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Can Urgent Care Treat Lyme Disease

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When To Seek Emergency Care For Lyme Disease

Understanding the Persistent Symptoms in Lyme Disease | Johns Hopkins Medicine

If you see a tick anywhere on your body, remove it immediately. It takes around 36 hours for an infected tick to transfer the disease, so if you act fast, you may be able to avoid infection. If you begin to experience the flu-like symptoms mentioned above, make an appointment with your doctor or visit your urgent care office.

If you are experiencing difficulty breathing, paralysis, intense headaches, or heart palpitations, seek emergency medical attention.

How To Tell The Difference Between Lyme Disease And Covid

Lyme disease, the most common tick-borne illness, spreads through bites of infected black-legged ticks whose population is highest in June and July. Throughout the summertime, PhysicianOne Urgent Care sees an influx of patients who have been bitten by ticks and may be experiencing the symptoms of Lyme disease, but this year, theres an additional illness to worry about: COVID-19. Because COVID-19 shares many of the same symptoms of Lyme disease, sufferers may suspect their Lyme disease is simply a mild case of COVID-19 and delay necessary medical treatment.

What Are The 3 Stages Of Lyme Disease

Lyme disease can go through several stages. It may cause different symptoms, depending on how long you have been exposed to the infection and where in your body the infection has spread.

Stage 1: Early localized Lyme disease

Developing days to weeks after becoming infected is when early localized Lyme disease begins. In many cases of Lyme disease during this stage, the person doesn’t notice any symptoms.

Stage 2: Early disseminated infection

Within weeks to months after the initial infection, if Lyme disease isn’t found and treated while early symptoms are present, or if you do not have early symptoms that trigger the necessity for treatment, the infection may affect the joints, heart, skin and nervous system.

Stage 3: Late persistent Lyme disease

If Lyme disease isn’t quickly or effectively treated, months or years after you become infected can cause damage to the nerves, joints and brain. It is the final and most serious stage of the disease.

If you or someone you know is exhibiting symptoms of Lyme disease, or believes they have come into contact with it, come to AFC Urgent Care today! Our kind and compassionate staff are experienced in treating Lyme disease and can help you find relief! Contact our office today to talk with a member of our specialist team. Visit us online or simply give us a call to book an appointment!

Also Check: What Exactly Is Lyme Disease

Protect Yourself From Lyme Disease This Summer

With the beautiful warm weather and many outdoor activities starting to be available again, dont let tick-borne illnesses put a damper on your summer fun. M.D. Express Urgent Care offers some tips on preventing Lyme Disease and recognizing its symptoms, so you can better enjoy your summer walks and hikes on the Peninsula.

What is Lyme Disease?

Lyme Disease is a tick-borne bacterial illness. It was initially recognized in 1975 in Old Lyme, Connecticut, following the study of a group of patients afflicted with rashes and swollen joints. According to the Centers for Disease Control , Virginia is one of the top 14 states in which 96 % of Lyme Disease cases were diagnosed in 2014.

Causes of Lyme Disease

Lyme Disease is caused by Borrelia burfdorteri bacteria in Deer, or Blacklegged, tick bites. Nymph-stage female ticks are active in May through August and gather in moist leaf litter in wooded areas or at the edge of wooded areas. They attach to and blood-feed on humans, dogs, and cats, as well as small rodent-type mammals.

Protecting Yourself from Tick Bites

People who live or spend time in wooded areas are more likely to get Lyme Disease as well as people with domestic animals that are let out in wooded areas. A tick must be present on your skin for 24 to 48 hours to transmit the disease, yet most people with Lyme Disease have no memory of a tick bite.

The CDC recommends the following tips to protect yourself from tick bites:

Symptoms of Lyme Disease

The Possibility Of Never Discovering Lyme

Hot all the time?

A female hunter had Lyme disease that was undiagnosed for three years. Michelle Kelly has been all over the news in Australia, telling her hellish tales about the tick disease she had for a long time. Although it is possible to not discover Lyme disease for a long time, it will feel like hell and will give you awful consequences. Be sure to get checked whenever you go to the woods during these times. If you see just a slightest hint of tick bites, be sure to find urgent care.

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Focus Group Data Collection And Analysis

The initial target study population included primary care and emergency and urgent healthcare providers practicing in a small-town community endemic to Lyme disease with emerging incidence of additional TBDs. Invitation emails for focus group participation were sent to practice managers and medical directors for medical practices employing members of the study target population. Researchers coordinated with these key contacts within the practices to schedule in-person focus groups at a date and time convenient to the participating providers. Focus groups were scheduled in late fall 2018 and early spring 2019. Participants included both prescribing and non-prescribing providers.

Academic project team members developed guided focus group questions covering current knowledge, perceived challenges, and needed resources on tick-borne illness, which were reviewed by physician and health department team members prior to finalization . Focus groups were hosted at each participating practices office location and time-appropriate meals were offered to participants. After receiving verbal informed consent from participants, a project team member trained in qualitative interviewing techniques led a group discussion based on the guided questions. All focus groups were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim for analysis. No names or other personally identifiable information were recorded in the transcripts, including the business names of the participating clinics.

