Ukrainian musician Ruslan Trochynskyi recovering from two tick-borne illnesses
Ukrainian musician and long-time Estonian resident Ruslan Trochynskyi is recovering from Lyme disease and tick-borne encephalitis after being hospitalized. He urges others to get vaccinated and check for ticks.
Musician Ruslan Trochynskyi, a Ukrainian national who has lived in Estonia for many years, is on the mend after contracting both Lyme disease and tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) from a single tick bite.
Trochynskyi said his ordeal began around Midsummer while preparing birch whisks in his backyard. Although he typically checks himself for ticks after outdoor activities, one bite went unnoticed until the following day. He removed the tick with specialised tweezers and disinfected the spot with alcohol, but felt unwell by that evening.
Soon after, he experienced joint pain, fever and a general feeling of malaise. Having contracted Lyme disease 15 years earlier, Trochynskyi recognised the symptoms. However, doctors determined that he had both Lyme disease and TBE. Initially, he was sent home with antibiotics, but later had to be admitted to the intensive care unit.
'A tick is so small, but it can cause so much pain,' Trochynskyi commented.
The musician is currently recovering and attributes part of his progress to years of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. He recently went his first full day without needing pain relief.
Looking back, Trochynskyi said he wishes he had been vaccinated against TBE. He noted that many people have shared their experiences in response to his social media post, with some recovering within months, others taking a year or two, and some never fully recovering.
Since there is no vaccine for Lyme disease, prevention is key. People are advised to check for ticks after spending time outdoors and to remove any ticks promptly, as the risk of infection increases with the duration of attachment.
Last year, Estonia recorded 3,276 cases of Lyme disease and 143 cases of TBE.
