When To Go to the ER for a Tick Bite Symptoms and Care

With tick bites in the news, it might seem as if enjoying the woods is too dangerous. But the odds of being infected with Lyme disease by a tick are more likely in the Northeast than in Florida. In 2023, the Sunshine State had 287 new cases of reported Lyme disease, compared with more than 16,000 in Pennsylvania.

That doesn’t mean ticks and Lyme disease are something to ignore entirely if you live in Florida, which is home to four tick species that carry various diseases: Lone Star tick, Gulf Coast tick, American dog tick and black-legged tick.

Florida’s ticks carry three tick-borne diseases:

• Ehrlichiosis, the most prevalent, is carried by the Lone Star tick. Symptoms, including fever, severe headackes and body aches, may show up five to 14 days after the tick bite.
• Rocky Mountain spotted fever, sometimes called just spotted fever, is carried by the American dog tick. The main symptom is the sudden onset of a high fever, often accompanied by a severe headache.
• Southern Tick-Associated Rash Illness, commonly called STARI, will show up as a circular, red rash that expands from the bite area. A mild headache may also occur.
• Lyme disease, not common in Florida, but something to consider, especially if you were in another state at the time of the bite.

If you suspect you may have contracted any of these diseases, head to the ER for treatment.

How To Prevent Tick Bites

To stay protected against ticks, you can take precautions before you spend time in the woods or other tick-infested areas.

• Wear long pants, long-sleeve shirts and other clothing that covers your whole body. You can tuck your pants into your socks.
• Wear bug spray that contains DEET, Picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus.
• Wear permethrin-treated clothing, which repels insects without the need for bug spray.
• Bathe within two hours of any time spent in the woods. Removing your clothing to shower allows you to more fully see your skin and identify the presence of a tick.

Tick Removal: What to Do After a Bite

If a tick has attached itself to your skin, remove it within 24 hours using tweezers, grabbing it as close to its mouth as possible. Do not try and burn it off, as you will likely burn your skin. Do not cover it with petroleum jelly; that method isn’t effective.

When To Call Poison Control for a Bite

If you have further questions and aren’t sure if your tick bite warrants an ER visit, you can call Poison Control. People commonly think poison control can only help if someone has ingested substances, but it also gives advice for stings and bites.

What to Expect During ER Treatment for Tick Bites

If you suspect the tick that bit you may have carried a disease, you should head to your local ER. They’ll start by removing the tick, if you haven’t already. The doctors will likely monitor you for symptoms. Because symptoms typically don’t show up until at least five days after the bite, doctors may let you head home and ask you to continue to watch for symptoms, such as fever or headache. If you visit the ER, it’s crucial to alert your doctor to any recent travels, especially to the Northeast, as that changes the work-up.

If symptoms appear after five days, it’s best to return to the ER, where you have have labwork done and doctors will work to rule out other possible causes, such as a UTI or respiratory illness. If Lyme disease is suspected, your doctor will screen for it. In most cases, your ER doctor will prescribe oral doxycycline to halt the progression of any disease.

If you’re unsure whether your symptoms are serious enough to warrant a trip to the hospital, err on the side of caution and see a doctor.

This content is not AI generated.