May – Lyme Disease Awareness Month

As the month’s warm up many of our customers such as schools, those working outdoors and families taking part in outdoor recreational activities often want to know how to provide first aid for tick bites and further understand Lyme disease as the overall figure for cases in England and Wales is estimated at between 2,000 and 3,000 a year.

Lyme disease is an infection caused by numerous strains of Borrelia, a type of bacteria. The spread of Lyme disease is occurred through the bite from an infected Ixodes ricinus tick which carries the Borrelia bacterium.

High Risk Areas in the UK include the South of England and the Scottish Highlands and only a small amount of ticks in the UK are infected with the bacteria that causes Lyme disease. Ticks can commonly be found in grassy and wooded areas, including urban gardens and parks.

Lyme disease is a serious illness in humans and if you have been bitten initial symptoms could include the following:

  • fatigue
  • fevers, chills
  • nausea
  • flu-like symptoms
  • Bell’s palsy
  • headaches and a stiff neck
  • Muscle and joint aches

As the disease progresses, neurological and cardiac complications can occur.

The most distinctive symptom is a bull’s-eye rash on the skin but it’s important to note that a large percentage of patients never develop the rash. Pictures of these rashes can be viewed here

Visit your doctor urgently if you are concerned that you may have contracted Lyme disease so it can be diagnosed and treated swiftly ensuring you make a full recovery.

Should you be at risk then we highly recommend that you attend one of our First Aid Courses to learn more.

2019-05-02T17:32:51+01:00
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