Mum With Lyme Disease Believes She Has Passed The Illness On To Her Husband And Children
Mum Claims She's Passed Lyme Disease On To Her Family
Amy Packham— The Huffington Post UK
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A mother who has Lyme disease believes she has passed the illness on to her husband and children.
Adelle Huckins, 35, from Yorkshire, who has three children - Josh, 12, and Kaitlyn, 10, and Dexter, five, - said her daughter has tested positive for the disease and the rest of her family are showing symptoms and waiting for results from medical tests.
Huckins has shared her story following Phones4U founder John Caudwell's claims that Lyme disease could be contagious or congenital, as he and four other members of his family have contracted the illness, including his 20-year-old son Rufus who is "severely ill".
He told the MailOnline: "I believe it is one of the greatest threats to public health in our time. It’s the new syphilis. Syphilis — before they were able to treat it — was a massive killer that caused a whole range of illnesses."
Caudwell now believes the disease "could be congenital or transmitted person to person".
Caudwell said he was only diagnosed two weeks ago, after suffering headaches and periods of "a complete lack of energy". He is now calling on the government to research Lyme disease.
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John Caudwell
Lyme disease is a bacterial infection spread to humans by infected ticks, which can be found in woodland and heath areas.
The NHS states, Lyme disease is caught after a tick bite transferring bacteria, making it very rare, with only 2,000 to 3,000 sufferers every year in the UK.
Huckins was diagnosed with Lyme disease four years ago and is currently receiving treatment.
Huckins believes she caught Lyme disease during a school trip years ago when she was bitten by a tick, but was not diagnosed until 20 years later.
She said initial tests for the disease from the NHS came back negative, but then four years ago a specialist laboratory in the US concluded she had it.
The family are all going to be tested.
Huckins said her husband, Rob, 37, has joint pain and arthritis, both typically associated Lyme disease and her son, Josh, has a bone disorder of the foot, as well as night terrors, headaches, digestive dysfunction, joint pain, re-occurring rashes, jaundice and liver problems.
All the symptoms, she says, are "text book Lyme."
She added: "It is heartbreaking enough. No family should have to go through what we are."
However, Professor Tom Solomon, director of the University of Liverpool’s institute of infection and global health, does not agree Lyme disease can be passed on to family members.
He said, according to the Telegraph: "Although there are many things about Lyme disease that we do not yet understand, there is no evidence at all to suggest that it passes from person to person."
While anyone can get a tick bite, people who work outdoors or participate in outdoor activities are more likely to be in areas where ticks are found. Take precautions against tick bites while golfing, fishing, hiking, camping, and hunting, Health Canada advises.
Lyme Disease In Canada (03 of11)
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Overall, Lyme disease cases in Canada are increasing: the government reported 128 cases in 2009 and 682 in 2013. But while the incidence of Lyme disease is rising in some parts of the country, it's holding steady in others, says Dr. David Patrick, an infectious disease specialist at the University of British Columbia. “Canada is a whole bunch of different ecosystems,” hes says, which means there are many different environments for ticks. More Lyme is being seen in southern Nova Scotia and southern Ontario, he say, up to 50 per cent of ticks on the Niagara peninsula. By contrast, Lyme is only found in 1 in 200 ticks in British Columbia where this level has remained constant for some time.
Know Your Local Risk(04 of11)
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Because risk can vary so greatly across the country, it’s important to know what it’s like where you live, Patrick says. The Canadian government works with experts and public health organizations across the country to track tick populations and Lyme disease incidence.
Everyone Should Be Aware(05 of11)
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But everyone should be aware: “It doesn’t matter where you live,” Patrick says. “People should know about tick prevention.” While Lyme disease is the most common disease spread by ticks, others are a concern as well. And even if you live in an area with low incidence of Lyme disease, that doesn’t mean the individual tick that bit you doesn't have Lyme.
Preventing Lyme Disease(06 of11)
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If you are hiking in the woods or in an area known to have ticks, stick to the middle of the trail, Patrick advises. Wear long pants and a long-sleeved shirt, and consider using an insect repellent with DEET, he says. Afterwards, have someone help you do an allover tick check — the bites are painless, so you may have been bitten without realizing it.
Symptoms To Watch Out For(07 of11)
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If you’ve been bitten by a tick, watch for the symptoms of Lyme disease over the coming days or weeks. You may see a mark where you were bitten — many people say it has a bulls eye shape, round with a clearing in the centre. Patrick points out that the clearing may not be obvious. “If you have a rash after a tick bite, you want to see a doctor,” he says. Some people also experience fever, chills, tiredness, swollen lymph nodes, or fatigue after a tick bite. And if things progress, you could have more serious symptoms like sore joints, arthritis, heart rhythm issues, and nervous system issues. It’s uncommon, but Lyme disease can be fatal if left untreated.
How To Remove A Tick(08 of11)
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Blacklegged ticks can range in size from that of a poppyseed to a pea. If you do find a tick embedded under your skin, it’s important to remove it quickly and completely. With a pair of tweezers, grab the tick under the body, where the mouth connects to the skin, and pull it out steadily (get someone else to help if it’s too hard to reach by yourself). “What you’re trying to do is not leave the mouth parts behind,” Patrick says. Once the tick is removed, wash or disinfect the area.
Get The Tick Tested(09 of11)
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In most parts of the country you can get the tick tested for Lyme disease, Patrick notes. If you remove a tick, try to save it in a plastic bag or pill bottle and record the date and location of the bite. Ticks can be submitted to the National Microbiology Lab, which tests them to determine where in the country blacklegged ticks are being found and what the risk levels are.
Watch Out For Pets(10 of11)
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Pets can get Lyme disease — dogs are particularly at risk. However, animals like dogs cannot spread Lyme to humans, Health Canada says. However, pets can carry infected ticks into your home or yard, so check your animals, particularly if they’ve been in wooded or overgrown areas. (credit:shutterstock)
How To Treat Yourself(11 of11)
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Lyme disease is often treated with a two to four weeks of antibiotics, though some people require a longer course of treatment. “The recommended courses of antibiotics do a very good job of eliminating the organism,” Patrick says. However, for some people, symptoms can persist for six months or longer after treatment. Always speak to your doctor if you are concerned.