NHS warns of Lyme disease symptoms that can 'last for years' after Miranda Hart health battle

Miranda Hart has revealed that she has been battling the disease

Comedian Miranda Hart has recently revealed her battle with Lyme disease. The star - best known for her self-titled show Miranda - confessed the past few years had been 'tough' when it came to her health.

She told how the illness left her bedbound and sometimes even struggled to lift a glass of water. According to the NHS, Lyme disease is a bacterial infection which can spread to humans by infected ticks.

Symptoms include a circular or oval shaped rash around a tick bite, which is often an 'early' sign of the disease. The rash can appear up to three months after being bitten.

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But most people see the rash within one to four weeks, the NHS said. The rash - which can have a darker or lighter area in the middle - can then last for several weeks.

It could gradually spread, while it should not be hot or itchy. The NHS said the rash can also be flat or slightly raised.

On white skin, it can appear pink, red or purple, while it may look like a bruise on darker skin. Some people with Lyme disease can experience flu-like symptoms a few days or even weeks after being bitten by an infected tick.

These include:

• A high temperature or feeling hot and shivery
• Headache
• Muscle and joint pain
• Tiredness and loss of energy

According to the NHS, some people with Lyme disease go on to develop more serious symptoms. This can be months or years after they were bitten.

This is 'more likely if treatment is delayed', it said. More severe symptoms may include:

• Pain and swelling in joints
• Nerve problems – such as pain or numbness
• Heart problems
• Trouble with memory or concentration

Some people can continue to have symptoms after treatment including tiredness, aches and loss of energy. This can 'last for years', with symptoms are often compared to fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Ticks are small spider-like creatures which live in woods, areas with long grass and sometimes urban parks and gardens. They can be found across the UK.

Ticks do not jump or fly but instead attach to the skin of animals or humans which brush past them. Once a tick bites into the skin, it feeds on blood for a few days before dropping off.

The NHS said: "Not all ticks in England carry the bacteria that causes Lyme Disease. But it's still important to be aware of ticks and to safely remove them as soon as possible, just in case.

"Ticks that may cause Lyme disease are found all over the UK, but high-risk places include grassy and wooded areas in southern and northern England and the Scottish Highlands."

The NHS said that bites from ticks are not always painful and you might not even know you have one until you see it on your skin. If outdoors, it is a good idea to regularly check for ticks on your clothes and skin.

You should see a GP if you have been bitten by a tick or visited an area in the past three months where infected ticks could be and you have:

• Flu-like symptoms – such as feeling hot and shivery, headaches, aching muscles or feeling sick, or
• A round or oval shape rash

The NHS added: "Lyme disease can be difficult to diagnose. It has similar symptoms to other conditions and there's not always an obvious rash. Two types of blood test are available to help confirm or rule out Lyme disease. But these tests are not always accurate in the early stages of the disease.

"You may need to be retested if you still have Lyme disease symptoms after a negative result." Antibiotics can be prescribed if you are diagnosed with Lyme Disease - most peolpe get better with this treatment.

People with severe symptoms are often referred to a specialist in hospital.