What to do if a tick is infected with Lyme disease? - briefly
Remove the tick promptly with fine-tipped tweezers, clean the bite site, and consult a healthcare professional within 72 hours for possible prophylactic antibiotics and symptom monitoring. If a rash, fever, or joint pain develops, seek immediate medical evaluation.
What to do if a tick is infected with Lyme disease? - in detail
When a tick that has transmitted the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi is found attached, immediate removal is essential. Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible with fine‑point tweezers, pull upward with steady pressure, and avoid squeezing the body. After extraction, clean the bite area with soap and water or an antiseptic solution.
Following removal, assess the risk of infection. Record the date of the bite, the geographic region, and the tick’s developmental stage (larva, nymph, adult). Consult a healthcare professional promptly, providing the documented details. The clinician may recommend a single dose of doxycycline (200 mg) as prophylaxis if the bite occurred within 72 hours, the tick was attached for ≥36 hours, and the local incidence of Lyme disease exceeds 20 cases per 100,000 residents.
If prophylaxis is not administered, monitor the site and the patient for early signs of disease:
- Erythema migrans: expanding red rash with central clearing, appearing 3–30 days after the bite.
- Flu‑like symptoms: fever, chills, headache, fatigue, muscle aches.
- Joint pain, especially in large joints such as the knee.
- Neurological signs: facial palsy, meningitis‑like symptoms, peripheral neuropathy.
Should any of these manifestations develop, initiate a full course of antibiotics. Recommended regimens include:
- Doxycycline 100 mg orally twice daily for 14–21 days (adults and children ≥8 years).
- Amoxicillin 500 mg orally three times daily for 14–21 days (children <8 years or pregnant patients).
- Cefuroxime axetil 500 mg orally twice daily for 14–21 days (alternative for doxycycline intolerance).
During treatment, conduct follow‑up examinations to confirm symptom resolution and to detect possible late‑stage complications, such as arthritis or neuroborreliosis. If symptoms persist after the standard course, longer or intravenous antibiotic therapy may be required, guided by specialist consultation.
Prevention of future exposure remains critical. Employ the following measures in tick‑infested areas:
- Wear long sleeves, long trousers, and closed shoes; tuck clothing into socks.
- Apply EPA‑registered repellents containing DEET, picaridin, or IR3535 to skin and permethrin to clothing.
- Perform full‑body tick checks within two hours after outdoor activity; remove any attached ticks promptly.
- Landscape yards to reduce tick habitat: keep grass short, remove leaf litter, and create a barrier of wood chips between wooded areas and recreational zones.
By adhering to prompt removal, risk assessment, appropriate prophylaxis, vigilant monitoring, and timely treatment, the likelihood of developing Lyme disease after a tick bite can be significantly reduced.