Lyme Disease: Prevention and Symptoms – Inspiring Individual Initiatives

Emergency department visits for tick bites and related concerns are at the highest they have been in six years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In the Northeast, tick bite ED visits have nearly doubled from last year. One of the major concerns after a tick bite is Lyme disease.

The immediate symptoms of Lyme can be relieved if caught quickly. But if left untreated, the disease can have much worse effects in the long run: neurological symptoms like meningitis or facial paralysis, heart problems, inflammation of the eyes, and arthritis.

UR Medicine infectious disease experts Alok Gupta, MBBS, and Brenda Tesini, MD, emphasize the importance of awareness and prevention, noting that Lyme disease is now a recognized concern in western New York.

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Where to Seek Care

Although a tick bite is concerning, an ED visit isn’t usually necessary.

UR Medicine providers can treat tick bites during a Virtual Urgent Care Visit, so you don’t even have to leave home to seek care. If you need assistance removing a tick, find a UR Medicine Urgent Care near you.

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How to Avoid Lyme Disease

The best way to prevent Lyme disease is to avoid tick bites through proper precautions when spending time outside:

Dress Smart: Wear long pants with high socks to protect your legs. If it’s too hot outside for that, try to avoid areas with tall grasses, and walk in the center of nature trails where there’s less brush and undergrowth where ticks tend to live.

Use Insect Repellent: The EPA has an informative guide that can help you find what kind of insect repellents are right for you and your family.

Check for Ticks: Conduct a full-body check using a mirror when you get home from tick-prone areas: pay special attention to your underarms, in and around your ears, and in your scalp and hair. Don’t forget to search your clothing as well.

Check on Others: Remember to also check your children and pets.

What to Do If You’re Bitten by a Tick

Remove the Tick: Use tweezers to remove it as soon as you see it. Use steady, even pressure to pull the tick away. Do not use heat or other remedies. Clean the bite area with soap and warm water.

Ticks and Timing Matter: It’s important to know which ticks carry Lyme disease. Only Ixodes ticks, also known as the blacklegged tick or deer tick, can transmit Lyme, but not all of them are carriers. This guide shows you the different types of ticks. If the tick has been attached to you for less than 24 hours, it is unlikely you will contract the disease. The longer a tick has been on you, the more engorged it will be.

What Do Tick Bites Look Like?

The Bullseye Rash: This rash appears at the site of the tick bite and tends to expand. Other symptoms of Lyme disease include fever, aches, and swollen glands. These can appear between 3 and 30 days after the bite.

Watch for Late Symptoms: Symptoms that develop after 30 days in untreated people include headaches, neck stiffness, facial droop, or arthritis with joint pain and swelling, especially in large joints like the knees.

Can Lyme Disease Be Cured?

If you experience any of these symptoms after a tick bite, contact your doctor right away. When treated in a timely manner with antibiotics, most people will recover quickly. In a small number of cases, symptoms can last up to six months after treatment but usually get better over time.

Why Does It Seem Like Lyme Disease Is More Common Now?

According to the Centers for Disease Control, case numbers across the US have doubled over the past 20 years. However, that’s not necessarily because of higher risk.

Changes in how healthcare providers report positive tests have affected the number of cases tracked. Previously, it required a positive lab test plus a full history and exam by a provider. Since 2022, only a positive lab test is needed to file a report, making it easier to track cases.

Gupta notes a common myth: that ticks die off in the winter. While they do go dormant in colder months, ticks become active again when temperatures rise to 45 degrees or higher. With climate change causing warmer weather to arrive earlier and stay longer, ticks are now active for a much longer season than before.