Borrelia

Borrelia is a disease that occurs through tick bites. By spreading the bacteria at the bite, you get an irritating and itchy skin redness that can be up to 10 cm in diameter or more where the tick bites you. This infection can, if left untreated, spread to the nervous system and your joints, causing you to become seriously ill. It is therefore very important to check the skin carefully in the summer, especially in your hair and the like, to see that you have not been affected by unwelcome parasites such as ticks.

Borrelia symptoms

A tick bite that leads to Lyme disease can cause redness on the skin. The redness can itch, the skin can become numb and it can feel a bit like a bump, especially if you scratch in the area. However, Lyme disease is sometimes not noticed until after about 3-4 weeks, which makes it a bit of an insidious disease. Pay attention to whether the redness expands over time take on an oval or rounded shape with a white ring in the middle. Sometimes it can become so large that it covers an entire body part. Common symptoms in addition to the classic rash are headache, fatigue, fever and muscle and joint pain. Borrelia attacks the nervous system within a couple of months and can even cause paralysis. Sometimes the rash also gives rise to small sores or oozing blisters.

Vaccinations and treatments

Unfortunately, there is still no vaccine that counteracts Lyme disease. To get rid of the disease, antibiotics are given. Women are more likely to get Lyme disease than men. If you suspect that you are suffering from Lyme disease, a care clinic must be contacted immediately.

Remember to always protect yourself with covering upholstery when staying in land where ticks occur and look through hair and skin at regular intervals when you have been out in the woods and meadows. You who have pets should also be extra careful as infectious ticks with Lyme disease can migrate further.

Remove tick-borne ticks as soon as you spot them! Borrelia is not transmitted directly at the bite as TBE but only after a few days, so removing them early gives less risk of this disease.

Sources:
Folkhälsomyndigheten
CDC