When the weather is warm, it is important to take advantage of the weather and spend time outdoors. Exposure to the sun and nature has incredible benefits to your overall physical and mental health. However, with the increased time spent outside, there are risks of coming into contact with ticks. Deer ticks can transmit diseases to humans such as Lyme disease. Lyme disease is a serious condition that can become a chronic condition if not treated quickly.
At AFC Urgent Care Waltham, we understand the dangers of Lyme disease. That is why our clinic offers same-day Lyme disease care for patients in Waltham, MA, and the surrounding communities. We have a laboratory on-site for rapid Lyme disease diagnosis. Simply walk into the clinic, or schedule your visit online.
What is Lyme Disease
Lyme disease is a serious bacterial infection. It is usually transmitted to humans through ticks who bite a deer then bite a human. Although Lyme disease is not deadly, it can have detrimental impacts to your life if not treated early. In most cases, Lyme disease symptoms begin appearing 3-10 weeks after you were bitten by a tick carrying the disease, with early symptoms sometimes occurring as early as 3 days after the bite. Diagnosing Lyme disease can be tricky because symptoms often are mild and go unnoticed. However, delaying care can result in Lyme disease becoming chronic with extreme symptoms that impact your daily life such as severe joint pain and fatigue.
Signs You Were Bitten By a Tick
If you were bitten by a tick, you may have been exposed to Lyme disease. It is vital to seek urgent medical care for a Lyme disease test. However, how do you know that you were bitten by a tick? Ticks can be tiny, as small as the head of a pin, and tend to hide in hard-to-see places like behind the ears and in skin folds.
It is very possible that you are bitten by a tick and don’t realize it until after. However, in many cases, tick bites result in the development of a very distinct marking. A rash the shape of a bullseye is a dead giveaway that you were bitten by a tick. A bullseye rash doesn’t appear. If you notice any signs of intense fatigue, an unexplained fever or body aches, you should also visit urgent care for a Lyme test.
Treatment for Lyme Disease in Waltham, MA
Lyme disease is curable if you catch it early. The treatment for Lyme disease is a course of antibiotics for up to a month. However, you need to start antibiotics within 72 hours of a tick bite. For some, you may not even realize you have Lyme for months after the initial bite due to a lack of symptoms. This is why it is important to regularly check for ticks if you’re spending time outdoors in the spring, summer, or fall.
Walk Into AFC Urgent Care Waltham for Tick Bite Treatment in Waltham, MA
If you were bitten by a tick, or are experiencing symptoms associated with Lyme disease, you should seek immediate medical attention. At AFC Urgent Care Waltham, our walk-in clinic offers rapid Lyme diagnosis and treatment services for patients in Waltham, MA, and the surrounding communities. We never require that you schedule an appointment in order to receive prompt medical care, simply walk into the clinic when it’s convenient for you. We maintain short wait times and accept most major medical insurance plans. For more information, contact the clinic directly by calling 732-894-6900.
