Urgent Care Treatment for Tick Bites in Groton, CT
Did you know that tick bites can cause Lyme disease? It’s true—many ticks are infected with Borrelia burgdorferi (the bacterium that causes Lyme disease), and when an infected tick bites a human or animal, the bacterium can enter into the host’s bloodstream. A Lyme disease infection can lead to symptoms such as fatigue, fever, headache, joint pain, and a rash, and can eventually cause more serious problems if left untreated. In addition to Lyme disease, ticks can carry a number of other diseases, including:
- Anaplasmosis
- Babesiosis
- Ehrlichiosis
- Powassan disease
- Tularemia
In order to prevent a tick bite from developing into Lyme disease or another type of infection, it’s important to remove the tick as soon as possible (preferably within 24 hours). While it’s possible to do this on your own, it’s often a good idea to seek tick bite treatment from a professional, like the ones at PhysicianOne Urgent Care. The experts at our Groton, Connecticut, immediate care center can assist with tick removal, bite and rash assessment, and preventive care.
How to Avoid Tick Bites
There are numerous steps you can take to prevent tick bites and any resulting infections, including the following:
- If you’re going to be spending time outdoors, and especially in grassy or wooded areas, apply insect repellant and wear long sleeves and pants.
- Treat your clothing and any gear you may be carrying with products containing 0.5% permethrin, an insecticide often sold under the brand name Nix.
- When outdoors, try to remain away from tall grasses and bushes (for instance, by walking along the center of trails).
- After coming inside, check for ticks (paying particularly close attention to your hairline, ears, armpits, belly button, waist, groin, and knees) and shower as soon as possible.
Keep in mind that tick bites can occur all year long, since ticks can become active only 48 hours after the temperature rises above freezing, so it’s important to take precautionary measures even during the colder seasons.
Get the Care You Need
If you’re concerned that you may have sustained a tick bite, visit PhysicianOne Urgent Care’s Groton office, located at 220 Route 12, near I-95. We’re open 365 days per year—including weekends and holidays—and we have extended hours for our patients’ convenience. And if you’d like to cut down your wait time as much as possible, be sure to take advantage of our online check-in system.
