Tick Disease Warning to Doctors

[Guest guest]

Doctors have been warned to look out for a tick disease which is

thought to be on the increase in Britain.

The Medical Defence Union (MDU), a doctors' insurance body, has told

its members to remain vigilant for possible cases of Lyme disease.

 

Recently it has dealt with a number of complaints alleging a delay in

diagnosis of the condition.

 

Lyme disease can be hard to spot as it has a variety of symptoms, and

can easily be mistaken for something else.

 

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

 

Dr Claire Wratten

Medical Defence Union

 

It is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi and is transmitted

to humans by the bite of infected ticks.

 

The most common symptom is a slowly expanding rash which spreads out

from a tick bite, usually after about five to 14 days.

 

Typical symptoms also include fever, headache, fatigue, and a

characteristic skin rash called erythema migrans.

 

Most cases of Lyme disease can be treated successfully with a few

weeks of antibiotics.

 

But if left untreated, infection can spread to joints, the heart, and

the nervous system.

 

Rise in cases

 

In England and Wales 684 cases were reported last year, and Scotland

has seen a tenfold increase in numbers over the last decade, with 177

cases reported 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

affecting mainly the neurological, cardiac and musculo-skeletal

systems, many months to years after the initial infection.

 

" 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. "

 

Despite the fact the number of cases of Lyme disease is increasing,

the MDU said it was likely that an individual doctor will only rarely

see a case.

 

However, it has issued guidance for doctors advising them to:

 

 

Tell patients to take precautions against tick bites if they are

visiting woods, heathland and parklands in high risk areas

 

Make themselves aware of the various clinical manifestations of the

disease

 

Consider the diagnosis in patients with possible symptoms who have

walked in areas where the disease is prevalent

 

Remember that only about 20% of patients are likely to recall being

bitten by a tick

Sue O Connell, of the Health Protection Agency, said the MDU was

right to highlight the issue, especially now when people were going

off on holiday and spending more time outside.

 

She said: " Areas where infection has been acquired in the UK include

popular holiday destinations such 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, but

the infection can occur in other areas where ticks are present. "