Tick bites are extremely common here in Delaware. If someone is bitten by a tick, they can suffer from a host of different diseases and lifelong complications, but they are entirely preventable if you catch it in time. If you have been bitten by a tick, you should get tested and treated with precautionary medication for Lyme disease, especially if you experience symptoms. Lewes locals and visitors can rely on Atracare Health for accurate, prompt testing for Lyme disease. We are here for you and your family. 

What You Need to Know About Tick Bites and Lyme Disease

Deer ticks, also known as black-legged ticks, are the type of ticks that carry Lyme disease. Lyme is caused by two types of bacteria, Borrelia burgdorferi, and Borrelia mayonii. Symptoms of Lyme disease can include rash, headache, fever, chills, swollen lymph, nodes, and stiffness in the neck. If you do not receive treatment for Lyme disease, the symptoms can worsen as the disease progresses. Some symptoms of untreated Lyme disease can include a severe rash, joint pain, and neurological complications such as meningitis and Bell’s palsy. 

Other Diseases You Can Get From Ticks

Although Lyme disease is the most well-known illness you can get from ticks, there are many other diseases that ticks can transmit. Anaplasmosis, babesiosis, Powassan disease, and others listed here are known to be carried in deer ticks. Doxycycline and penicillin are commonly prescribed treatments for tick-borne illnesses. 

How Long Does It Take to Transmit the Disease? 

Lyme disease can be transmitted from the tick to the host within any timeframe, but infection typically occurs when the tick has been attached for longer than 48 hours. Symptoms, such as the well-known bulls-eye rash, can appear within three to thirty days. Lyme antibodies can take several weeks to develop, so if you have symptoms and get a negative test result, your doctor may recommend that you get retested at a later date. 

Have You Been Bitten by a Tick? Come to Atracare for a Rapid Lyme Test

Early detection and treatment is the best way to avoid long-term medical complications from tick bites. Our providers offer a host of options for their patients including prophylactic medications, rapid Lyme disease testing, testing for other tick-borne illnesses as well as treatment options to go home with.

Come in and see us if you or a loved one has been bitten by a tick. Even if you don’t have immediate symptoms, we will help evaluate you, treat the bite, and offer peace of mind. With our texting feature, you can schedule an appointment anytime, anywhere, so you can receive the best care no matter how busy life gets. We also offer walk-in care services from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day.