Tick Removal & Lyme Disease Testing in Bridgeport, CT
Although tick bites are a common part of living in Connecticut, there is no need to fear for your health. DOCS Urgent Care in Bridgeport CT offers professional care at a low cost for anyone who has been bit by a tick. DOCS is home to certified professionals who are skilled in the testing and treating of Lyme disease, commonly carried by ticks. DOCS Urgent Care in Bridgeport has board-certified medical experts available for walk-ins, and appointments available for booking in advance. We also have extended hours Monday through Friday, from 8am to 8pm and on Saturday and Sunday from 8am to 5pm.
Feel free to contact us with any and all questions or concerns you might have before your appointment. Also, schedule an appointment to avoid any way in the office. Remember to bring a valid photo ID and an insurance card to your visit. You may also download the provided form to complete before you get to your appointment, at your own convenience. DOCS Urgent Care of Bridgeport is here to provide you with the best-in-class treatment.
QUALITY, AFFORDABLE CARE
DOCS URGENT CARE – BRIDGEPORT
ADDRESS
1677 E Main St
Bridgeport CT, 06608
PHONE
475-549-1822
FAX
(203) 612-7931
HOURS
WEEKDAYS : 8AM-8PM
WEEKENDS: 9AM-3PM
Why get tested?
The summer and fall months are ideal for outdoor activities such as walking and hiking. These are the times that ticks are outside and may potentially latch on to you via bite. Ticks can carry harmful bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens that may cause diseases to humans and animals that they bite. However, there are hundreds of known species of ticks, many of which pose no harm. The east coast is known to be home to the species Ixodes Scapularis, which is a tick carrier of Lyme disease. Lyme disease is spread through feeding from an infected species and then biting another animal or human.
If you’ve spent any recent time in wooded or tall-grassy areas, it’s important to get tested for Lyme diseases to ensure your safety. Working outside in bushy areas can put you at higher risk of Lyme disease. Even if you feel no symptoms of the disease, getting tested will help put your mind at ease.
getting checked for lyme
If you’ve found a tick on yourself or have found a circular, ring-like rash on your body, you may have Lyme disease. DOCS Urgent Care in Bridgeport is able to treat you and happy to help keep you protected in the future. Catching Lyme disease early is key to preventing the disease from progressing and preventing future complications that may arise. Here is a list of common symptoms from a tick bite. If you feel as though any of the following symptoms match yours, head over to DOCS Urgent Care in Bridgeport to get testing and treated.
Some Symptoms of a Tick Bite Will Include:
- Fever/Chills
- Headaches, Fatigue, Muscle Aches
- Nausea
- Rash (Usually seen at the site of the tick bite)
Diagnosis & Treatment of lyme disease
A blood test, known as Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) is administered to determine the presence of Lyme disease. If the test comes back positive, our physicians will administer a western-bolt test to identify other possible issues that may exist. Not everyone who is infected with Lyme disease will show a positive result in the test. Patients may also show a false-positive result if they do not actually have the disease. These mistakes can be a result of testing occurring too close from the date of infection or individual immunity. The most accurate results arise from the test being administered three weeks within infection of the disease.
Early diagnosis and treatment is directly correlated with fast recovery. If untreated for a long time, additional treatments may be required in order to get you to feel your best. It is best to diagnose and treat the disease within a month.
Protect Yourself From Tick Bites
- Avoid Wooded Areas and High Grass
- Walk in Center of Trails
- Wear long sleeves and pants when working with brush or in other common area of ticks
- Use repellents that contain 20-30% DEET
- Use products that contain 0.5% permethrin on clothing.
- Examine clothes, backpacks and pets after coming back from any outdoor activity
Tick Removal
If you see a tick on you or someone else, follow these tick removal steps in order to reduce the likelihood of being infected with Lyme disease. Always use fine-tipped tweezers to remove the tick.
1. Grasp the tick with fine-tipped tweezers.
2. While grasping the tick with fine-tipped tweezers, pull upward while keeping your hand steady. It is important not to squeeze or twist the tick, as this may cause the mouth of the tick to get stuck.
3. After the tick is removed, wash the tick bite and surrounding areas with soap and water, rubbing alcohol, or iodine scrub.
4. It is important to take cautionary measures when disposing of the tick. Wrap the tick in tape, place in a sealed bag or container, or submerge the tick in alcohol.
The Care When You Need It in Bridgeport
DOCS Urgent Care in Bridgeport is one of the many urgent care locations in the DOCS Urgent Care network. DOCS Urgent Care is a network of professional urgent care clinics that are run by top-quality physicians and board-certified medical experts. The goal at DOCS is to provide each patient with the best treatment and care possible at affordable pricing.
