Celebrities Ticked Off

Looks like several Hollywood celebrities and political leaders are getting ‘ticked off’ of being in the ‘lyme-light.’ From Gen-Z crush Justin Bieber to Victoria’s Secret angel Bella Hadid, vocal queen Shania Twain, record breaker Alec Baldwin and US President George W Bush have all been at the receiving end of tick bites that cause Lyme disease. Lyme disease is a tick-borne illness caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi which is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected ticks found in domestic animals, deer, rodents, and birds. While celebrities are busy ‘tick talking’ on social media and seeking prayers and good wishes from fans, netizens are accusing the ‘rich white and famous’ of faking the ‘non-existent’ illness to generate attention and clout.

The Lyme Epidemic

Lyme disease is transmitted to human beings through the bite of an infected black-legged tick. It is the most common vector-borne disease in the United States. According to Dr Mohan Kumar Singh, Senior Consultant – Internal Medicine, Marengo Asia Hospital, Gurugram, “Studies indicate that Lyme disease is more common in the northern temperate hemisphere with white non-Hispanic people accounting for 97% of cases. Particularly in grassy and forested regions, black legged ticks prefer damp, humid climates.” Approximately 4.76, 000 people are diagnosed with Lyme disease each year in the United States which explains

the beeline of Hollywood celebri-ties catching the illness. In India, the disease is fairly uncommon, affecting only 3,000-5,000 people a year. According to Dr. Namita Jaggi, hairperson-Lab services and Infection Control & Chief- Education & Research, Artemis Hospitals “India being a tropical climate country has less prevalence of the disease as compared to the US and Britain.

In India, cases have been reported in certain areas like Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Bihar, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra.” Dr Namita adds that other factors such as outdoor activities, and exposure to tick habitats may also play a role in the observed variations in the incidence of Lyme disease.

Doubts Over Clout

Celebrities have caused quite a stir on social media by disclosing their Lyme disease diagnosis. This has left many ordinary people scratching their heads in disbelief, wondering why the illness seems to disproportionately affect the rich and famous rather than people of all races. In August 2023, model Bella Hadid and her mother, Yolanda Hadid, faced severe trolling on Instagram, accused of feigning the illness for sympathy. Yolanda Hadid Foster has been open about her struggles with Lyme disease, frequently sharing images of her treatment on Instagram. However, this prompted a relentless barrage of criticism. Even her fellow cast members from The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, including Lisa Rinna, publicly questioned her authenticity with the illness.

Singer Justin Bieber faced backlash on social media, accused of exaggerating his illness for sympathy and the changes in his appearance attributed to the disease. On the other hand, Shania Twain has spoken about her 20-year battle with Lyme disease, which has affected her voice, caused blackouts, and led to debilitating mental health struggles. Dr Sunil Rana, Associate Director and Head-Internal Medicine, at Asian Hospital, Faridabad says that lyme disease can lead to long-term deformities. “If left untreated, the infection can spread to the joints and the nervous system, leading to joint deformities,” he says. Dr Sunil adds that the common signs of symptoms are an expanding red rash which appears at the sight of a tick bite which is non-painful, fever, loss of face agility, joint pains, palpitations, tingling in the arms and legs, and headache which makes it hard for early diagnosis.

Lyme Disease Treatment

The treatment for Lyme disease typically involves antibiotics, which are prescribed based on the stage of the infection and its severity. In the early stages, when the infection is localised and the symptoms are mild, oral antibiotics such as doxycycline, amoxicillin, or cefuroxime axetil are commonly prescribed for a period of 2 to 4 weeks. Dr. Neha Mishra, Consultant, Infectious Diseases, Manipal Hospital, Old Airport Road, Bengaluru says, “Maintaining a high index of suspicion for patients with a travel history and who have developed symptoms of Lyme disease is essential so that the disease can be diagnosed on time. Lyme disease can be treated by the simplest of antibiotics like Tetracyclines and Cephalosporins.” One of the main symptoms of Lyme disease includes a bull-eye skin rash which occurs near the tick bite. Dr Kanu Verma, Consultant-Dermatologist & Cosmetologist, Aakash Healthcare, New Delhi says, “One should consult a physician and dermatologist to mitigate Lyme disease Depending on the rash, oral antibiotics, anti-allergens and local creams are prescribed by the doctors.”

Despite the questions raised regarding the authenticity and veracity of the illness, Lyme disease is a very real condition that demands immediate medical attention. The perception that the disease is "non-existent" is a misnomer, as regions like Britain, Europe, and China continue to grapple with its horrors. In India, the lack of Lyme disease diagnosis is also attributed to varied clinical manifestations and a low index of suspicion among clinicians, resulting in many Indians being misdiagnosed. Individuals with Lyme disease need to receive prompt treatment to prevent the infection from progressing to later stages. Supportive care such as pain management, rest, and adequate hydration may be recommended to help alleviate symptoms and support the body's healing process.

Tick Trouble

• Hollywood A-listers — Bella Hadid, Justin Beiber, Kelly Osbourne, Alec Baldwin, Shania Twain, and George W Bush have all suffered from Lyme disease (aka ‘rich white persons’ disease)

• Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. It is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected ticks

• Symptoms of Lyme disease include high fever, chills, headache, bullseye-shaped rash, muscle pain and fatigue

India being a tropical climate country has less prevalence of Lyme disease as compared to the US and Britain.” — Dr Namita Jaggi, Chairperson, Lab services and Infection control & Chief-Education and Research, Artemis Hospitals

Tick Talk

• Nearly 4.76 lakh people are diagnosed with Lyme disease each year in the US (Centre For Disease Control and Prevention)

• Patients with Lyme disease are mostly white women living in affluent areas (NIHR research)

• India witnesses only 3,000-5,000 cases of Lyme disease per year in areas like Haryana, Kerala, Himachal Pradesh and UP

• Lyme disease is uncommon in India due to varied clinical manifestations and low index of suspicion among clinicians (Medical Journal Armed Forces India)

If Lyme disease is left untreated, the infection can spread to the joints and the nervous system, leading to joint deformities.” — Dr Sunil Rana, Associate Director, Head-Internal Medicine, Asian Hospital, Faridabad

Maintaining a high index of suspicion for patients with a travel history and symptoms of Lyme disease is essential so that the disease can be diagnosed on time.” — Dr Neha Mishra, Consultant (Infectious Diseases), Manipal Hospital, Bengaluru