What is Lyme disease? What are the symptoms? Everything you need to know about the bacterial infection

Former England rugby captain Matt Dawson was forced to have heart surgery after getting bitten by a tick in a London park, it emerged this week.

The 44-year-old developed feverish symptoms early last year and was later diagnosed with Lyme disease, he told the BBC.

Mr Dawson said: "It was a really scary time for me and my family. Such a tiny creature caused me to end up needing heart surgery."

The former rugby captain is now free of the disease, having undergone multiple heart operations and endured 18 months of treatment.

But what actually is Lyme disease? Here, Dr. Steve Iley, Bupa's Medical Director, shares his expert advice.

What is Lyme disease?

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection caused by tick bites, as ticks can carry the bacteria responsible for Lyme disease.

Not all ticks will carry the bacteria, so a tick bite won’t always result in catching the disease.

What are the symptoms?

The most common symptoms include a headache, fatigue, fever, and skin rash shaped like a bulls-eye. The rash can appear quite quickly, but in some cases it can take up to 30 days and it usually is about 12 inches in diameter.

The more severe symptoms include Bell’s Palsy (paralysis on one side of the face), pain and swelling of the joints and heart palpitations.

What you should do if you think you're experiencing these?

If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, seek medical advice or visit your GP straight away.

The best treatment will depend on the stage of your condition, if it’s caught early and treated, people usually take a course of antibiotics for between two to four weeks.

Where are you most at risk of catching Lyme disease?

Ticks usually live in areas of over-grown or deep vegetation such as parks and woodlands so it is best to stick to a footpath if you’re near long-grass. Use insect repellent and check your skin for any ticks when you leave.

How do you safely remove a tick?

Using tweezers, grasp onto the tick as closely to the skin’s surface as possible and pull it away. Once the tick has been removed, thoroughly wash the area where the tick was.

Some people may see advice such as smothering with Vaseline and burning them off with a match – however this is not recommended and can in fact make things worse.

What happens if you don’t catch it early? And how will it be treated?

If you do contract Lyme disease, the duration of the infection will depend on a number of factors, including whether or not you treated the condition early. If caught early and treated, people usually take a course of antibiotics for between two to four weeks.

A blood test will be able to determine if you have Lyme disease, which a GP will be able to carry out. In some cases, it could take a few weeks to form in your blood and may not be detected straight away. In this case, your GP would usually recommend treatment based on your symptoms alone.

The advice is definitely to seek treatment if the rash is present, and not wait a few weeks for the test, as late stage treatment can lead to more severe symptoms.

Unfortunately, there is no evidence to suggest that once you’ve had Lyme disease you’re immune to it.

Find out more at bupa.co.uk