You have been treated for Tick bite. You have had a thorough examination and are now considered fit to be discharged. The following instructions will aid your recovery.
Lyme disease is an illness caused by bacteria which live in the guts of some ticks. These bacteria can be passed to humans if an infected tick bites them.
Ticks are tiny insect-like creatures found in grassy or wooded areas. They attach themselves to passing animals and people and feed by biting through the skin and sucking blood. When they have gorged themselves on blood for up to 8 or 9 days they drop off again.
It is not known how many ticks carry the disease. To be safe, you should assume that all ticks are infected.
It is more common in the summer when people and ticks are more active.
If you are bitten
Being tick aware by knowing what ticks look like, where they can be found and practising prevention behaviours such as a tick check, will help you to avoid tick bites. However, if you do get bitten, removing the tick quickly and correctly can help to reduce any potential risk.
- Do not panic
- Attempt to remove the tick as soon as possible
- The safest way to remove a tick is to use a pair of fine-tipped tweezers or a tick removal tool
- Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible
- Pulled upwards slowly and firmly
- If the tick’s head or mouthparts break off in the skin and cannot be removed they will fall out naturally in time as the skin renews itself. Observe the area though, as it could cause a local infection
- Once removed, apply antiseptic to the bite area or wash with soap and water and observe the area for several weeks for any changes
Signs and symptoms of Lyme disease
Symptoms may take around 3 to 30 days to develop after being bitten. A distinctive rash may appear at the site of the tick bite. The rash may expand over several days or weeks, typically to approximately 15 cm (6 inches) across. However, around one in every three people with Lyme Disease do not report seeing a rash. Flu-like symptoms may occur, either before the skin rash or at about the same time. Headaches and chills, tiredness and joint aches may last several weeks. Fever is more common in children.
More serious complications sometimes develop weeks or months after the bite. The most common long-term problem is arthritis.
Prevention is best
When in grassy, brushy or woodland areas:
- Keep your skin covered. Wear trousers and tuck trouser bottoms into your socks. Wear long sleeved shirts and keep the sleeves rolled down and the cuffs fastened. Tuck your shirt into your trousers. Wear shoes, not open sandals (this precaution will keep ticks on the outside of your clothes where they can be spotted and picked off)
- Examine yourself and your children for ticks every 3 to 4 hours
- Remove ticks as soon as possible
- Insect repellents sprayed onto trousers, socks and shoes may help
- Put tick collars on your cats and dogs and check your pets regularly for ticks
- If working in tick-infested areas on a regular basis, do not wear your work clothing to go home in
Treatment for Lyme disease
See your GP if you suspect you may have Lyme disease. Early treatment with antibiotics is effective against short-term symptoms and may prevent or lessen the seriousness of any long-term complications.
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