Question: I have heard that if you get bitten by a tick, you get Lyme disease, is that true and if yes can you tell me how?

Asked by april7 to Kate on 15 Mar 2013.

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  1. Photo: Kate SkulteKate Skulte
    answered on 15 Mar 2013:

    Yes you can. If the tick which bites you is carrying the bacteria ‘Borrelia burgdorferi’, that bacteria will be transfered to you and it is the bacteria which gives you Lyme disease. Oftern there is a bullseye mark around the bite and symptoms can inculde fever, headache, fatigue, sore muscles and joints, and a skin rash.

    Only some species of tick can carry this bacteria and I’m pretty sure there are none in Australia at the moment.

    If you want to know more about the symptoms and diagnosis this website is pretty good 🙂 https://www0.health.nsw.gov.au/factsheets/infectious/lyme_disease.html

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Comments

  1. Photo: april7april7
    commented on 15 Mar 2013:

    Hi Kate, can you die because of bacteria.

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    • Photo: KateKate
      commented on 18 Mar 2013:

      Hi april7
      There aren’t a huge number of deaths from Lyme disease, but the bacteria causing it could kill you if its not treated. This is definitely a disease you need to seek medical attention for.

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  2. Photo: april7april7
    commented on 20 Mar 2013:

    are there different types of ticks or is there only one kind of tick ?

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    • Photo: KateKate
      commented on 20 Mar 2013:

      There is more than one type of tick. But only one type of tick carries the bacteria which causes Lyme disease.

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