Very popular Coronation Street’s Joseph Brown diagnosed with Lyme Disease after he collapsed at home. The Coronation Street character, Joseph Brown, was played by 11-year-old William Flanagan.
In scenes which will air next week, the young star will be rushed to the hospital. And there, the doctors will tell his worried parents and grandparents that he is suffering from the illness.
It was probably contracted from a tick bite while he was on a camping holiday. This follows on from a long-running plotline that has so far seen.
In this scene, the boy’s stepmom, Gemma, was removed from the house by social services. She was under suspicion of deliberately poisoning her stepson. The Gemma character is played by Dolly-Rose Campbell.
The ITV soap opera worked with Lyme Disease UK to write the scripts regarding symptoms and advice. The soap has worked closely with the Charity Lyme Disease UK, which offers patient support and advice.
Both Gemma and Father Chesney are relieved to discover the disease is treatable, and Joseph will make a good recovery. The character of Father Chesney was played by Sam Aston.
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Lyme disease: Understanding the Condition
Lyme disease is a sickness that is caused by Borrelia bacteria. Humans can easily get Lyme disease from a bite from a tick carrying the bacteria. Ticks that can carry Borrelia bacteria live all over the USA.
However, Lyme disease is very common in the upper Midwest and the northeastern and mid-Atlantic states. Lyme disease is also common in Europe and in Southeastern Canada.
There is a chance of getting infected with Lyme disease if you live in a place where ticks live. Ticks live in grassy, bushy, and wooded areas.
You need to take some of the precautions that will reduce the chance of getting infected. You can watch the YouTube video below to gain more insights.
Common Symptoms and Challenges associated with the illness
A tick bite may look like a tiny, itchy bump on your skin. It is much like a mosquito bite. The symptoms of Lyme Disease may vary.
They usually show up in different stages. Also, the stages can overlap. Some people may not experience any symptoms in the early stages.
Stage 1:
The early symptoms of Lyme disease generally happen within 3 to 30 days after a tick bite. This stage has a limited set of symptoms.
This is called early localized disease. A rash is a very common sign of Lyme disease in stage 1. Some other Stage 1 symptoms include:
- fever
- headache
- joint stiffness
- extreme tiredness
- muscle aches and pain
- swollen lymph nodes.
Stage 2:
If Lyme disease remains untreated, it may get worse. The symptoms of stage 2 often show up within 3 to 10 weeks after a tick bite. State 2 symptoms may include:
- neck pain or stiffness
- face muscle weakness or pain
- painful swelling in the tissues in the Eye
- Various rashes on different parts of the body
- pain, or weakness in hands or feet
Stage 3:
The symptoms of stage 3 become much worse if the previous stages remain untreated. The Stage 3 symptoms usually begin within 2 to 12 months after a tick bite. These may involve:
- Paralysis of facial muscles
- Heart block or an interruption in the electrical system of the heart
- Arthritis
- Difficulty in concentrating refers to brain fog
- damage to the nerves of various parts of your body, including your skin, muscles, and organs
Importance of Raising Awareness about Lyme Disease
Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that you can get from a tick bite. There are early-stage symptoms of this disease, but if it remains untreated for long, the infection can spread to your heart, joints, and nervous system.
So, if you take prompt action to treat Lyme disease, you can recover very quickly. It is also important to raise awareness about Lyme disease among all.
Raising awareness about Lyme disease reduces the possibility that people overlook the symptoms of Lyme disease. So, if people become aware of this infection and have a brief knowledge of the symptoms, they will rush to the nearby hospitals.
Then, the disease will be diagnosed quickly, and they can receive appropriate treatment. It will massively reduce the chances of morbidity.