According to the CDC more than 400,000 people are diagnosed and treated for Lyme disease every year and that number has been increasing every year. Lyme disease is transmitted when a tick bites a person and leaves behind bacteria that enters the person’s bloodstream. The symptoms of Lyme disease can be severe and may even be disabling for some people.

For same-day Lyme disease treatment, you can visit the clinic at AFC Urgent Care Castle Rock! Open seven days a week, our team is dedicated to making healthcare accessible for every patient in the community and surrounding areas– just walk right in today!

What Does A Tick Bite Look Like?

So how do you know if you’ve been bitten by a tick? It can be hard to tell if a bite on your skin is from a tick or another insect but there are some things you can look for to tell the difference between an ordinary insect bite and a tick bite.

If the tick is still attached to your skin you will see a tiny black or brown dot on your skin that may look like a seed. Anytime you are bitten by a tick and the tick is still on you it’s very important that you don’t rip the tick off. If you do, part of the tick may remain attached to your skin. There are very specific methods you can use to remove the tick or you can go to Urgent Care and have a medical professional remove it.

If you don’t see a tick on your skin but you have a bite that looks like an insect bite it could be a tick bite. Tick bites are usually small and round. If you notice a small red bump with a hard center that doesn’t release any liquid or pus that could be a tick bite. Tick bites can also be red circles with a small black site in the center.

Signs and Symptoms Of Lyme Disease

The most definitive symptom of Lyme disease is a bulls eye rash. That’s a rash that starts as a red dot. But within hours a large red ring will form around that red spot and spread from there. A bulls eye rash may appear right away after a tick bite or you may not develop a rash for up to 30 days after the bite. Other symptoms of Lyme disease include:

•  Fever.
•  Headache.
•  Extreme tiredness.
•  Joint stiffness.
•  Muscle aches and pains.
•  Swollen lymph nodes.
•  Many rashes on other parts of the body.
•  Neck pain or stiffness.
•  Muscle weakness on one or both sides of the face.
•  Immune-system activity in heart tissue that causes irregular heartbeats.
•  Pain that starts from the back and hips and spreads to the legs.
•  Pain, numbness or weakness in the hands or feet.

When To Seek Medical Care

If you notice any unexplained rashes on your body or if you see a bulls eye rash you should go to Urgent Care for treatment right away. A medical provider can test you for Lyme disease and prescribe medications that help manage the pain and the symptoms associated with the disease. For same-day tick bite and Lyme disease treatment, visit the walk-in clinic at AFC Urgent Care Castle Rock. If you have any additional questions about our services, please call us at (303) 660-9700.