Tick Bite Treatment in Medford, MA

If you’ve been bitten by a tick or are experiencing the common signs of Lyme disease—a bull’s-eye rash and flu-like symptoms—come to PhysicianOne Urgent Care in Medford, Massachusetts, for top-notch medical care. Our experienced providers can take a look at your rash, learn about your symptoms, and conduct lab tests if necessary to get to the bottom of your condition.

What Is Lyme Disease?

A vector-borne illness, Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. Most commonly, it is transferred to humans through the bite of an infected black-legged tick. The early symptoms of Lyme disease are generally mild—most people experience fever, headache, fatigue, muscle aches, and an erythema migrans (EM) rash. If left untreated, however, the infection can spread to the joints, heart, and nervous system. Late-stage Lyme disease sufferers may experience additional skin rashes, heart palpitations, nerve pain, severe headaches and joint pain, and numbness or tingling in the hands or feet.

Lyme disease can be diagnosed either through a physical exam (if you have the telltale EM rash) or a two-step lab test, which consists of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test and a Western blot test.

How Is Lyme Disease Treated?

Lyme disease is usually treated with oral antibiotics, such as doxycycline for adults and children older than 8. Younger children and pregnant or breastfeeding women may be prescribed amoxicillin or cefuroxime. The typical treatment plan involves taking antibiotics for 10 to 21 days.

Visit Us Today

If you have been bitten by a tick and/or are experiencing Lyme disease symptoms, stop by PhysicianOne Urgent Care in Medford today. Our facility is open seven days per week with extended hours, and you can check in online for added convenience.