Recognizing the symptoms of Lyme disease early is important in order to be treated in time and thus to reduce the risk of chronic complaints. Because by postponing treatment, the Borrelia bacteria (the cause of Lyme disease) is given free rein to spread throughout the body, making Lyme disease increasingly difficult to treat. In May – International Lyme Awareness Month – the Tick Bite Disease Foundation wants to draw extra attention to Lyme disease and specifically to the symptoms, which are often not recognized.
Almost everyone knows that a red ring/spot (EM) after a tick bite means you have Lyme disease.
But:
· Not everyone knows that you have to go to the doctor as soon as possible.
· Not everyone knows that this red ring/spot (EM) does not occur in everyone, is noticed or is recognized or recognized by the general practitioner.
Not everyone knows that a number of other tick-bite diseases are not associated with such a red ring/spot.
· Not everyone knows that a tick can also transmit other diseases.
You should therefore also be aware of other symptoms after a tick bite, such as fatigue, fever and flu-like symptoms. Certainly if no one around you has the flu, this should be a reason to go to the doctor.
The most important thing remains to prevent a tick bite (by staying on the paths, not going into the bushes, wearing skin-covering clothing, tucking your pants in your socks, not wearing open shoes and putting on a cap for children) and Always check your clothes and body for ticks after a stay in nature. And with a tick bite, remove the tick as quickly as possible without pinching, twisting or otherwise irritating the tick. And you should always report a tick bite to your doctor, so that this is included in your medical file, in case you later develop complaints that may be related to the tick bite.
The accompanying infogram shows possible symptoms. These do not occur in everyone and can occur in varying combinations.
