Concern about ticks?

[LostInTheWoods]

No test.

There is quite a bit of controversy on the tests, which test to take, when to take it, when is it valid to test after a bite, and what do the results mean.

I have never had a tick on me more than 12 hours or so. Even 12 I think is pushing it. Since you are not supposed to get Lyme until the tick has been in 24-72 hours I think I am ok.

Later,
Dan

Dan,

There are varying degrees of controversy with many things in medicine. Balancing the art and the science is often on a case-by-case basis.

And it is true that as far as we know, ticks likely need to be attached for many hours in order to transmit disease. And of all the ticks that might actually bite an individual, only a very small percentage actually carry a transmittable disease in the first place. Are you willing to say with absolute certainty no tick you've had was attached more than a few hours?

One could argue that: tick bite + bull's-eye rash after tick bite = Lyme disease or STARI until proven otherwise. According to the CDC, N. Carolina doesn't appear to be a hotbed of Lyme activity, so you'd have to weigh that as well.

I tend to be conservative when it comes to tick bites (I told the OP to take Benadryl and see what develops), but your case raises my eyebrows a bit.

In any event, best wishes,


Lost

 

[Toyboy]

No test.

There is quite a bit of controversy on the tests, which test to take, when to take it, when is it valid to test after a bite, and what do the results mean.

I have never had a tick on me more than 12 hours or so. Even 12 I think is pushing it. Since you are not supposed to get Lyme until the tick has been in 24-72 hours I think I am ok. Later,
Dan

Has anyone told the tick that yet???

 

[RickB]

No test.



Since you are not supposed to get Lyme until the tick has been in 24-72 hours I think I am ok.

Later,
Dan

Experiences of many prove otherwise.

And watch out for Erlychiosis. A tick-borne disease that makes Lyme feel like a head cold.

 

[LRTX1]

No test.

There is quite a bit of controversy on the tests, which test to take, when to take it, when is it valid to test after a bite, and what do the results mean.

I have never had a tick on me more than 12 hours or so. Even 12 I think is pushing it. Since you are not supposed to get Lyme until the tick has been in 24-72 hours I think I am ok.

Later,
Dan

The tick that gave me my the rash and a positive on the lymes test was in me for no more than 8-10 hours.

 

[dmccarty]

Ok.

So I go to the Doc and tell them that years ago I got bit by a tick that left a big red bullseye on my leg. I did not get sick anytime after the bite.

Are they really going to give me the test?

And if the test comes back positive then what happens?

Later,
Dan

 

[dmccarty]

The tick that gave me my the rash and a positive on the lymes test was in me for no more than 8-10 hours.

How much time passed between the bite and the test?

Later,
Dan

 

[dmccarty]

Has anyone told the tick that yet???

The tick does not know. The tick is well a tick.

But all of the research for better or worse says that it takes 12 to 72 hours for a tick to transmit Lyme.

MOST of what I have read over the years say 24-72 hours but I have read 12 hours. So I will go with the low number.

Later,
Dan

 

[Canada_CT230]

From what I've been told and read. Chances of contracting lyme disease from an infected tick is less than 0.01% if that tick is removed within 24 hours of becoming attached.

 

[Toyboy]

Ok.

So I go to the Doc and tell them that years ago I got bit by a tick that left a big red bullseye on my leg. I did not get sick anytime after the bite.

Are they really going to give me the test?

And if the test comes back positive then what happens?

Later,
Dan

If it comes back positive you'll be put on a heavy dose of Doxycyline. If it comes back negative, at least it's in your medical history in case you develop symptoms later down the road. It's just a simple blood test.

 

[LostInTheWoods]

Ok.

So I go to the Doc and tell them that years ago I got bit by a tick that left a big red bullseye on my leg. I did not get sick anytime after the bite.

Are they really going to give me the test?

And if the test comes back positive then what happens?

Later,
Dan

Statistically, there's little chance you actually have Lyme disease. What the statistics don't tell us is why would you have developed what you feel was definitely a bulls-eye rash from a tick bite.

What I would do is call my family doctor and leave a message with the nurse. "Hey, years ago I had a tick bite. After the bite, I'm positive I developed a bull's-eye rash, but never had any other symptoms. Can you ask Dr. XYZ if he thinks I need to do anything about this?"

He/she will guide you from there...

v/r

Lost