Justin Timberlake, the former NSYNC star, has announced that he has been diagnosed with Lyme disease. He shared the news on Instagram on Thursday in a post, and he said that he had been dealing with Lyme disease symptoms during his recent world tour.
He said that, among other things, he had been battling some health issues and was diagnosed with Lyme disease. He added that he does not talk about his illness, otherwise his fans would feel bad for him.
Timberlake said that he was shocked when he received the diagnosis. But he could understand why he would be onstage and in a massive amount of nerve pain. He further added that he was feeling extremely fatigued or unwell onstage.
The “SexyBack” singer had described himself as a private person, sharing that he considered ending the tour when he was diagnosed with Lyme disease. Further, he wrote that he decided that the joy that brought him onstage far outweighed the temporary stress his body was feeling.
Timberlake cancelled and postponed several of his shows due to his health issues, including bronchitis and laryngitis. The singer announced on his Instagram that six of his US shows were postponed from October and November to February.
The 10-time Grammy winner ended his Instagram post by thanking his wife, Jessica Biel, and their two sons, Silas and Phin. He wrote, “Nothing is so powerful as your unconditional love”.
Lyme disease is transmitted between humans and animals by ticks carrying Borrelia Burgdorferi Bacteria. A human may contract the disease if a tick carrying the germ bites them. However, there is no evidence that the disease can spread from person to person.
Though scientists have not found the Borrelia bacteria in Australian ticks or any other Australian insect, Lyme disease is commonly found in several parts of the United Kingdom, the USA, and Asia, as per the Federal Department of Health.
The Lyme disease symptoms include a rash that appears between 7 and 14 days following a tick bite. The symptoms are typically experienced within the first 30 days of a tick bite which carries the disease.
The rash will be target-shaped and centred around the bite spot. The rash can be tender, iit is not commonly painful or itchy. Some other symptoms include muscle and joint aches, headaches, feeling tired, fever, and stiff neck.
Lyme disease has three stages: early stage, early dissemination, and late dissemination. The disease can be treated with antibiotics, and it is diagnosed by a blood test. Early antibiotic treatment is crucial; untreated Lyme disease may cause severe arthritis and may damage the heart and nervous system.