What is Lyme disease as Justin Timberlake confirms diagnosis of 'debilitating' condition?
Yesterday, former NSYNC star Justin Timberlake took to social media to share with his fans that he had been diagnosed with Lyme disease. This major health update came just after the singer finished up his Forget Tomorrow World Tour.
In the Instagram post, the 44-year-old said that living with this condition can be "relentlessly debilitating, both mentally and physically". Despite this, he chose to continue on with his tour as he said the joy of performing "far outweighs the fleeting stress" on his body.
While he said he was shocked by his initial diagnosis, he could at least now understand why he would suddenly experience sickness, nerve pain or "crazy fatigue" while on stage. However, he also shared he was proud of this choice to continue touring as he created "special memories" with his fans he "will never forget".
Many fans have taken to the comments section of the post to show their support for the actor. One person wrote: "As someone who has battled Lyme disease for 23 years, I want to say thank you for sharing your story and raising awareness. I am sending all the love and prayers for your healing."
While another fan also shared their experience, writing: "Saw you in Boston and got diagnosed with Lyme disease this year… it can truly feel like a silent battle as others don't always see it but internally you battle it."
What is Lyme disease?
According to the NHS, Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that can be spread to humans who have been infected by ticks, which are typically found in woodland and moorland areas. Ticks aren't able to jump or fly, but they can attach themselves to your clothes or skin if you brush against something they are on.
Once the tick bites into your skin, they will start to feed on your blood. You are more likely to become infected the longer a tick is attached to your skin, so removing them as quickly as possible is important.
An early symptom of the condition in some people is a circular or oval shape rash that appears around the tick bite itself. While the rash usually appears within one to four weeks after the infected bite, in some cases it can take up to three months to appear. The earlier the condition is detected the easier it is to treat.
Typically the rash, which can last for several weeks, will have a dark or light centre and appear to spread out - in some cases looking like a bullseye on a dartboard. The rash may be flat or slightly raised and look either red, pink or purple in colour, however it can also easily be confused with a bruise.
While some people may develop several rashes in different parts of their body after the tick bite, one in three people with Lyme disease won't develop a rash at all.
Some people also develop a range of flu-like symptoms in the early stages of the disease, including fatigue, muscle and joint pain, headaches, a fever, chills and neck stiffness.
Lyme disease diagnosis and treatment
The NHS also states that Lyme disease can be often difficult to diagnose as it shares many symptoms with other conditions. If your GP suspects you have Lyme disease, you will need to take two types of blood tests.
However, you may need to be tested more as these tests aren't always accurate in the early stages of the disease.
For those who have been infected by Lyme disease, doctors will prescribe antibiotics. It is important that the full set is taken to ensure that all the bacteria is killed, even if you are feeling better half way through the prescription.
However, in some cases symptoms can still continue after treatment, which is called post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome. The NHS states there is currently no agreed treatment for this condition as the "underlying cause is not yet clear".
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It should be noted that there is only a small number of ticks that carry this bacteria, meaning that being bitten by a tick doesn't definitely cause an infection. However for those who do become infected and aren't treated, they could experience more serious symptoms.
This includes pain and swelling in joints, never problems such as numbness or pain in limbs, memory loss, heart problems and difficulty concentrating.
If you notice you have been bitten by a tick, follow these steps to remove it safely:
Use fine-tipped tweezers or a tick-removal tool. You can buy these from some pharmacies, vets and pet shops.
Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible.
Slowly pull upwards, taking care not to squeeze or crush the tick. Dispose of it when you have removed it.
Clean the bite with antiseptic or soap and water.
If you notice a rash or become unwell after being bitten by a tick, you should contact your GP. It is important that you inform them that you have been bitten.
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