Ticks Found on Children in Park Sparks Fears of Incurable Lyme Disease

Lyme disease tick bites Tick-borne disease

By Camille Hutchison , Parent Herald Jul 20, 01:22 am

Ticks that might be carrying the incurable Lyme disease were found in children playing in the park, sparking fears of the incurable disease. While letting children play outdoors has become essential following the month-long lockdowns due to the pandemic, the parents now fear letting their children play in the park due to the tick sighting. Even the children themselves are now scared.

A grandmother spotted ticks on children playing at the Strawberry Valley Park in Bent Lane in Leyland, where the grass was reportedly overgrown, per MSN.

Grandmother warns of the presence of ticks

The grandmother, Elaina Turner, has posted on social media to warn other parents to be cautious in letting the children play outside, according to the Mirror.

Turner wrote in her post, "Warning! Bent Lane Park. A few children that have been in the play area and the long grass have found ticks on them. When they have filled with blood, make sure you get all the tick out; it can lead to Lyme Disease and there's no cure yet for long-term Lyme disease."

Residents in the area instantly checked their dogs, claiming that ticks could also possibly grow due to biodiversity.

"Leyland Council wants to leave the field for the bees and the butterflies but I am sure they could find another area to do this - not where children play and the dog walkers are," Turner added.

Kids now wear long-sleeved shirts and closed shoes in areas suspected of being tick-infested. They now also use insect repellent to significantly lessen the chance of tick bites and the transmission of Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases.

Tick bite that looks like a bull's eye on a dartboard

Lyme Disease is a rare infection that can be treated with antibiotics but can spread all over the nervous system and affects the skin if left untreated. The U.K. Health Security Agency said there are few people treated for Lyme disease as it develops more severe symptoms months or years ago. This only happens if the treatment is late or delayed.

Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi and, rarely, Borrelia mayonii. The bacteria will enter the skin and make their way into the bloodstream. The longer the ticks stay on the skin, the greater the risk of the disease.

Not all ticks carry the disease, but they are mostly found in the U.K., usually in long grasses and wooded places.

According to National Health Service, Lyme disease can be cured if diagnosed early. Early symptoms signify a circular or oval-shaped rash around a tick bite. The rash can be flat, raised, and look like a bruise, with a darker or lighter area in the center.

This symptom might appear three months after a bite from an infected tick but usually appears a month after a person is bit and lasts for several weeks.