There’s a growing problem across New Jersey. Lyme disease is becoming increasingly common as the ticks that carry it thrive across the Garden State. While Monmouth County doesn’t have the highest incidence rates in the state, we’re not risk-free.
Cases of Lyme disease, which you can get from being bitten by an infected tick, rise in the summer months. So now’s the time to apply some extra caution.
If you’re bitten by a tick, come see Joseph R. Raccuglia, MD, for urgent care. With same-day appointments at our office in Freehold, New Jersey, we can treat the bite to lower your risk of Lyme disease.
First things first, if the tick is still attached to you, remove it. The CDC has a handy visual guide to help with proper removal. With a pair of tweezers, grip the tick as close to your skin as possible. Pull upward slowly and steadily to remove the whole tick.
Secure the tick in a sealed container. Then, wash the bite with soap and warm water or apply rubbing alcohol to the area.
You have two options to handle the tick: Take a picture of it, then flush it down the toilet, or add a little rubbing alcohol to the sealed container to preserve it. Seeing the tick in a photo or in the container helps us identify it and assess the likelihood of contracting a disease from it.
Usually, if you remove the tick within 24 hours of being bitten, the risk is pretty low. However, for the right set of circumstances, post-exposure prophylaxis could be the best choice for you. Either way, watch for symptoms.
You’ll probably have a small bump at the bite site. That’s normal. A rash that gets bigger or takes on a bull’s-eye pattern could be a sign of infection. Other warning signs include:
If you notice any of these things in the month after your tick bite, come see Dr. Raccuglia. Usually, a round of antibiotics can clear up tick-borne diseases such as Lyme disease.
We want to help you lower your risk of tick bites this summer. With that in mind, we want to offer a few tips:
If you know or believe you’ve been bitten by a tick and are experiencing symptoms, come see Dr. Raccuglia for urgent care. Call our office or request an appointment online today.
