The chance of a tick bite in the Netherlands is greatest in Drenthe. This has emerged from research by RIVM and Wageningen University & Research. In the past ten years, most reports were made in Drenthe in relation to the size of the population.
Twenty percent of the ticks are infected with the Lyme bacteria. The risk of Lyme disease after a tick bite is two to three percent. Lyme disease starts with discoloration of the skin. Often that is a red circle around the bite. But it can also be an even colored stain. In the beginning, flu-like symptoms may develop.
If the disease is not treated in time, the symptoms vary from person to person. Patients sometimes experience tingling, joint pains, heart rhythm disturbances or facial paralysis. The disease is treated with antibiotics.