Lyme Disease Diagnoses Through Winter in England: Study Findings
Lyme disease is often viewed as a summer illness, but diagnoses may occur year-round. A study from England found a notable number of Lyme disease cases during the winter months, challenging assumptions about seasonal risk.
In the British Journal of General Practice, Cooper and colleagues analyzed hospital episode statistics (HES) data in England from the Health and Social Care Information Centre. Geographic location was based on patient postcode, and some individuals may have been admitted more than once.
The study reported a high number of hospital diagnoses throughout the year. It also appeared to demonstrate a high level of diagnoses during winter, which may reflect milder winters associated with climate change.
“Although there are areas of the country where Lyme disease is thought to be endemic, there is limited knowledge about who gets it, where, and when,” states Cooper. Increased awareness of risk may support appropriate prophylaxis, diagnosis, and treatment.
The authors were not able to determine why diagnoses remained elevated during winter months, as the data were based on non-clinical coding rather than detailed clinical records.
Lyme Disease Risk May Extend Beyond Summer
The authors suggest that healthcare practitioners consider Lyme disease not only in the summer but also during winter months, particularly as environmental conditions change.
The higher number of hospital diagnoses may also reflect manifestations of Lyme disease beyond the classic erythema migrans rash, leading to diagnosis later in the course of illness.
Patients with unexplained symptoms may benefit from review of Lyme disease symptoms, consideration of testing accuracy, and individualized approaches to recovery.
Further study is needed to better understand seasonal patterns and the growing number of Lyme disease cases identified in England using hospital data.
References
- Cooper L, Branagan-Harris M, Tuson R, Nduka C. Lyme disease and Bell’s palsy: an epidemiological study of diagnosis and risk in England. Br J Gen Pract. 2017.
Dr. Daniel Cameron, MD, MPH
Lyme disease clinician with over 30 years of experience and past president of ILADS.
Symptoms • Testing • Coinfections • Recovery • Pediatric • Prevention
It might also reflect the delay in being diagnosed after a Summer (or even Spring) tick bite! Often UK patients will have had months of symptoms before suspecting that they might have Lyme.
I agree.