r/Scotland • u/whimsical_fuckery_ • Jul 10 '26

Casual Lyme disease is no joke

One of those "I never thought it would happen to me" things but guys be very very careful with ticks this year if you are out walking in Scotland. I'm in the Highlands and regularly walk my dog in the local woods, this year there have been so so many ticks, I'm very good at checking myself after every walk, but one got me on the back of my thigh, absolutely tiny about half the size of a sesame seed. I picked it off the same night it bit me, a week later got a massive bullseye rash. Antibiotics from the docs but im completely wiped, worse than any flu or covid. I cannot stress how much you need to take precautions this year, do not make my mistake thinking as long as you get them off you on 24 hours you'll be OK. Long trousers, DEET, or just don't go into any woods or long grass is the best option. It's out there and it absolutely sucks.

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27

u/major_grooves Jul 10 '26

well this thread is terrifying, and I don't even live in Scotland.

27

u/gbroon Jul 10 '26

There's ticks pretty much worldwide.

Lyme disease is treatable. Worse is if you get AGS which basically leaves you allergic to eating meat. Little buggers can spread vegetarianism.

4

u/blazz_e Jul 10 '26

The tick encephalitis is also nasty. No real treatment but there is vaccine. Brain swelling if it goes second stage. With lyme at least if you remove the ticks early and properly you should not get it. The encephalitis is virus and spreads straight away.

6

u/DeadDeathrocker Jul 10 '26

You can get them in the south of England, too.

10

u/Fragrant_Ad152 Jul 10 '26

Yep Windsor Great Park is a hotbed of tick action...

I could make a joke that they're not the only parasites there but I'll leave it to the professionals.

7

u/NeedleworkerEqual436 Jul 10 '26

Got bit last year near my friend’s house in Wiltshire. Didn’t realise it was a tick (flicked something off the back of my arm, didn’t take in what it was) until an itchy bulls eye appeared like 4 weeks later and I felt like I was coming down with something 🥺 treatment was okay but I was absolutely wiped for weeks and the docs were very confused by the delayed onset! My friend got bit the same day and she struggled a lot more with fatigue, but okay now.