If you love spending most of your time outdoors, like hiking, gardening, or camping, you might encounter troublesome tick bites.
Tick bites can wreak havoc on your daily outdoor activities and if they transmit Lyme disease (an illness caused by Borrelia bacteria that is most common in the US), you could end up in a real pickle.
But if you are aware of the symptoms that warrant medical care and the precautions you can take to prevent tick bites in the future, you can enjoy your summer and fall activities without any trouble.
In this blog, you’ll learn some tidbits about Lyme disease and how urgent care can help you in treating this disease. Let’s cut to the chase!
What Is Lyme Disease And What Are Its Symptoms?
Lyme disease is caused by the bacteria Borrelia Burgdorferi which is most commonly carried by the black-legged tick also known as the deer tick. You can get this disease only if the tick attaches to your body for 36 to 48 hours and the bacteria spreads to your blood.
If you get a tick bite and have the following initial symptoms, you need to contact the healthcare provider right away:
- A ring-like red rash that resembles a bull’s eye
- Fever (above 100.4 F) and chills
- Headache, muscle ache, and fatigue
- Body rash
- Stiff neck and joints
If you do not get any treatment for Lyme disease once you notice initial symptoms, the symptoms can worsen:
- Muscle weakness or paralysis of one or both sides of the face
- Rash spreading to other parts of the body
- Irregular heartbeats or other heart problems
- Pain in the lower limbs (starts from the back to your legs)
The late disseminated stage of Lyme disease most commonly occurs within months or years and presents with the following symptoms:
- Lyme arthritis (particularly in the knees)
- Neuropathy (numbness and pain in the limbs)
So, early detection of Lyme disease is important to prevent the complications. Therefore, when you get a tick bite and notice any concerning symptoms, visit the healthcare provider.
When Can You Visit Urgent Care For Lyme Disease?
Since tick bites are very common in children and adults, especially in the summers, so you must know when a tick bite needs medical attention. For instance, if you see a tick attached to your body and you’re unsure of correctly removing it yourself, you can visit urgent care as quickly as possible.
Some other cases in which seeking medical assistance from urgent care can help in preventing or treating Lyme disease:
- You notice a tick bite and want to seek medical advice on whether the tick carried Lyme disease or not.
- You removed the tick yourself but found some parts of the tick (head, mouth, or legs) embedded inside.
- The bite site is swollen, itchy, or shows discolouration.
- You experience flu-like symptoms, full body rash, or fever after a few days or weeks of a tick bite.
If you find a tick on your body or notice any concerning symptoms after a tick bite, you can visit a nearby urgent care clinic like Family Urgent Care if you live in Indiana or Illinois.
What Treatment Can You Expect in Urgent Care?
Once you visit a nearby urgent care clinic, the healthcare provider examines the bite area and asks about your symptoms in detail. Depending upon the severity of your symptoms and the duration of a tick bite, the doctor might take the following steps:
- Can order a test for Lyme disease, if necessary.
- Prescribe antibiotics depending on the stage of the disease and the severity of your symptoms.
- If you have severe body pain or headaches, the doctor will advise you on some pain management therapies.
- Counsel you on monitoring symptoms at home and preventing further complications.
If you experience any heart problems, paralysis or severe headaches, you need to visit an emergency care facility or call 911 at home.
Does Urgent Care Test For Lyme Disease?
Yes, some urgent care clinics have on-site lab facilities and trained medical staff to draw blood samples and perform tests to detect Lyme disease-causing bacteria. On the other hand, other urgent care clinics can take your blood samples and send them to lab facilities for testing.
If you’re experiencing any symptoms of Lyme disease, or you’ve got a tick bite, you can visit Family Urgent Care for Lyme disease testing as we provide on-site lab testing services to all our patients.
Family Urgent Care Helping You In Treating Lyme Disease
Are these tiny pests causing big stress? We’re here to erase your worries and treat your tick bite symptoms right away!
Whether you need to remove a tick from the bite area or you’re experiencing flu-like symptoms after a tick bite, Family Urgent Care helps you prevent and treat Lyme disease without any hassle.
Our clinic is based in three different locations in Indiana and Illinois: Roger’s Park, Lincoln’s Park and Schererville. All you need to do is book an urgent care appointment or directly walk into our clinic and get prompt treatment and care for Lyme disease.
So visit us today and let the medical experts handle the rest!
