Carly Ellis loved to travel. In 2008, on one of her many adventures, she was bitten by a tick while in Australia. The bite was the beginning of an illness that plagued her for the rest of her life.
Ellis, 39, spent eight years in and out of the hospital with sepsis, meningitis, and pneumonia. She also suffered from ear and chest infections. She was found dead in her bed last month.
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Her parents, Ian, 63, and Cheryl, 62, of Gloucester, believe her death was linked to a Lyme disease diagnosis she received shortly after her 10-month trip to Australia in 2008, when a tick bit her on Rottnest Island, near Perth.
Her parents now want to raise awareness of Lyme disease. Ian said:
I am sure all her health problems were linked to Lyme disease. It debilitates people quickly. It had a massive impact on Carly’s life. If it is caught straight away, a two-week course of antibiotics should treat it. When Carly was bitten, she did not really think anything of it.1
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In the UK alone, there are an estimated 3,000 cases of Lyme disease each year. And, unfortunately, when someone is bitten by a tick it can take months before they realize that they have been adversely affected by it.
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Rose Milsom, fundraising manager for Caudwell Lyme Charity (an organization raising awareness of Lyme disease), was deeply sorry to learn of Carly’s passing, and of the horrible way she suffered before she died. She said:
Awareness and prevention is absolutely key when it comes to Lyme disease.
If spotted early, it can be treated with a simple course of antibiotics but can become very debilitating if not spotted sooner.
It’s thought that it may also trigger other conditions, such as autoimmune diseases in those who may be predisposed to them.
Many sufferers become virtually or completely housebound, like Carly, and experience life-changing symptoms of pain and fatigue.
It’s important that people are aware of the risks of receiving a tick bite, and where they might be at risk, such as in forests, long grass, and when they’re going camping or having picnics.
Simple steps such as wearing light coloured clothing so you can spot ticks and brush them off, and wearing insect repellent on exposed skin can help prevent a bite.
Ticks can be as tiny as a poppy seed, so you also need to check yourself carefully and remove it correctly to reduce the risk of infection.
There is a lack of knowledge and understanding about Lyme disease within the healthcare profession.1
Our hearts go out to Ian, Cheryl and all of her friends and family.
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