Lyme Disease

The first sign of Lyme infection is a small wound from the tick’s bite, with early symptoms including joint pain, a generalised rash, fever and fatigue. Later symptoms can include a stiff neck, joint swelling, heart problems, painful arthritis and mental disorders.

There is no vaccine to prevent Lyme disease at the time of writing.

When spending time outdoors, especially in rural or forested areas, stop ticks from hitching a ride by:

• Walking in the centre of trails, avoiding wooded and bushy areas with high grass and leaf litter.
• Wearing a long-sleeved shirt and trousers, tucking trousers into socks.
• Applying either DEET 30–40%, oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) or PMD or picaridin 20% insect repellent to exposed skin.
• Soaking or spraying your clothing, hat, boots and socks with a solution of permethrin. A safe, proven contact insecticide, permethrin remains effective even after several washes. DIY permethrin kits are available at Travel Doctor-TMVC clinics. 

Thoroughly scan your body at the end of each day. Check for ticks under the arms, in and around the ears, inside the navel, behind the knees, in the groin area, around the waist and in hair.

This disease responds well to certain antibiotics in the early stages; therefore, early recognition is important in treatment. If left untreated, Lyme disease can develop into late Lyme disease, which can cause joint pain and swelling, as well as redness, thinning of the skin, arthritis, weakened facial muscles, heart palpitations and aching muscles. In some cases, late Lyme disease can cause neurological problems.

Removing ticks

Using fine-tipped (not blunt-nosed) tweezers or a tick remover, grasp the tick from the side (not from above) as close to the skin’s surface as possible. Pull upward steadily. After removing all traces of the tick, clean the bite area thoroughly using antiseptic and wash your hands with soap and water or rubbing alcohol.