Ticks are small parasites that can transmit serious illnesses to humans and animals. While not all ticks carry Lyme disease, it's essential to be cautious whenever you are bitten. Knowing how Lyme disease is spread, recognizing symptoms, and understanding your treatment options can help protect your health after a tick bite.
If you’re bitten by a tick, AFC Urgent Care Attleboro is here to provide same-day testing for tick borne illnesses. Our walk-in clinic is open 7 days a week from 8am to 8pm in Attleboro, MA, and provides care for patients of all ages. Simply walk in when it’s convenient, or save your spot online in advance below.
How Does a Person Get Lyme Disease?
A person gets Lyme disease through the bite of an infected black-legged tick. These ticks typically live in grassy, brushy, or wooded areas. Ticks latch onto skin and feed on blood for several days. Lyme disease transmission is more likely if the tick remains attached for 36 to 48 hours. Nymph ticks (immature ticks) are most likely to transmit the disease due to their tiny size, making them difficult to detect. Only a small percentage of tick bites lead to Lyme disease, but the risk increases depending on the geographic location, the type of tick, and how long it remains attached.
What are the Symptoms of Lyme Disease?
Lyme disease symptoms can appear in stages, ranging from mild to severe. In the early stage (3 to 30 days after the bite), one of the most recognizable signs is a circular, red rash, which often looks like a bull's eye. This rash occurs in about 70–80% of infected individuals.
Other early symptoms include:
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Chills
- Muscle and joint aches
- Swollen lymph nodes
If left untreated, Lyme disease can progress to more serious symptoms such as:
- Severe joint pain and swelling (especially in the knees)
- Neurological issues (facial palsy, meningitis, numbness in limbs)
- Heart problems (irregular heartbeat)
- Short-term memory problems
Can Lyme Disease be Treated?
Yes, Lyme disease can be effectively treated, especially when caught early. The standard treatment is a course of oral antibiotics, such as doxycycline, amoxicillin, or cefuroxime axetil, usually taken for 10 to 21 days. Most people recover fully with timely treatment.
In cases where Lyme disease has progressed or when neurological or cardiac symptoms are present, intravenous (IV) antibiotics may be necessary. Some individuals experience lingering symptoms after treatment, a condition sometimes called Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome (PTLDS). This may include fatigue, muscle aches, or cognitive difficulties, but it is not due to ongoing infection and usually improves over time.
When to Seek Urgent Care
If a tick has bitten you and you are unsure how long it was attached, or if you develop flu-like symptoms, it's essential to seek medical attention promptly. Your medical provider can evaluate the tick bite, remove any remaining parts, prescribe preventive treatment if necessary, and order lab tests to detect Lyme disease in its early stages.
Walk into AFC Attleboro for Same-Day Tick Bite Treatment
Tick bites can transmit diseases to humans, so it is important to check for ticks after being outside and take immediate action if you’re bitten by a tick. At AFC Attleboro, our walk-in clinic offers same-day tick bite diagnosis and treatment. We have a laboratory on-site for same-day testing, and can prescribe any necessary medications based on the results.
Our clinic treats patients of all ages, and is open 7 days a week on a walk-in basis. We work with most major medical insurance providers, and have competitive rates for patients paying out of pocket. To learn more, walk into the clinic, or give us a call at (774) 254-9500.
