyme disease can be transmitted by the bite of an infected tick.
Ticks can be incredibly small, comparable to a poppy seed, and their bites are often painless, making them easily overlooked. However, not everyone infected with Lyme disease develops a rash, so it's crucial to be aware of other symptoms as well. The rash can manifest up to three months after being bitten by an infected tick, but it typically appears within one to four weeks and can persist for several weeks.
Initial symptoms may include fatigue, headaches, flu-like illness, facial palsy, migratory muscle and joint pain, nausea, and a stiff neck. Lyme Disease UK emphasizes that ticks can be found not only in woods and countryside areas but also in home gardens. To minimize the risk, the organization advises people to take precautions when spending time outdoors, including:.
This advice is supported by the UK Health and Security Agency, which states: "Tick activity increases in spring and peaks between April and June, and this is when tick bite risk is highest. "Carry out a tick check after outdoor activities – look and feel for attached ticks on you, your family and pets." The NHS's website further states: "Ticks that may cause Lyme disease are found all over the UK, but high-risk places include grassy and wooded areas in southern and northern England and the Scottish Highlands.
"Ticks are tiny spider-like creatures that live in woods, areas with long grass, and sometimes in urban parks and gardens. They're found all over the UK.".
