A tick with Lyme disease bit me, what to do? - briefly
Remove the tick using fine‑tipped tweezers, grasping it as close to the skin as possible, pull straight upward, then cleanse the bite site with antiseptic. Seek medical evaluation promptly, ideally within 72 hours, to assess the need for prophylactic antibiotic treatment.
A tick with Lyme disease bit me, what to do? - in detail
When a tick known to carry Borrelia burgdorferi attaches, immediate action reduces the risk of Lyme disease progression.
First, remove the arthropod with fine‑pointed tweezers. Grip the head as close to the skin as possible, pull upward with steady pressure, and avoid crushing the body. After extraction, cleanse the bite area with soap and water, then apply an antiseptic.
Next, assess the need for medical intervention. The following criteria guide prophylactic antibiotic use:
- Tick identified as Ixodes species and attached for ≥36 hours.
- Local prevalence of infected ticks exceeds 20 %.
- Patient weighs ≥15 kg and has no contraindications to doxycycline.
- Treatment can begin within 72 hours of removal.
If all conditions are met, a single dose of doxycycline (200 mg) is recommended. Otherwise, monitor for early manifestations:
- Erythema migrans: expanding rash, often >5 cm, appearing 3–30 days post‑bite.
- Flu‑like symptoms: fever, chills, headache, fatigue, myalgia, arthralgia.
- Neurological signs: facial palsy, meningitis, radiculopathy.
Should any of these develop, initiate a full antibiotic regimen—typically doxycycline 100 mg twice daily for 14–21 days, or alternatives such as amoxicillin or cefuroxime for contraindications.
Laboratory confirmation is not required for early localized disease but may be ordered for disseminated infection. Tests include enzyme‑linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) followed by Western blot for confirmation.
Finally, schedule follow‑up evaluation within 2–4 weeks to verify symptom resolution and address potential late manifestations, such as arthritis or neuroborreliosis.