The bacterial infection that’s spread to humans by insects – 5 symptoms to watch out for

PEOPLE are being warned about a bacterial infection that becomes a more glaring issue in summer.

Lyme Disease is caused by a reaction to tick bites, which can be more common in hot weather.

Getty Images – Getty

Getty Images – Getty

Ticks tend to live on sand dunes, in long grass, and in woodland or bushy areas.

People spending time outdoors at the beach, hiking, or cycling may be at risk of being bitten.

Once bitten by an infected tick, the first symptom of a circular red rash will start to show.

The rash looks similar to a bullseye with the bite mark in the middle.

It can appear up to three months after being bitten by a tick although they usually appear within the first four weeks.

Although not everyone with a tick bite will get a rash, it usually affects those who do develop it for several weeks.

Other fly-like symptoms will likely follow the rash.

These include a high temperature or feeling hot and shivery.

A second symptom is headaches and a third is muscle or joint pain.

PROPER PROCEDURE

And a fourth symptom is a feeling of tiredness, fatigue, or loss of energy.

The HSE stressed that most tick bites are harmless, with five per cent of ticks in Ireland thought to carry Lyme disease.

Health bosses said: “Only a small number of ticks are infected with the bacteria that cause Lyme disease.

“A tick bite can only cause Lyme disease in humans if the tick has bitten an infected animal.”

But they stressed that ticks should be removed from your body as soon as possible.

To do this, you should check your entire body for ticks after being outside.

TIME FRAME

And parents should check their children‘s skin as well as their head and hairlines for the insects.

Pets and animals can also carry ticks and should also be checked after spending time outside.

Lyme disease can be prevented if the tick is removed within 36 hours.

Ticks can be removed from the body by using tweezers.

The HSE recommend grasping the tick as close to the skin as possible, then slowly pulling upwards.

The bite should then be cleaned with antiseptic or soap and water.

You can dispose of a tick by:

• putting it in alcohol
• placing it in a sealed bag or container
• wrapping it tightly in tape
• flushing it down the toilet

Health chiefs said you should contact your GP if you have a rash or fever if you were bitten by a tick.

You should also get in touch if you have a rash or fever after spending time outdoors in an area with woods or long grass.

There are a few steps that can be taken in order to prevent tick bites.

You can cover your skin while walking outdoors and tuck your trousers into your socks.

Wearing an insect repellent should also help, while wearing light-coloured clothing makes ticks easier to spot and brush off.

And while out walking, people should stick to paths as much as possible.

Lyme disease can be treated with antibiotics, which can take up to a few months for some people, although symptoms should start improving over time.

Getty Images – Getty