Looking For Fast And Affordable Healthcare Options Try Urgent Care Instead Of Minute Clinics

A number of pharmacies and superstores across the country now offer walk-in minute clinics to their visitors, such as CVSs Minute Clinic. Between Emergency Rooms, Minute Clinics, Primary Care Centers, and Urgent Care Centers, its easy to confuse the difference between these various medical care destinations. At AFC Urgent Care Beverly, weve striven to offer the most comprehensive and highest quality medical services since day one. Better than most minute clinics in our area!

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Things You Should Know To Spot Treat & Prevent Tick Bites

As much time as we spend outdoors, we make ourselves more prone to getting bit by insects and pests.

Ticks, being one of them, are blood-sucking arthropods that feed on humans, dogs, cats, birds, reptiles, deer, and other animals. Ticks are found in many different climates and regions throughout the US. They inhabit woodlands with plenty of shrubbery, tall grass, and weeds.

Some tick bites are harmless and many of us will never know they even happened. However, other bites can cause allergic reactions, muscular pain, or tickborne diseases like Rocky Mountain spotted fever or Lyme disease.

Below are our life-saving tips on how to identify, treat, and prevent tick bites, so that you and your family can stay happy and healthy year-round.

How Will I Get My Results

W5: Canadians fight for Lyme disease diagnosis and treatment

Patients who get tested for COVID-19 at Middlesex Health Urgent Care will be notified of their results through their MyChart accounts. If you do not have a MyChart account, you can learn more and create one here.

If your COVID-19 test result is positive, you will be contacted by phone during normal business hours.

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Getting Checked For Lyme

If youve pulled a tick off of you recently, or find a ring-like rash, its possible that you could be infected with Lymes. DOCS Urgent Care of Connecticut is dedicated to keeping you safe, especially during tick season. Review the following symptoms and make an appointment or come in right away if you have experienced any of these after being in areas with ticks.

Some Symptoms of a Tick Bite Will Include:

The Early Signs Of Lyme Disease

If you have been bitten by a tick then you will need to look for a particular set of symptoms that show you may have contracted Lyme Disease. These can develop within a few days of the bite, however some symptoms, even in the early stages can take a matter of weeks to show.

The first symptoms that you may see are:

  • An expanding red rash

After this a few weeks a number of more severe symptoms can develop. These include:

  • Severe headaches
  • Stiffness and swelling in the joints
  • Heart palpitations

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Treatment Of Lyme Disease

Early diagnosis and proper antibiotic treatment of Lyme disease is important and can help prevent late Lyme disease. The following treatment regimens reflect CDCs interpretation of the most current data for four important manifestations of Lyme disease. These regimens are consistent with guidanceexternal icon published by the by the Infectious Disease Society of America, American Academy of Neurology, and American College of Rheumatology.

Some patients report persistent symptoms of pain, fatigue, or difficulty thinking even after treatment for Lyme disease. The state of the science relating to persistent symptoms associated with Lyme disease is limited, emerging, and unsettled.

Additional researchexternal icon is needed to better understand how to treat, manage, and support people with persistent symptoms associated with Lyme disease. In light of these research gaps, recommendations for treatment of persistent symptoms in people previously treated for Lyme disease are not provided here.

If you are interested in information on chronic Lyme diseaseexternal icon, see NIHs website.

Links with this icon indicate that you are leaving the CDC website.

Knowing What Ticks Are

11. Emerging Approaches to Lyme and Co

The tick, also called the deer tick, is blacklegged and transmits Lyme disease to its victims. The lone-star tick however, transmits ehrlichiosis, which is another kind of disease. So many people look for urgent care clinics after they have been victimized by ticks. In fact, there were over 1,300 Lyme disease cases in 2013 in Virginia alone. According to federal officials, there are about 30 to 40,000 new Lyme disease cases in the US being reported every year. But the CDC believes the real figure could be at 300,000.

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What Happens During Lyme Disease Testing

Lyme disease testing is usually done on a sample of blood. In certain cases, a cerebrospinal fluid test may be done.

For a Lyme disease blood test:A health care professional will take a blood sample from a vein in your arm, using a small needle. After the needle is inserted, a small amount of blood will be collected into a test tube or vial. You may feel a little sting when the needle goes in or out. This usually takes less than five minutes.

For a CSF test:You may need a cerebrospinal fluid test if your symptoms could mean that Lyme disease is affecting your nervous system, such as a stiff neck or numb hands or feet. Providers may order a CSF test if the results of your blood test show you likely have Lyme disease or if the results are uncertain.

To get a sample of your cerebrospinal fluid, a provider will do a procedure called a lumbar puncture, also known as a spinal tap. During the procedure:

What Are The Symptoms Of Lyme Disease

Lyme disease causes several telltale symptoms, including headache, fatigue, fever, and joint pain. When treatment is sought at PhysicianOne Urgent Care and antibiotic medications are administered in a timely fashion, people tend to get better without complications. When treatments are delayed, however, a person can suffer serious health problems, including irregular heartbeat, severe muscle pain, single joint pain and swelling, memory loss, paralysis, cognitive issues, and weakness of the facial muscles.

