Lyme, a tick disease that is gripping Britain has made Medical Defence Union (MDU) to instruct its doctors to be more vigilant on the symptoms that include fever, headache, fatigue, and a typical skin rash called erythema migrans. MCD has recently come across a number of cases alleging a delay in diagnosis of the condition.
Due to the numerous symptoms the disease is not easily diagnosed. Its most common symptom is a rash from the bite of the tick that becomes visible after 5-14 days and expands slowly. Known as Lyme disease it is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi and is transmitted to humans by the bite of infected ticks.
The disease is easily curable if detected on time. Generally few weeks of antibiotics cure the disease successfully. However, if the diagnosis is late or it is left untreated than it is more dangerous as it spreads to joints, the heart, and the nervous system.
Last year a total of 684 case were reported from England and Wales, whereas Scotland has seen a tenfold increase in numbers over the last decade and 177 cases were reported from there itself last year.
Dr Claire Wratten, MDU senior medical claims handler, said:
While a delay or failure in diagnosis is not necessarily negligent, if the condition remains untreated, patients may develop serious symptoms. Doctors may see increasing numbers of cases of Lyme disease in the future as recent news reports have indicated a rise in the tick population.
The MDU has issued certain guidance for the doctors advising them to:
1. Explain people to take precautions against tick bites when they go to woods, heathland and parklands.
2. Make people aware of the various clinical manifestations of the disease.
3. Consider the diagnosis in patients with possible symptoms who have walked in areas where the disease is common.
4. Only a few, 20% of patients are likely to recall that a tick bit them.
The disease is on its high in Britain, as now people are going off on holiday and spending more time outside. Areas where the infection is spreading are the parts which are well known holiday destinations as Exmoor, the New Forest, the South Downs, parts of Wiltshire and Berkshire, Thetford Forest , the Lake District, the Yorkshire moors and the Scottish Highlands.
The disease is not restricted to these areas only and it is quite possible that it may spread to other areas where ticks are present.
Source: BBC