The best way to prevent Lyme disease is to avoid being bitten by ticks. When you are outdoors, follow these guidelines:. Tumble dry clothes or blankets on high heat in the dryer for 10 to 15 minutes.
This should kill any ticks. If clothes are dirty, wash them in hot water and dry on high heat for 60 minutes. Pull up with steady, even pressure. Be careful not to squeeze or twist the tick body. Sometimes parts of the tick remain in the skin. You can leave them alone or carefully remove them the same way you would a splinter. These methods are not effective. Wash the area where the tick was attached thoroughly with soap and water.
Keep an eye on the area for a few weeks and note any changes. Call your doctor if you develop a rash around the area where the tick was attached. Be sure to tell your doctor that you were bitten by a tick and when it happened. Lyme disease is treated with antibiotics. In most cases, people bitten by a tick are given antibiotics only if they are sick or have a rash. Early-stage Lyme disease responds very well to treatment. In most cases, taking an antibiotic for 2 to 4 weeks kills the bacteria and clears up the infection.
Your doctor will tell you how long to take the antibiotic. This will prevent the spread of Lyme disease to your joints, nervous system, or heart. If you have problems with the medicine, do not quit taking it.
Call your doctor and talk to him or her about your side effects. Late-stage Lyme disease is also treated with antibiotics. It may be necessary to give the antibiotics intravenously through an IV at this stage. Medicine that reduces swelling and pain can ease arthritis associated with late-stage Lyme disease.
If necessary, excess fluid can be drained from any affected joints. Most people treated in the early stages of Lyme disease make a quick and complete recovery. Some may experience symptoms for a few weeks after treatment. They can help you find ways to ease your symptoms. Some patients have found relief with treatments typically used for chronic fatigue syndrome or fibromyalgia. Find support. It can be hard to not feel well and not know why.
Talk to friends and family. National Library of Medicine: Lyme Disease. This article was contributed by: familydoctor. Skip to navigation menu Skip to content. High Priority Alert. Close alert. Informational Alert. Tick Bite. Is this your child's symptom? A tick small brown bug is attached to the skin A tick was removed from the skin Symptoms of a Tick Bite A tick bite does not cause pain or itch. So, ticks may not be noticed for a few days.
After feeding on blood, ticks get swollen and easier to see. Ticks fall off on their own after sucking blood for 3 to 6 days. After the tick comes off, a little red bump may be seen.
The red bump or spot is the body's response to the tick's saliva spit. The poor kid had been going to school in tears because he was afraid of missing any more days, but feeling and looking just awful! He's not been able to even think about lacrosse practice, but thanks to starting him on antibiotics, he was thrilled to return to practice today.
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