In recent years, the number of Lyme Disease cases has been skyrocketing. This is due to a variety of factors, however, warming temperatures has resulted in ticks being able to survive for much more of the year, extending the at-risk period for bites. Read on to learn more about the risks of Lyme Disease and how to know whether you may have gotten a bite from a contaminated tick.
What is Lyme Disease?
Lyme Disease is a bacterial infection that is transmitted to humans through a black-legged tick. Black-legged ticks are often referred to as deer ticks because their preferred host is white-tailed deer.
These ticks are very small, sometimes barely visible to the human eye. Although they are called deer ticks, you can get a bite from a black legged tick through exposure to tall grasses and brush. Tick season usually lasts from May through August, however, with warming temperatures, this timeframe is expanding due to the lack of frost in early spring and early fall.
Lyme Disease is often easily identifiable by the trademark bullseye rash that appears around a black legged tick bite. However, some other early symptoms of Lyme disease include:
- Fever
- Headache
- Chills
- Swollen lymph nodes
Tick bites may not form a rash at the site of the bite until weeks after the bite occurs, if ever. Therefore, it is important to do regular checks for ticks during the warmer months.
Some late onset symptoms of Lyme disease could include:
- Severe headaches
- Neck stiffness or pain
- Joint and tendon pain
- Irregular heartbeat
- Lightheadedness
- Numbness in your extremities
Early detection is critical to being able to effectively treat Lyme Disease, so it is important to watch out for the early symptoms and seek medical attention if you are bitten by a tick or suspect you may have been recently.
What To Do If You’re Bitten by a Tick
Like many ailments, prevention is better than treatment. To prevent a tick bite, wear long pants and long sleeves to ensure your skin is covered, making it harder for ticks to bite you if you come in contact with one. Applying bug spray can also help deter ticks from attaching to you as you pass by. If possible, avoiding long grass in the warmer months is always a good idea to limit potential tick contact.
If you have pets that go outdoors, ensure they are using tick prevention treatments and check them for ticks after they go outside to prevent them from bringing ticks into the home unintentionally.
If you do find a tick that has bit you and is actively attached to your skin, you can pull it off yourself with a pair of tweezers, but you have to ensure you pull the entire head out with the body. If you do pull it out yourself, you can freeze it in a plastic bag and bring it to a medical office for identification. If you are unable to remove it yourself, you can head to urgent care to get it removed and identified.
Lyme Disease Diagnosis and Treatment Options at Urgent Care
If you are bitten by a tick and catch it early, medical providers can start treatment quickly. If you suspect you have been bitten, you should seek medical care for a blood test. Unfortunately, sometimes it takes a few weeks for lyme disease to show up on tests because they test for antibodies actively fighting the infection and the numbers will increase as the infection progresses.
Treatment is simple and usually consists of a round of antibiotics. However, if it is caught too late, there is a risk for prolonged symptoms after treatment, so it is best to seek medical attention sooner rather than later for swift diagnosis and treatment.
Get Lyme Disease Diagnosis & Treatment at AFC Urgent Care Waltham
With rising temperatures, Lyme Disease cases are continuing to increase year after year. With sometimes severe symptoms that can prolong for years after treatment, it is vital to be vigilant about tick bites during warmer months and to seek medical treatment if you suspect a tick bite. Our medical professionals are able to do lab testing in house, meaning that we can diagnose and begin treatment quickly. To learn more about our services, visit our website or call us today to speak to a medical professional at (781) 894-6900.
