Tick bite, Lyme disease, what to do? - briefly
Remove the attached tick with fine tweezers, clean the site with antiseptic, and note the date of the bite; if a rash resembling a bull’s‑eye appears or symptoms develop within 30 days, start a course of doxycycline after consulting a healthcare provider. Immediate medical evaluation is essential for proper diagnosis and treatment.
Tick bite, Lyme disease, what to do? - in detail
A tick attached to the skin can transmit Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacterium that causes Lyme disease. Prompt removal and proper assessment reduce the risk of infection.
Immediate actions after a bite
- Use fine‑point tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible.
- Pull upward with steady pressure; avoid twisting or crushing the body.
- Disinfect the bite site and hands with alcohol or iodine.
- Preserve the tick in a sealed container if identification is needed for medical evaluation.
Symptoms to monitor
- Red, expanding rash (erythema migrans) appearing 3–30 days after the bite.
- Flu‑like signs: fever, chills, headache, fatigue, muscle aches.
- Joint pain, especially in the knees, emerging weeks to months later.
- Neurological signs: facial palsy, meningitis, peripheral neuropathy.
When to seek medical care
- Presence of the characteristic rash, even without systemic symptoms.
- Persistent fever or severe headache.
- Any neurological or cardiac manifestations (e.g., palpitations, chest pain).
- Uncertainty about the tick’s species or duration of attachment.
Diagnostic approach
- Clinical evaluation based on exposure history and symptom pattern.
- Serologic testing (ELISA followed by Western blot) after the rash has been present for at least four weeks; early disease may be seronegative.
- Additional tests (e.g., PCR, CSF analysis) for neurologic or cardiac involvement.
Treatment protocol
- Oral doxycycline 100 mg twice daily for 10–21 days is first‑line for most adult patients without contraindications.
- For children under eight, pregnant women, or those allergic to doxycycline, amoxicillin or cefuroxime axetil is recommended.
- Intravenous ceftriaxone for severe neurologic or cardiac disease, administered for 14–28 days.
- Follow‑up assessment after therapy to confirm symptom resolution; persistent complaints may require extended treatment.
Prevention strategies
- Wear long sleeves and pants in tick‑infested areas; tuck clothing into socks.
- Apply EPA‑registered repellents containing DEET, picaridin, or IR3535 to skin and permethrin to clothing.
- Perform daily body checks after outdoor activities; remove attached ticks promptly.
- Landscape yards to reduce habitat: keep grass short, remove leaf litter, create barriers between wooded areas and play zones.
Early identification and swift intervention are essential to prevent the progression of infection and to minimize long‑term complications.