Lyme disease: chronic illness is rare, say experts

People who have had Lyme disease rarely develop chronic problems, experts have said, warning that those who seek treatment abroad believing their symptoms are a result of the infection may be putting themselves at risk.

There are around 1000 laboratory confirmed cases of Lyme disease in England and Wales annually, with an estimated 2000 more cases successfully treated in primary care without positive blood tests, said experts at a briefing on the disease at the Science Media Centre on 9 October.

Of these patients, fewer than one in 20 experience residual symptoms. …