There is a shock in store for Gemma and Chesney Brown next week as they finally get to the bottom of their son Joseph’s mysterious illness when he is diagnosed with Lyme Disease on Coronation Street. After weeks of worry, trips to the doctors and Gemma being removed from the house by social services under suspicion of deliberately poisoning the youngster, things take a dramatic turn when he collapses at home.
He is rushed to hospital where doctors tell his worried parents and grandparents that he has Lyme Disease, probably contracted from a tick bite whilst on a camping holiday. They are relieved to discover it is treatable and he will make a good recovery.
Coronation Street has been working closely with Lyme Disease UK who have been consulted on scripts regarding symptoms and treatment. Julia Knight is a retired Specialist Practitioner Paediatric Nurse in Community Nursing, who has experienced Lyme disease herself. She volunteers for the charity Lyme Disease UK as their Press and Community Outreach Manager, giving talks, interviews and writing articles to raise awareness of Lyme disease and how to prevent it.
Julia says “It has been my great pleasure to work with the Coronation Street script writers to give them advice and pointers so that they could produce a storyline that is both realistic and engaging. Lyme disease can easily be overlooked if a person only shows viral-type symptoms initially, as in the storyline. Raising awareness of the disease and giving people the information about how to prevent it is essential. With knowledge, bites can be prevented, and awareness of possible symptoms means that people who do contract the disease can seek medical advice promptly.
Information from Lyme Disease UK
Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that is caused by the bite of an infected tick and is treated with antibiotics. Ticks are usually found in woodland, heathlands and grassy areas but have also been found in urban parks and gardens.
Lyme disease is endemic in many parts of the UK and infected ticks have been found in every region of the UK. It is important to remember that not all ticks carry infection and that a tick bite does not necessarily mean Lyme disease.
Lyme disease can be prevented with a small amount of knowledge and awareness. It is also important to know how to remove a tick safely and to be aware of signs and symptoms of Lyme disease if you or your child does sustain a tick bite.
Prevention:
There are simple steps you can take to prevent a bite:
Removing a tick safely:
Symptoms of Lyne Disease
The most well-known symptom of Lyme disease is an Erythema Migrans rash, which is a circular expanding rash that can appear between 3 days – 3 months after a bite.
It sometimes has a bulls-eye type appearance but can be atypical. However, approximately 30% of people who contract Lyme disease do not produce a rash.
Other symptoms to look out for are flu-like symptoms that can include:
Fatigue Muscle and joint pain Headaches Fever and chills Neck stiffness Nausea Digestive issues Feeling generally unwell. Facial palsy (when one side of the face drops- especially with children).
It is important to seek medical advice if you think that you or your child may have contracted Lyme disease so that treatment can commence as soon aspossible.
Visit https://lymediseaseuk.com/ for further information.
