While exploring wooded trails or grassy areas in Nebraska, you may encounter black-legged ticks that carry Lyme disease. If you discover a tick attached to your skin, it’s important to know when to be concerned.
Within recent years, Nebraska HHS have identified the black-legged ticks (Deer Tick) carrying the bacterium that causes Lyme disease in several Nebraska counties. If you spend time outdoors, understanding the signs of Lyme disease could be critical to your health.
The sooner Lyme disease is diagnosed, the easier it is to treat and the lower the risk of long-term complications. Knowing Lyme disease symptoms can help you decide whether you need medical care.
What Is Lyme Disease?
Lyme disease is a bacterial infection passed to humans through the bite of a black-legged tick infected with Borrelia burgdorferi, a bacterium that lives in its midgut.Not all ticks carry Lyme disease, but a single bite from an infected tick can lead to serious Lyme disease symptoms.
In Nebraska, ticks are most active during late spring through early fall, with the highest risk during warm, humid months. They are particularly active in areas where woods meet grasslands, making edge habitats typical hotspots for bites.
Generally, a tick must be attached for at least 36 hours to transmit the Lyme-causing bacterium. Removing a tick within the first 24 hours can significantly reduce the risk of infection.
Lyme disease can also affect animals, such as dogs and cats. Pets cannot directly transmit Lyme disease to humans, but can bring infected ticks into the home environment.
Lyme Disease Symptoms in Humans
Lyme disease has three stages, and symptoms can vary depending on the length of time the infection has been present in the body.
1. Early Localized Stage (Three Days to a Month After the Tick Bite)
This is the initial phase when the infection is still close to the site of the bite. Common early Lyme disease symptoms include:
- Erythema Migrans (EM) Rash: Often described as a bull’s-eye, this rash may appear seven to 14 days after the bite. The Lyme disease rash often appears as a bull’s-eye and may expand over time, feeling warm but not usually painful or itchy.
- Flu-like Symptoms: Fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, fatigue, and swollen lymph nodes are common early Lyme symptoms.
2. Early Disseminated Stage (Days to Weeks After the Bite)
At this stage, the bacteria begin to spread through the bloodstream. Lyme disease symptoms in humans may include:
- Multiple EM Lesions: Lyme disease rash may appear on other parts of the body.
- Facial Palsy: Weakness or drooping on one or both sides of the face
- Meningitis-like symptoms: Severe headaches, neck stiffness, and light sensitivity
- Shooting pain, Numbness, or Tingling: Especially in the arms or legs.
- Heart Symptoms: Irregular heartbeat or palpitations (Lyme carditis), which may cause dizziness or shortness of breath
3. Late Disseminated Stage (Months to Years After the Bite)
This stage occurs if the infection continues untreated. Common late Lyme symptoms include:
- Chronic Joint Inflammation: Especially in large joints like the knees, but also commonly affecting the shoulders, ankles, elbows, hips, wrists, and jaw
- Persistent Fatigue: A constant, unrelenting tiredness not improved by rest
- Neurological Symptoms: Trouble with memory, concentration, or numbness in the extremities
Because Lyme disease symptoms can resemble other illnesses, it’s important to share any history of tick exposure with your healthcare provider.
When to See a Doctor
You should seek medical care if:
- You develop a rash or flu-like symptoms within three to 30 days of a known or possible tick bite.
- You experience facial paralysis, neck stiffness, joint pain, or unusual fatigue after being outdoors.
- You’ve been previously diagnosed with Lyme disease, and your late Lyme symptoms return or don’t improve after completing treatment.
Can You Prevent Lyme Disease?
Preventing Lyme disease starts with avoiding tick bites. If you’re planning to spend time in outdoor spaces like woods or hiking trails, it’s best to be cautious and take preventative measures. While only a small percentage of ticks carry Lyme disease, it only takes one bite to become infected.
Tick Bite Prevention Tips:
- Wear long sleeves and pants when hiking, gardening, or spending time in brushy areas.
- Use insect repellents with DEET on exposed skin. Spray permethrin on clothing and shoes.
- Stick to the center of trails when hiking. Ticks often wait on tall grass and low branches.
- Shower within two hours of coming inside to help remove ticks that may have attached themselves to you.
- Perform tick checks on yourself, your children, and your pets. Remember to check behind the knees, around the waist, and on the scalp.
- Dry clothing on high heat for at least 15 minutes to kill ticks that may be hiding in fabric.
- Maintain your yard by mowing regularly, removing leaf litter, and creating a barrier between your lawn and wooded areas.
- Talk to your vet about flea and tick prevention for pets.
How Urgent Care Clinic of Lincoln Can Help
At Urgent Care Clinic of Lincoln, we understand how important it is to identify and treat Lyme disease early. Our team is trained to evaluate tick bite symptoms, provide safe tick removal, and begin testing and treatment when appropriate, all without the long waits associated with traditional doctor’s offices.
- Tick Removal: If you’ve found a tick on your body and aren’t sure how long it’s been attached, come in for prompt removal. Improper techniques can increase the risk of transmission.
- Evaluation of Lyme Disease Symptoms: Whether you have a visible rash, flu-like symptoms, or unexplained joint pain, we can evaluate your condition and ask the right questions to determine the next steps.
- Diagnostic Testing: We offer blood tests to check for antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi, especially when symptoms point to a recent or ongoing infection.
- Treatment: If Lyme disease is confirmed, we can prescribe antibiotics to treat the infection and monitor your response.
Convenient and Accessible Diagnosis and Care for Lyme Disease
If you notice tick bite symptoms or early signs of Lyme disease, visit the Urgent Care Clinic of Lincoln for fast diagnosis and treatment. Our team is dedicated to providing quality care in a comfortable and welcoming environment. We gladly accept walk-ins, so drop by any time during our operating hours. You can also contact us to learn more about our services.