Tick Removal & Lyme Disease Testing West Hartford, CT

Tick bites are commonplace in Connecticut, which is why DOCS Urgent Care in West Hartford CT offers professional tick/Lyme testing and treatment. Our 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.

QUALITY, AFFORDABLE CARE

DOCS URGENT CARE – West Hartford

ADDRESS
983 New Britain Avenue
West Hartford, CT 06110

PHONE
(203)-874-3682

FAX
(860)-272-8661

HOURS
WEEKDAYS: 8AM-8PM
WEEKENDS: 10AM-2PM

Why get tested?

The summer and fall months are ideal for outdoor activities such as walking and hiking, but are also 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. 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, a 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 and believe you have suffered a tick bite, 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 West Haven 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.

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 West Hartford

DOCS Urgent Care in West Hartford 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.