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The Ramblers - Derbyshire Dales Group |
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Lyme Disease Reported in The Peak DistrictOne unconfirmed and two confirmed cases of Lyme disease have been reported in the Peak District. This is not an urban myth and is probably the first time this potentially fatal illness has been reported in our area. This article is to alert walkers to the circumstances and as a reminder about precautions which should be taken. In September a walker was bitten on the lower leg though a pair of Ron Hill tracksters. This was at Deer Knoll on the northern edge of Bleaklow. He thought he'd suffered a midge bite and only went to his doctor after the bite got worse. He reported that it developed as a red, blind spot surrounded by a ring of clear skin surrounded by an inflamed area, which eventually grew to 5" or so in diameter. After about 10 days he had also developed severe joint pains and after blood tests he was put on what sounds like a tetracycline drug. He says it will be 3 years before he can be sure he is free of the infection. He said, "Don't believe what they say about flu-like symptoms being the first sign." Another walker, a friend of the first one, was bitten in June 2006, also through a thin garment, while walking through rough scrub near Crowden. His bite developed in the same way but the symptoms in his case were extreme lethargy/tiredness but no joint pain. It is assumed that the second man had similar treatment but this did not happen immediately because his doctor thought he had an allergy, until he learnt from the patient about his friend's experience This much is known about Lyme disease. It is caused by the bacteria Borrelia Burghdor feri, which is spread by animal ticks, particularly
Wearing long trousers and long sleeved shirts when working in tall vegetation during May-June or September-October can reduce the risk of infection. Tuck trousers into socks if necessary. Light coloured clothing will make ticks more noticeable so that they can be brushed off. Insect repellent sprays can help. The range of symptoms includes partial paralysis of the face (Bell’s Palsy) and serious illness of the nervous system, joints and heart. Flu-like symptoms may develop, as may swollen glands near the site of the bite, mild headaches, aching muscles and joints, and tiredness. Although the highest risk is during the summer when the tick is most active and feeding, there is some research showing that in certain areas, ticks can be active all year round. If bitten, remove the tick as soon as possible by grasping it close to the skin with a pair of tweezers. Apply gentle pressure, twist anti-clockwise and pull upwards. Pull slowly and consistently until it lets go. Do not squeeze the body of the tick or attempt to remove it with burning or chemicals. If the tick is accidentally pulled apart and the head remains in the skin, there may be a risk of infection from other microscopic organisms. This kind of infection is not related to Lyme disease but can still be unpleasant. Retain the tick in a sealed contain as evidence of being bitten in case you develop symptoms later. The bite might show itself as an expanding reddish, round rash in the area of the bite. This will usually develop within 3 to 30 days of a bite. Consult a doctor as soon as you believe you are infected and advise him or her that a Lyme disease infection is possible. Tony Byrne |
deer ticks. Other wild animals may also carry the ticks, which are found in scrub, long grass, bracken or other vegetation frequented by infected animals. Not all ticks carry the bacteria.