As you may or may not know, Lyme disease is most commonly caused by a tick bite; treated early enough, Lyme disease can be overcome. Here are some of the most common symptoms caused by this disease:
Signs & Symptoms:
The signs and symptoms of Lyme disease are often varied, and affect more than one system of the body; most often your skin, nervous system, and joints are affected.
Early Signs & Symptoms: Occur roughly a month after you’ve been infected:
- Rash: A small red bump but will most likely appear, indicating where the tick bit you. This small bump does not necessarily translate to Lyme disease. However, if over the next few days the redness expands into a bull’s-eye pattern, with a red outer ring, chances are you’ve been infected by Lyme disease. Erythema Migrans, the medical term for the bull’s-eye patter, is one of the hallmarks of Lyme disease.
- Flu-like Symptoms: Along with the rash, you may experience, fever, chills, fatigue, body aches, and a headache.
Later Signs & Symptoms:
- Joint Pain: you might begin to experience some joint pain and swelling, especially in your knees.
When to See a Doctor:
Although only a minority of deer tick bites lead to Lyme disease, you should see a doctor as soon as possible; the longer the tick remains attached to your skin, the greater the risk of getting the disease is. If you’ve been bitten and start to notice the telltale signs and symptoms of this disease, you should come into your neighborhood Doctor’s Express Urgent Care immediately. Treatment for Lyme Disease is most effective if begun early.
Treatment:
We use FDA approved laboratory tests in combination with the patient’s symptoms to determine if he or she is infected with Lyme disease. We will start with a blood test to detect antibodies; most everyone who has Lyme disease will test positive. If the blood test does come out positive, we will perform a Western blot test to confirm the results.
If the tests do confirm that you have been infected by the disease, we will prescribe the antibiotic, doxycycline, for roughly two-four weeks.
The quicker we are able to diagnose you, the faster and more effective the treatment will be. Don’t hesitate to give us a call or stop by the office; appointments are not necessary! For more information on Lyme disease, please give Doctor’s Express a call at 732-469-3627; our professional and experienced staff will be sure to answer any and all questions you have!
