‘Help us’ say family, who all have life-threatening Lyme disease caused by tick bite

A family battling Lyme disease caused by a single tick bite, say they need treatment in Germany, where scores of Australians have already sought help.

A family who are all battling the same life-threatening illness say it was caused by a single tick bite.

Fiona Hall, 39, from Manly, says ticks are prevalent on the northern beaches and she thinks she was bitten around ten years ago.

I LOST MY EYESIGHT AFTER TICK BITE, SAYS MUM-TO-BE

But despite debilitating symptoms including extreme fatigue, muscle wastage, weight loss, aching joints, spasms and neurological problems to name a few, she was only diagnosed with Lyme disease last year after blood tests were sent to the US for analysis, following years of misdiagnosis.

Electron Microscope images of a tick.

Her two children Max, 8 and Jess, 5, who are also displaying symptoms, have also had blood tests come back positive.

Dad Nick, 42, believes he also has Lyme disease although he hasn’t had a blood test.

Through her tears Mrs Hall, told the Manly Daily their lives had been devastated by this tick bite.

“It’s been life changing,” said Mrs Hall, a nurse, who has been too sick to work for the past few years.

The Hill family - Nick, Fiona, Max, 8, and Jess, 5, all have Lyme disease and are raising money for treatment in Germany. Mr Hall will be running in the Pub 2 Pub in his lime green suit. Photo by Annika Enderborg

“I have been so ill, but the children are my biggest worry. I am so frightened for them. Evidence suggests when they hit puberty their health will worsen.”

Health chiefs are currently reviewing the status of the disease which has never been recognised in Australia, unlike the US and Europe.

If Lyme disease or a Lyme-like disease is recognised it could lead to improvements in diagnosis and awareness.

But, Jennifer Sherer, vice-president of the Lyme Disease Association of Australia, insisted the northern beaches were a “known Lyme disease tick hotspot”.

Deer tick embedded in skin of leg. These ticks are approximately 2.5mm long and can transmit Lyme disease to humans. Credit: Ashley Prytherch, Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust/Wellcome Awards

Early symptoms may include fever, headache and fatigue. If the disease is caught quickly, within the first few weeks, it can be treated simply with antibiotics, but if not the bacteria borrelia can invade every area of the body and becomes difficult to treat. It can even kill.

Like many people, Mrs Hall doesn’t even remember being bitten and she didn’t get the tell tell bullseye rash around the bite area. But what she does know is her health has dramatically declined, particularly over the last two years.

She believes she was the only one infected in the family, but unwittingly passed on the disease to her children while pregnant and also to her husband.

Doctors offering pioneering treatment at a specialist clinic in Germany, where more than 100 Australians are being treated this year, say the disease can be passed sexually from person to person and partners need to be treated too.

The Hill family - Nick, Fiona, Max, 8, and Jess, 5, all have Lyme disease and are raising money for treatment in Germany. Pictured in their Manly home. Photo by Annika Enderborg

The treatment is not for the faint-hearted. Patients are put under anaesthetic and their body is slowly heated to a temperature of 42 degrees. The borrelia bacteria which causes Lyme disease dies at 41.5 degrees.

While children can’t be treated at this clinic, the family are looking at similar treatment for them at other clinics in Germany.

The couple are currently selling their home in Manly to help fund the treatment which costs over $21,500 per person not including flights and accommodation or the recommended aftercare and supplements which will be over $500 per week, and are appealing to the generosity of people on the northern beaches to help fund the treatment.

Mr Hall, an online trader, said they had exhausted their finances to pay for alternative therapies which have eased symptoms for Mrs Hall.

Mr Hall is dressing in a lime skin tight suit and running in the Pub 2 Pub 13km fun run next Sunday to raise funds for his family and raise awareness of Lyme disease. To support him go to www.helpmykids.me

REDUCE THE RISK

■ Ideally spray tick with ether-containing aerosol spray (available over the counter at pharmacies) to kill it and wait for it to drop off

■ Don’t use tweezers, or pull or push on tick, this may cause it to release toxins from saliva sacks

■ Otherwise use a knife and try to scrape tick off

■ Avoid scratching areas you can’t see

■ For more information go to tiara.org.au

The Challenge

■When: Sunday Aug. 24

■Categories: ICMS Highest Team Fundraisers, Manly Daily Teams Challenge, NAB ■Schools Challenge and Newport Arms weird & wackiest dressed

■Prizes: $10,000 to donate to your favourite charities. The Pub 2 Pub is a charity project of the Brookvale Rotary and Newport Arms.

■Register: pub2pub.com.au