Lyme disease warning to islanders

The most common symptom is a slowly expanding rash

People on the Isle of Man are being warned of the dangers of Lyme disease.

The tick-borne infection is on the increase as a result of mild winters and hotter summers, which mean the parasites live and breed for longer.

Lyme disease can be hard to spot as it has a variety of symptoms, and can easily be mistaken for something else.

Chris Cafferkey from the island said she felt ill for many years before the disease was diagnosed by a specialist in the UK five years ago.

Treatment

The most common symptom is a slowly expanding rash which spreads out from a tick bite, usually after about five to 14 days.

Typical symptoms also include fever, headache, fatigue, and a characteristic skin rash called erythema migrans.

Most cases can be treated with a few weeks of antibiotics, but if left untreated, infection can spread to joints, the heart, and the nervous system.

The disease can be easily contracted from a walk in the park or pets.