What is it?
Lyme disease is caused by a bacterium and occurs in Europe, North America and northern Asia.
Symptoms are varied and may include:
- discolouration of the skin at the site of a tick bite
- fever and possibly muscle and joint pain in the first week after a tick bite
- joint problems, skin problems, nerve problems or heart problems (if early symptoms are left untreated)
Lyme disease can be treated with antibiotics, but the sooner a tick bite is noticed, the better the treatment will work.
How do you catch it?
Lyme disease can only be caught through a bite from an infected tick. The tick itself can become infected when it feeds on the blood of an infected rodent or bird. When it later feeds on a person, that person can in turn become infected with the bacterium. About 1 in 5 ticks carries the bacterium. The incubation period can range from a week to several months.
How do you prevent it?
You can reduce the risk of Lyme disease by lowering your chances of a tick bite: wear clothing that covers the skin and apply an insect repellent to the skin. It is also wise to check yourself for tick bites every day and to remove any tick if necessary. Checking for ticks is always necessary after spending time out in nature. A tick bite and the skin rash can easily be missed. Consult your GP if a tick has been attached to your skin for longer than 24 hours. After a tick bite, keep an eye on the site of the bite for 3 months and consult your GP if you develop any health problems.
There is no vaccine against Lyme disease.
Besides the conditions at your destination, your personal circumstances and travel plans are decisive factors in the preparations you may need to make — or are required to make — before you travel. You are welcome to come to us for expert travel health advice.
The above description is only a general, concise and simplified overview and is intended for information purposes only. No rights can be derived from it. Personal advice is given exclusively during a consultation with a specially trained Certified Travel Health Physician or Travel Health Assistant.