American actress Amy Schumer says she has Lyme disease

Amy Schumer posted a photo of herself as a child on Tuesday, September 8, on Instagram to announce that she has Lyme disease.“”I feel good and I can’t wait to be rid of it”, reassured the actress. She explains that she probably contracted the disease several years ago, and specifies that she takes doxycycline, an antibiotic treatment. The American actress asks Internet users for advice: “Can we have a glass or two of wine? I know not to go out in the sun. I also take plants called lyme-2. Write me a comment or text me!”

See this post on Instagram

my first ever fishing pole. Anyone get LYME this summer? I got it and I’m on doxycycline. I have maybe had it for years. Any advice? Can you have a glass of wine or 2 on it? I know to stay out of the sun. I’m also taking these herbs from cape cod called lyme-2. Please comment or text me on my number in my bio. I also want to say that I feel good and am excited to get rid of it.

A post shared by @ amyschumer the Sep 8, 2020 at 12:57 PDT

A disease caused by the bite of ticks

Lyme disease is caused by a tick bite: the insect can carry a bacterium called Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato. After a few days, a skin reaction appears, called chronic rising erythema. Generally, it gradually expands and looks like a target: a red dot, surrounded by a lighter area, itself circled in red. Depending on the case, Lyme disease can also cause chills, headaches, and joint or muscle pain. If left untreated, there may be a chronic infection affecting multiple organs. People can then suffer from arthritis, heart or neurological damage years after the bite. In some cases, the disease can manifest itself through atypical symptoms, which makes its diagnosis difficult.

How to protect yourself from it?

To protect against Lyme disease, avoid tick bites by wearing closed shoes in the forest, long sleeves and pants. Light-colored clothing helps spot ticks better. When you come back from a walk in the forest or in a wooded area, inspect yourself to see if an insect has bitten you.

If you find a tick on your body, it must be removed as quickly as possible, either with a tick puller or with tweezers, taking care not to squeeze the body of the insect so as not to spread the bacteria. Then, it is necessary to monitor the evolution of the bite, if a red plaque appears and extends, it is essential to consult a doctor. If you think the tick has remained on your skin for more than 36 hours or if you have had several bites, it is also important to consult. The doctor usually prescribes antibiotic treatment for two to four weeks. The earlier the disease is taken care of, the lower the risk of complications and the more complete recovery is possible. Public health France estimates that 50,000 cases are diagnosed each year, 800 of which require hospitalization.