Understanding Lyme Disease: Symptoms, Rise in Quebec, and What You Need to Know!

Lyme disease is an increasingly common and complex illness caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, transmitted primarily through the bite of infected black-legged ticks.

As cases continue to rise particularly in regions like Quebec understanding the symptoms, risk factors, and preventive strategies becomes more essential than ever.

Lyme Disease Symptoms: A Multisystemic Challenge

Lyme disease doesn’t present itself the same way in every individual. In fact, it often manifests across multiple systems in the body, making it challenging to diagnose and treat without comprehensive analysis.

A study led by Lyme-literate psychiatrist Dr. Robert Bransfield analyzed charts from 100 Lyme-positive patients. The results revealed that Lyme disease commonly involves a wide array of symptoms, especially when compared to healthy individuals and even those with other chronic illnesses.

Common Symptom Categories Include:

• Memory & Retrieval Issues: Difficulty with recall, forgetfulness, and cognitive fatigue.

• Emotional Impairment: Mood swings, irritability, and emotional numbness.

• Psychiatric Symptoms: Depression, anxiety, panic attacks, obsessive-compulsive tendencies.

• Neurological Symptoms: Tingling, numbness, dizziness, headaches, and facial palsy.

• Sexual Dysfunction: Loss of libido, arousal issues, and reproductive complications.

These findings highlight Lyme disease’s widespread impact on both physical and mental health, often mimicking other conditions and delaying proper diagnosis.

Lyme Disease on the Rise in Quebec

Experts are sounding the alarm over the increased incidence of Lyme disease in Quebec. Over the past 15 years, the province has witnessed a steady climb in reported cases of Lyme and other tick-borne illnesses.

According to Kirsten Crandall, scientific advisor at the Institut National de Santé Publique du Québec (INSPQ), the numbers, while still in the hundreds, indicate a trend that is becoming harder to ignore.

“We’re still in those hundreds of cases of Lyme disease,” said Crandall. “It’s a trend that we’ve been seeing over the past several years.”

Dr. Donald Vinh, an infectious disease specialist, emphasizes the urgency, saying Lyme disease has moved from being a rare condition to now being endemic in Quebec.

Climate Change: A Driving Force Behind the Surge

One of the major factors behind the growing threat of Lyme disease in Quebec is climate change. Warmer winters and longer springs allow ticks to survive and reproduce more effectively, increasing the likelihood of human contact.

“If you have climate change that shortens the winters or makes winters warmer, then that favours more ticks to feed off of more animals, which can then spread to humans,” explained Dr. Vinh.

Associate Professor Virginie Millien from McGill University adds that climate change not only helps ticks thrive but also drives their hosts like birds, deer, and small mammals further north, extending the tick habitat and elevating risk in previously unaffected areas.

“The conditions are getting better for the ticks to establish and survive. And it’s almost inevitable,” Millien stated. “I don’t know what would stop it.”

Where Ticks Are Found in Quebec

While ticks can be found across Quebec, they are most prevalent in southern regions. However, as temperatures rise, ticks are expanding into new territories.

“Ticks may be found in pretty much any location in Quebec,” said Crandall. “But those very high endemic areas where they’re very established, it’s mostly in southern Quebec.”

Emerging areas just outside traditional endemic zones are becoming increasingly risky as well.

Early Signs and Symptoms of Lyme Disease

The initial signs of Lyme disease typically appear within 3–30 days after a tick bite. The hallmark symptom is erythema migrans, a red rash that gradually expands, sometimes forming a bullseye shape.

Other early symptoms include:

• Fever and chills

• Headaches

• Muscle and joint pain

• Fatigue

• Swollen lymph nodes

Prompt treatment with antibiotics can effectively stop the infection. However, delayed treatment may lead to chronic Lyme disease, with symptoms persisting or worsening over time.

Prevention and Immediate Action After a Tick Bite

If bitten by a tick, immediate action is critical. Experts recommend the following steps:

• Call Info-Santé 811 for medical guidance.

• Carefully remove the tick using tweezers, making sure to extract the entire body.

• Watch for symptoms such as rash or flu-like effects.

• Visit a pharmacist or healthcare provider if symptoms appear early antibiotics can prevent disease progression.

Dr. Vinh advises using tick repellent, wearing protective clothing, and taking a shower after time spent in wooded or grassy areas.

“If by any chance you miss a tick and then you see the rash coming, go to the pharmacist and you can get the antibiotics that’s going to stop everything,” added Crandall.

Conclusion: Staying Informed and Vigilant is Key

As climate change reshapes tick habitats and increases human exposure, awareness and prevention are more crucial than ever.

Understanding the early symptoms of Lyme disease, knowing the high-risk areas, and practicing preventative habits can protect you and your family from this complex and potentially chronic illness.

Stay informed, stay safe, and always act swiftly if you suspect exposure to Lyme disease.