Justin Timberlake has revealed he has been diagnosed with Lyme disease.
In a post on Instagram, the singer said he had been dealing with health issues during his recent world tour.
“Among other things, I’ve been battling some health issues, and was diagnosed with Lyme disease — which I don’t say so you feel bad for me — but to shed some light on what I’ve been up against behind the scenes,” he said.
“If you’ve experienced this disease or know someone who has — then you’re aware: living with this can be relentlessly debilitating, both mentally and physically.”
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Timberlake said he was shocked when he received the diagnosis.
“But, at least I could understand why I would be onstage and in a massive amount of nerve pain or, just feeling crazy fatigue or sickness.”
His post comes after online speculation about his lacklustre performances during the final stretch of his tour.
Timberlake said he was usually a pretty private person but felt compelled to share what he had been dealing with since his tour kicked off in April 2024.
“Not only did I prove my mental tenacity to myself but, I now have so many special moments with all of you that I will never forget,” he said.
“I was reluctant to talk about this because I was always raised to keep something like this to yourself. But I am trying to be more transparent about my struggles so that they aren’t misinterpreted.“
Several other well-known celebrities have revealed their struggles with the disease.
In 2023, the actress and granddaughter of Elvis Presley, Riley Keogh, revealed she had the disease.
Amy Schumer posted on Instagram about living with the disease in 2020.
In January 2020, Justin Bieber shared a photo from 2019 that fans had speculated about, and said it was taken while he was struggling with Lyme disease.
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Avril Lavigne, Ben Stiller, Bella Hadid and Shania Twain have also spoken about living with the disease.
What is Lyme disease?
Lyme disease is spread by ticks carrying Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria.
A human can contract the disease if they are bitten by a tick carrying the bacteria.
There is no evidence that it can be spread from person to person.
Where can you get Lyme disease?
It is not likely that you will catch Lyme disease in Australia.
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Scientists have not found Borrelia burgdorferi in Australian ticks, or any other Australian insect that could pass the disease to humans (called a vector).
Lyme disease is commonly found in parts of the United Kingdom, the United States and Asia, according to the Federal Department of Health.
Visitors to these areas can become infected and return to Australia with the disease.
What are the symptoms of Lyme disease?
Symptoms typically appear within the first 30 days of being bitten, according to Health Direct.
Most people notice a rash that appears between seven and 14 days after a tick bite.
Typically, the rash is target-shaped and centred around the tick bite.
The rash may be tender, but it usually isn’t itchy or painful. About eight in 10 people develop a rash.
Not everybody with the disease gets a rash.
In the later stages of the disease, you may develop symptoms that affect your heart, nervous system or joints.
Symptoms can include:
- Headache
- muscle and joint aches
- fever
- feeling tired
- stiff neck
- trouble concentrating
How is Lyme disease treated?
If you think you have Lyme disease, you should visit your doctor.
It can be treated with antibiotics and is diagnosed by a blood test.
Also, see your doctor if you think you have a tick and you need help or advice on removing it.
What are the complications of Lyme disease?
Lyme disease has three stages.
- Stage 1 — Early Stage
- Stage 2 — Early Dissemination
- Stage 3 — Late Dissemination
The symptoms experienced in each stage depend on:
- The type of bacteria causing the infection
- Where were you infected
Neurological complications most often occur in the second stage of Lyme disease. They include:
- numbness
- pain
- weakness
- Bell’s palsy
- problems with your eyesight
- meningitis-like symptoms such as fever, stiff neck, and a bad headache
Some patients can experience neurological symptoms in the weeks, months and years after a bite.
These include:
- Finding it hard to concentrate
- Memory and sleep disorders
- Nerve damage in the arms and legs
Some people believe that a form of “chronic Lyme disease” exists in Australia.
However, this is a disputed diagnosis as there is a lack of supporting evidence.
According the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, some people can have symptoms associated with Lyme disease, but no evidence of being infected by the bacterium that causes it.
“Because of the confusion in how the term CLD is employed, and the lack of a clearly defined clinical definition, many experts in this field do not support its use,” the institute says.