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Afc Urgent Care Center Provides Experienced Medical Professionals Who Can Diagnose And Treat Children And Adults For Tick Bites And Lyme Disease

We love warmer weather. After all it means you can get outside and spend time with your friends and family. While it is great to get some fresh air, you may worry about problems such as tick bites. A simple tick bite may not seem like a huge problem however it can lead to larger medical issues such as Lyme Disease.

Ticks are found in moist areas, and they particularly love long grass and piles of leaves. A bite from a tick can cause Lyme Disease in both adults and children.

If you have been bitten by a tick and want to make sure that all is well, it is a good idea to come and see us here at AFC Urgent Care West Chester. We have a team of medical experts who can check over your tick bite and provide you with a diagnosis for Lyme Disease as well as a relevant treatment plan too.

All of the physicians that work with us are fully certified, which means that you can be sure of an expert level of medical care. All in a friendly, professional and trustworthy environment.

Want to know more about Lyme Disease? Here is our guide to some of the main points of this sickness.

Is There Anything Else I Need To Know About Lyme Disease Tests

Alternative treatments for Lyme disease symptoms brings new hope to those suffering

At-home test kits for Lyme disease are available. To do these tests, you usually collect a drop of blood from your finger and send it to a lab for testing. If you want to do an at-home test, it’s important to talk with your provider first. Some at-home tests may use lab methods that aren’t proven to work, so your results may not be accurate.

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Symptoms Of Lyme Disease And Covid

Many of the symptoms of Lyme disease are nonspecific and can point to a wide range of other medical conditions, not just COVID-19. For instance, most Lyme disease sufferers experience fever, body aches, fatigue, and chills, which can make it hard to differentiate their condition from COVID-19, especially right now.

There are some key differences, however, between the symptoms of COVID-19 and Lyme disease:

  • Coughing and difficulty breathing This is a prominent symptom of COVID-19, but not of Lyme disease.
  • Bullseye rash Its estimated that 80% of Lyme disease sufferers develop a rash around the tick bite that gradually expands to resemble the look of a bullseye.
  • Swollen lymph nodes Another symptom thats often present with Lyme disease but not COVID-19, swollen lymph nodes can be a telltale sign of Lyme disease.

Quidel Rapid Lyme Disease Tests Now Available In All Clearchoicemd Urgent Care Centers

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that approximately 476,000 people across the country contract Lyme disease each year. The Northeast has had some of the highest incidences of Lyme in the U.S. in recent years, and that trend is likely to continue as tick season begins earlier and earlier due to warmer winters.

Lyme disease is spread by the bite of the blacklegged tick, commonly known as deer ticks. Many people who contract Lyme disease never see a tick, a tick bite, or the bulls-eye rash most commonly associated with the disease. They may just feel the symptoms of Lyme disease. Left undiagnosed and untreated, Lyme disease can be debilitating or deadly. Symptoms can mimic other conditions such as: flu, mono, chronic fatigue, multiple sclerosis, and fibromyalgia. For this reason, Lyme disease cannot be diagnosed on clinical symptoms alone laboratory testing is needed to confirm a case of Lyme disease.

ClearChoiceMD Urgent Care centers now offer The Quidel rapid Lyme test to detect Lyme disease. The test is fast and easy. If you are experiencing symptoms of Lyme disease, visit your nearest CCMD center. A healthcare professional will collect a drop of blood from a simple finger prick. Test results will be back in less than 15 minutes. If you test positive, a second test will be required to confirm the result.

Preventing Tick Bites

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How To Reduce Lyme Disease And Other Tick

If you are bitten by a tick, removing the tick within 24 hours will greatly reduce your risk of getting Lyme disease. Therefore, performing daily tick checks is important so a tick can be removed before it transmits Lyme disease.

Ticks are carriers of the bacterium that causes Lyme disease, Borrelia burgdorferi. Lyme disease is passed to a human from the bite of an infected black-legged tick. Typically no larger than a small seed, these ticks tend to climb plants and grass, where they wait for a host. Once an animal or human passes by, the tick affixes itself to the host, so it can draw blood for nourishment. As it does, an infected tick may then transmit Borrelia burgdorferi into the hosts bloodstream.

In addition to Lyme disease, ticks have the potential to transmit other illnesses as well, including Ehrlichiosis, Babesiosis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and a rare but dangerous pathogen dubbed the Powassan virus. These illnesses often present with similar symptoms including fever, fatigue, headache, nausea, and vomiting and require medical attention.

You can reduce your risk of being bitten by a tick and being exposed to a tick-borne illness by:

  • Using insect repellent
  • Wearing long pants tucked into socks when walking through wooded areas

Where To Check For Ticks

Recovering from Lyme Disease

Ticks prefer the warm moist areas of the body due to the ample blood supply in those areas.

If you or your child have been playing outdoors in the garden or in a woodsy area, make sure to check the armpits, legs, neck, and hair for signs of a tick bite.

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