I found a tick on my body. Do I have Lyme disease?

Tick bites can cause significant anxiety in our society. Apart from the obvious revolting nature of having a bug buried in our skin and sucking our blood, we also worry about the possibility of contracting Lyme disease and a host of other potential illnesses.

This article is focused on Lyme disease, a bacterial infection that is caused by the tick Ixodes Scapularis, also known as the blacklegged or deer tick. Since Lyme disease is a bacteria, it is easily cured by antibiotics. If there is one thing to take away from this article, it would be how to identify the deer tick, because the other ticks DO NOT transmit Lyme disease.

Tick identification

Ixodes scapularis, commonly known as the deer tick, is generally very small. In fact, it is the nymph stage (young and small) that infects humans with Lyme disease. Other ticks are much larger. Because the deer tick is so small, many people are infected without even knowing. The tick finishes and leaves before it can be detected. Furthermore, not all deer ticks carry Lyme disease, so just because you find a deer tick on your body does not mean you will develop Lyme disease.

Blacklegged or deer tick – Nymph is second from the left

How long does the tick need to be attached to cause infection?

The CDC states that it takes at least 36 hours before a tick can transmit Lyme disease. The tick must have taken a blood meal to transfer the disease to the host. If you are sure the tick has been attached for less than 36 hours, then you are in the clear. If you are unsure, one way to tell is to look at the engorgement of the tick. Engorgement is swelling of the tick as your blood enters its body. The more engorged the tick, the more blood it has taken. Engorgement takes more than 24 hours, so if engorged, then the tick has likely been present for at least 24 hours, if not longer.

Engorged tick

How to remove a tick

It may seem daunting to remove a tick, but it’s really very easy. Tweezers are all you need. The important part is making sure to grab the tick as close to the skin as possible to prevent squeezing the body and forcing the blood back into your skin. Once you grab close to the skin, you pull it out. It’s important not to use Vaseline or nail polish, as some old wives tales mention. These may work over time, but it’s better to remove the tick immediately when it is seen.

Once removed, if there is any concern that the tick could have carried Lyme disease, make sure to keep the tick in a container as it can be tested for Lyme in a laboratory.

Lyme disease prophylaxis

Many people ask me whether they need treatment for Lyme disease after a tick is removed from their skin. The answer is, it depends.

If the tick is identified as a tick other than a deer tick, then treatment is not necessary. If the tick is identified as a deer tick and it has been attached for less than 36 hours, then treatment is not necessary.

If the tick has been attached for more than 36 hours or the time is unknown, prophylaxis with ONE dose of doxycycline, for adults and children 8 years and older, can be indicated. Studies have shown that this one dose can prevent Lyme disease when given within 72 hours of tick removal.

What are the signs and symptoms of Lyme disease?

Lyme disease can cause a number of symptoms that clue you into the possibility of having the disease. In early disease, a characteristic bullseye rash called erythema migrans develops in 70-80% of people.

Later stages can include joint pain, headaches, facial weakness, heart palpitations, nerve pain, numbness and tingling in the hands and feet, and brain and spinal cord inflammation. Though these symptoms are more concerning, it is very likely that Lyme disease will be found in earlier stages and treated before it can progress to these more significant symptoms.

Erythema migrans – bullseye rash

Treatment of Lyme disease

If any of the symptoms above are identified, treatment should be initiated with antibiotics for a duration of 10-21 days, depending on the extent of the symptoms.

Once again, Lyme disease is very treatable by antibiotics that destroy the bacteria.

Prevention

The best way to prevent Lyme disease is to prevent the tick from biting in the first place. There are a number of preventive measures you can take. Ticks are generally found in grassy, brushy, or wooded areas. Wearing long sleeves, using insect repellant, and treating clothes and shoes with a compound called Permethrin can be helpful. After coming indoors, make sure to do a tick check, examining all the nooks and crannies of your body. Placing clothes in the dryer on high heat or washing in hot water can kill any potential ticks. Finally, taking a shower within 2 hours of coming inside has been shown to reduce the risk of getting Lyme disease.

Conclusion

With the proper prevention, tick identification, understanding the duration of attachment, and appropriate care, your risk for Lyme disease can be mitigated. It’s never pleasant to find a tick on your body, but your unease about Lyme disease can be lessened by understanding the information in this article.