Warmer spring weather means that we can start enjoying time outdoors! However, spending more time outdoors brings an increased risk of insect bites. In most cases, insects leave you alone. However, ticks are parasitic insects that want to bite you and can give harmful diseases to you when they do. If you’re spending time outside, it's important to understand the risk of tick bites and know how to identify a tick bite early so that you can get treatment to prevent the spread of Lyme disease.
At AFC Urgent Care Edgewater, we provide rapid urgent care services for insect bites, including ticks. We also provide immediate diagnosis and treatment for Lyme disease infections. If you’ve been bit by a tick, visit AFC Urgent Care Edgewater for walk-in Lyme disease care in Edgewater, MD.
What is Lyme Disease
Lyme disease is an infection that originates in whitetail deer. It is a bacterial infection that is commonly spread to humans via deer ticks who bite a deer, and then bite a human. Lyme disease is a unique illness. It can lead to a variety of uncomfortable symptoms including flu-like symptoms. Lyme disease cannot be spread from human to human. However, if the disease is not quickly treated, its effects can be chronic and long-lasting. It is important to get diagnosed and start treatment as early as possible if you think you may have Lyme disease.
Common early symptoms of Lyme disease:
- Fever
- Chills
- Muscle Aches
- Rash
- Headache
- Joint pain
- Neck pain
Signs You’ve Been Bit By a Tick
Deer ticks, which are the primary variety of tick that spreads Lyme, can be incredibly small and difficult to spot. Deer ticks tend to live where whitetail deer live which usually is in areas with tall vegetation such as fields with tall grass. If you are spending time outdoors, you should ensure that your skin is covered to protect yourself from being exposed to ticks. After periods of time outdoors, it's always a good idea to shower and check your body for ticks. If you find a tick, pull it off and bring it to a medical professional for identification.
In many cases, you may not find the actual tick while it is latched onto you. Instead, you may begin to feel symptoms consistent with Lyme with no evidence of a tick bite. In most cases, tick bites leave a very unique and identifiable bullseye-shaped ring around the bite site. If you see a bullseye on your skin, seek medical care immediately for Lyme diagnosis and treatment.
Same-Day Lyme Disease Diagnosis & Treatment in Edgewater, MD
If you find a tick on you, it is important that you remove it as quickly as possible. You can do so with tweezers. Make sure you remove the entire tick, including the head. If you’re uncomfortable doing so, you can get the tick removed by a medical provider at an urgent care center. Your medical provider will be able to identify the tick and determine whether you’re at risk for developing Lyme disease. Lyme can be diagnosed using a simple blood test. Lyme can take up to a month to show up on a test, but knowing that you have been bit by a potentially infected tick by bringing the tick in for identification can ensure that you get treatment as early as possible for Lyme to prevent symptoms from occurring.
Walk Into AFC Urgent Care Edgewater for Same-Day Treatment for Lyme Disease in Edgewater, MD
If you’ve been bit by a tick, it is important that you seek immediate medical care for Lyme diagnosis and treatment. Delaying care can lead to Lyme becoming a chronic condition, which can have a severe impact on your daily life. At AFC Urgent Care Edgewater, our medical providers are board-certified and trained to diagnose Lyme disease using our on-site labs and provide the necessary treatment. Our clinic is available 7 days a week for patients in Edgewater, MD on a walk-in basis. We accept most medical insurance plans and offer affordable care for self-paying patients. Walk-in today!
