17 January 2024 , 18:00
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One of Coronation Street's youngest residents Joseph Brown has just had a terrifying diagnosis.
Spoilers have confirmed that young Corrie resident Joseph is to be diagnosed with Lyme Disease after falling ill. Doctors are convinced that he might have picked the disease up during a recent camping trip but it sparks major concerns for the family.
Joseph has been struggling with a series of bad headaches and other symptoms, leaving step-mum Gemma worried for him and dad Chesney just brushing it off. However, things turned worse for the young Cobbles resident and soon he is rushed to hospital.
What's wrong with Joseph?
Joseph has been diagnosed with Lyme disease after months of worry for the family. He has been experiencing headaches for a while, which led to his step-mum Gemma giving him something poisonous rather than a harmless natural substance to help ease his symptoms. That resulted in her being investigated by social services, leaving the whole family worried.
Joseph has been feeling ill recently (ITV/REX/Shutterstock)Whilst Gemma has been terrified about what might be happening with Joseph after her twin brother Paul's diagnosis with Motor Neurone Disease, it has since been revealed Joseph has Lyme disease.
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What is Lyme disease?
Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that is caused when an infected tick bites a person. It can be treated with antibiotics and usually, the ticks can be found in woodlands or grassy areas, but are also known to be found in gardens and urban green areas.
Lyme disease can be prevented by raising awareness of the disease, and Coronation Street has been working closely with Lyme Disease UK about the symptoms and treatments in order to portray Joseph's diagnosis to help raise awareness.
Julia Knight, a retired Specialist Practitioner Paediatric Nurse in Community Nursing, who has also experience Lyme disease herself and works to raise awareness of the disease, said: "It has been my great pleasure to work with the Coronation Street script writers to give them advice and pointers so that they could produce a storyline that is both realistic and engaging. Lyme disease can easily be overlooked if a person only shows viral-type symptoms initially, as in the storyline. Raising awareness of the disease and giving people the information about how to prevent it is essential. With knowledge, bites can be prevented, and awareness of possible symptoms means that people who do contract the disease can seek medical advice promptly."
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