Bella Hadid Updates on Her Decade-Long Battle with Lyme Disease: How Does It Affect the Body?

Bella Hadid, the renowned supermodel, has been open about her long and difficult battle with Lyme disease, which began with its diagnosis in 2012. Over the years, she has shared how the illness has changed her life. Pain, fatigue, repeated hospital visits, hidden from fans, but deeply real. Her recent posts show she continues to face flare-ups of the condition.
To understand how the disease affects the body at different ages, we reached out to Dr Nivedita Jha, Consultant - Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Apollo Cradle and Children's Hospital, Bengaluru-Koramangala.

Bella Hadid’s Update on Her Ongoing Treatment

 

 

 

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Recently, Bella gave a glimpse of her current medical condition with a series of close-up photos that appear to be taken from a hospital bed. The pictures show her taking IV drips and undergoing therapy, along with sincere messages to the fans about her absence. Her mother, Yolanda Hadid, commented, ‘Lyme warrior,’ and her sister, Gigi Hadid, also commented with loving messages, with wishes of strength and wellness to Bella. The weakness of Bella can be used to gain insights into the unseen conflict that she faces daily. 

How Does Lyme Disease Affect the Body?

Lyme disease is a complicated disease which is caused by a bacterium known as Borrelia burgdorferi, which is spread to a human being by the bite of an infected black-legged tick. Several systems may be involved in this condition, and the symptoms are likely to resemble other diseases; thus, diagnosis can become tough.

Dr Nivedita Jha explains, “Lyme disease begins with flu-like symptoms like fever, chills, fatigue and a characteristic rash known as erythema migrans. But when not treated, it may soon spread to the joints, heart, and nervous system.” The effects are very diverse as there is a great difference in the way one catches the disease early enough, the stage at which the disease is treated and the way the human body reacts to the disease.

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Age-Wise Impact of Lyme Disease on Body

Children:

Dr Namratha P, Pediatric Neurologist,  Apollo Crade and Children's Hospital, Bengaluru - Koramangala highlights that Lyme disease in young children can be subtle, with symptoms like fatigue, swollen joints, headaches, or stomach pains. “Young children often can’t clearly describe their discomfort, so early signs may be missed,” the doctor notes. If untreated, children risk complications like arthritis, neurological issues such as facial palsy, and cognitive difficulties.

Pregnant Women:

Lyme disease in pregnancy requires special care. "Although Lyme disease is not a condition that necessarily causes pregnancy complications, untreated infection increases the chances of miscarriage, premature delivery, and further transmission of the disease to the baby," says Dr Nivedita Jha. Mothers who are pregnant and have Lyme need to be carefully observed and treated accordingly to prevent exposure of the mother and her child to infection.

Adults:

In adults, Lyme disease normally begins with the characteristic bull's-eye rash. This is then accompanied by fever, muscle pain and fatigue. In the absence of treatment, adults can have Lyme arthritis, inflammation of the heart (carditis), or neurological disease (memory loss, nerve pain, heart rhythm problems).

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Conclusion

The fact that Bella Hadid is not afraid to talk about her fight with Lyme disease contributes to increasing awareness about a disease that can affect so many people without even being noticed. Lyme disease is not as simple as it has different impacts on people of all ages. Early diagnosis and management are crucial in averting the long-term effects. Any person who feels unreasonably fatigued, achy in his or her joints, or has a rash, particularly following contact with ticks, is cautioned to visit a physician to diagnose Lyme at an early stage to reduce the complications.