Lyme Disease

Do you always get lyme disease if bitten, or have had a tick on you? I had a tick on my a couple of weeks ago, got it out with head and all, but still have a pretty large lump where the tick was, is this normal, or should I have it checked out?

[cindy903]

I would have it checked to be safe. ER doctors are pretty good -- better than PCPs in my experience at diagnosing and treating early stage Lyme disease. PCPs don't want to become LLMDs, so they shy away from treating anything lyme-related -- even somehting simple like early stage Lyme. Ask for 30 days of doxy and you should be fine!

[patsy10]

Welcome.  I would have it looked at just to be safe.  No all ticks are not infected with lyme but many are.  If you live in an endemic area as many as 50% of the ticks can be infected from what I have read.  I would rather be safe than sorry.