The first symptom is often a rash at the site of the tick bite but around one in three people with Lyme disease do not develop a rash at all. Some people with the disease also experience flu like symptoms in the early stages such as tiredness, muscle pain, joint pain and a high temperature.
More serious symptoms may develop several weeks, months or even years later including:
- Pain and swelling in the joints
- Problems affecting the nervous system
- Heart problems
- Inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord
More information on the signs and symptoms of Lyme disease and how it can be treated is available at:
Public Health England – Lyme disease
Ticks feed on birds and mammals that carry the bacterium in their blood and then transmit the bacterium to a human when they have a blood meal.
Ticks are common in forested areas, heathland, moorland and suburban parks.
Occupations where there may be a risk of exposure to the disease include:
- Sheep farmers and in particular hill farmers
- Deer farmers
- Game keepers
- Veterinary surgeons
- Agricultural workers
There are approximately 900 reported cases of Lyme disease each year but it is estimated that the total of new cases each year is between two and three thousand.
Measures to reduce the risk of infection include:
- Being aware of risks in high risk areas
- The wearing of long trousers tucked into socks in areas of long grass
- Checking exposed skin for ticks
- Checking clothing and animals for ticks
- Using insect repellent
More information on the occupational risk from Lyme disease is available on the HSE website