What should be done if a tick is found to carry Lyme disease? - briefly
Remove the tick with fine‑pointed tweezers, grasping it as close to the skin as possible and pulling straight upward, then clean the bite site with antiseptic. Contact a healthcare provider promptly for evaluation and, if appropriate, a single dose of doxycycline within 72 hours of removal.
What should be done if a tick is found to carry Lyme disease? - in detail
If a tick is identified as carrying the bacterium that causes Lyme disease, immediate removal is the first priority. Grasp the tick with fine‑point tweezers as close to the skin as possible, pull upward with steady pressure, and disinfect the bite site with alcohol or iodine.
After extraction, assess the risk of infection based on the tick’s species, stage of development, and duration of attachment. For nymphs or adult black‑legged ticks attached for 36 hours or longer, a single dose of doxycycline (200 mg for adults, 4 mg/kg for children ≥8 years) within 72 hours of removal is recommended as prophylaxis, provided there are no contraindications.
If prophylactic treatment is not appropriate, schedule a medical evaluation promptly. The clinician should:
- Document the bite date, location, and tick characteristics.
- Order serologic testing (ELISA followed by Western blot) if symptoms develop or if the bite occurred during peak transmission months.
- Monitor for early signs such as erythema migrans, fever, headache, fatigue, or joint pain.
- Initiate a full course of antibiotics (doxycycline, amoxicillin, or cefuroxime) if infection is confirmed or strongly suspected.
Patients should keep a record of any emerging symptoms for at least 30 days and report them without delay. Public health authorities may require notification of confirmed cases to aid surveillance and control efforts.