Tick Bites: What You Need to Know

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If a tick bites you, it will most likely be painless, and you may not even know you’ve been bitten.

Most tick bites result in only mild symptoms such as swelling, redness, a sore on the skin, or a slight allergic rash. However, because some ticks carry bacteria that cause illnesses such as Lyme disease, measures should be taken to prevent and treat tick bites quickly and safely.

Early symptoms: The early symptoms of Lyme disease typically appear within 3 to 30 days after a tick bite. The most common early sign is a red, expanding rash called erythema migrans. It may appear as a bull’s-eye pattern, with a red center surrounded by a clear area and then a red outer ring. Other symptoms may include fatigue, fever, headache, muscle and joint aches, swollen lymph nodes, and flu-like symptoms.

Treatment: If diagnosed early, Lyme disease can be effectively treated with antibiotics, usually oral doxycycline, amoxicillin, or cefuroxime. The duration of therapy varies depending on the stage and severity of the infection. It’s important to complete the entire course of antibiotics as a healthcare professional prescribes.

  • Prevention: To prevent tick bites and reduce the risk of Lyme disease:
  • Wear long-sleeved shirts, pants, and socks in wooded or grassy areas.
  • After spending time outdoors, perform thorough tick checks on yourself, your children, and your pets.
  • Remove ticks promptly and adequately using fine-tipped tweezers, grasping the tick close to the skin and pulling it straight out.
  • Launder and dry clothing on high heat to kill any ticks.

Seek medical attention: If you find an attached tick or develop symptoms suggestive of Lyme disease after a tick bite, it’s essential to seek medical attention. Early diagnosis and treatment can help prevent complications associated with Lyme disease.

Medical attention for tick bites

A visit to the Always Available Urgent Care center puts you in the hands of our highly credentialed providers, who will expertly attend to your immediate needs. We’ll give you seamless priority referrals to top specialists, so you can get all the care you need.

Our doctors are trained at the ALWAYS AVAILABLE MEDICAL CENTER to remove ticks and proactively treat potential infections or tick-borne diseases.

CALL TODAY: (845)-215-9567