Coronation Street finally reveals truth behind Joseph Brown’s mystery illness with groundbreaking new storyline
CORRIE fans have been worried sick about Joseph Brown ever since he came down with a mysterious illness.
The young boy had been complaining of splitting headaches to his mum for a while, but father Chesney Brown (Sam Aston) thought he was faking it for attention.
Gemma (Dolly-Rose Campbell) let him stay home from school and took him to the docs, but after a check up they claimed he was fine.
Things went from bad to worse when Joseph eventually passed out and had to be rushed to hospital.
This time doctors said that the lad had been poisoned, leaving his parents shocked.
Police speculated that his mum might be responsible, and Gemma was removed from the family home by social services.
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Thankfully the residents of Coronation Street are about to realise she is not at fault as he suffers another collapse without her there.
The Brown family finally get the real prognosis for Joseph's strange sickness when he is taken to hospital for yet another examination.
It turns out that he was originally misdiagnosed and actually has Lyme Disease, which he likely got from a tick bite while on a camping holiday.
Show bosses say they have been working closely with Lyme Disease UK in the lead up to the big reveal.
Members of the group were consulted about symptoms and treatment for the illness while the script was being written.
The charity's press manager, Julia Knight, shared: "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."