Singer Justin Bieber revealed that he has Lyme disease.
He wrote on Instagram that it’s been a “rough couple of years”, shutting down claims that he was on drugs. He said he was aware of speculation that he had a drug problem, after he was pictured looking unwell with blotches on his skin.
He has said that he hopes the right treatment can help him recover.
On Instagram, he posted that people had said he looked like he was “on meth”, but, in reality, “they failed to realise I’ve been recently diagnosed with Lyme disease, not only that but had a serious case of chronic mono which affected my skin, brain function, energy, and overall health”.
He’s revealed that he is getting the “right treatment” and that more would be revealed about the situation, and his life, when a new documentary about him is released.
His wife came to his defence on Twitter, basically asking people to refrain from speaking ill about diseases such as this.
For those who are trying to downplay the severity of Lyme disease. Please do your research and listen to the stories of people who have suffered with it for years. Making fun of and belittling a disease you don’t understand is never the way, all it takes is educating yourself.
— Hailey Bieber (@haileybieber) January 8, 2020
So, what is Lyme disease?
According to the NHS, “Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that can be spread to humans by infected ticks.”
It’s usually easier to treat if it’s diagnosed early.
“Many people with early symptoms of Lyme disease develop a circular red skin rash around a tick bite. The rash can appear up to 3 months after being bitten by a tick and usually lasts for several weeks. Most rashes appear within the first 4 weeks.
Not everyone with Lyme disease gets the rash. Some people also have flu-like symptoms in the early stages, such as:
- a high temperature, or feeling hot and shivery
- headaches
- muscle and joint pain
- tiredness and loss of energy”
It cannot be passed on from person to person, and as many as 13% of all ticks in the UK are believed to be carrying the disease.
