During the summer months bug bites are very common. There are many different kinds of insects that can cause irritation and itchy bug bites. While ticks do not often cause red and itchy bites, they can spread diseases when they bite. One of the most common tick-borne illnesses is Lyme disease, which occurs when a deer tick bites a human after biting an infected deer. Lyme disease can have many different symptoms, and early intervention is key to being able to successfully treat the infection before it becomes chronic. Keep reading to learn more about common symptoms associated with Lyme disease and the available treatment options.
If you were bit by a tick, it is critical to get prompt medical care. A blood test will confirm whether the tick transferred any diseases that require treatment. At AFC West Long Branch, our walk-in clinic offers tick bite diagnosis and treatment on a walk-in basis 7 days a week. Simply walk into the clinic, or save your spot in advance below.
Symptoms of Lyme Disease
Lyme disease is transmitted from ticks to humans through a tick bite. Ticks can be very small, so you will not always notice when a tick bites you. Not all ticks carry Lyme disease, however, Lyme disease is a serious illness that can cause severe symptoms like rashes and joint pain, which is why it is important to be able to identify the symptoms and seek urgent medical care for treatment. In most cases, a tick bite from a tick that carries Lyme disease will cause a red bullseye circle to form around the bite site, which can help you identify a bite. Additional symptoms of Lyme disease include:
- Fever
- Breakout of reddish rashes
- Headaches
- Chills
- Swelling
- Body aches
- Joint pain
- Fatigue
What to do if You’re Bitten by a Tick
If you do find a tick biting you, there are a few key steps that you need to take. Firstly, remove the tick from your body with tweezers. Always be sure to be gentle and remove the head and body together. Leaving the head in your body can result in the tick continuing to expose you to diseases. If possible, put the tick in a plastic bag and bring it with you to urgent care. This will allow your medical provider to help identify the kind of tick so they can test you accordingly. Always seek medical care if you’re bitten by a tick so that you can receive diagnostic testing and treat any potential tick-borne illnesses. If you’re unsure whether a bug bite is caused by a tick, it’s better to be safe than sorry and seek medical care for diagnostic testing.
Treatment Options for Lyme Disease
If you’re bitten by a tick, it is vital to seek immediate medical care. Lyme disease symptoms can take weeks to appear, and if you do not treat Lyme disease immediately, it can become chronic. Treatment options for Lyme disease vary. In the case of a tick bite where your diagnostic testing does not come back conclusive, you may take preventative measures like a course of antibiotics in the event that you were bitten by a tick that was carrying Lyme disease. Lyme disease is a bacterial infection, so if you do test positive for it, the standard course of treatment is a round of antibiotics.
Visit AFC West Long Branch for Lyme Disease Diagnosis & Treatment
If you were bitten by a tick, or think you are experiencing symptoms of Lyme disease, you should seek immediate medical care. Your medical provider will be able to perform diagnostic testing and provide treatment options for Lyme disease, however, catching it too late could lead to chronic symptoms. At AFC West Long Branch, we offer testing and treatment for Lyme disease 7 days a week. Simply walk into the clinic when it’s convenient, we’re open 7 days a week in West Long Branch, NJ.
Our clinic makes it easy to access rapid Lyme disease diagnosis and treatment. We have a laboratory on-site for rapid testing and are open 7 days a week. Our clinic accepts walk-in patients and has short wait times. We also work with most medical insurance plans and offer affordable care for patients paying out of pocket. To learn more, give us a call at (732) 222-8000 to speak with a member of our team directly.
