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Lyme disease

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection transmitted by an infected tick, usually after time in an area where Lyme occurs. An expanding red or bluish-red skin patch is often diagnosed clinically; early blood tests may be negative, and heart, nerve or joint symptoms require targeted treatment.

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Lyme disease is a bacterial infection transmitted by an infected tick, usually after time in an area where Lyme occurs. An expanding red or bluish-red skin patch is often diagnosed clinically; early blood tests may be negative, and heart, nerve or joint symptoms require targeted treatment.

  • An expanding red, pink or bluish-red skin patch, usually larger than five centimetres and often neither painful nor itchy.
  • Fever, headache, tiredness, muscle and joint pain and swollen lymph nodes in the early phase.
  • Grasp the tick with fine-tipped tick tweezers as close to the skin as possible and pull gently straight upwards without squeezing its body.
  • Clean the skin and tool after removal and record the date, body site and geographical location of exposure.
  • Arrange an appointment the same day for a skin patch that expands days after a possible tick bite, even without a ring shape.
  • For urgent GP care outside normal opening hours, call HAP 9252. Call Ambulance 912 only for an immediately life-threatening situation.

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T
Tick biteRemove a tick as soon as possible with fine-pointed tweezers close to the skin. Not every tick bite causes illness, and risk depends greatly on the country, tick species and travel; record the place and date and have fever, an expanding ring, a black scab or neurological symptoms assessed.
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IntertrigoIntertrigo causes red, irritated patches where skin touches skin and stays warm or moist. Keeping the area dry and aired helps, but a fungal or bacterial infection may need treatment.