Spending time in the great outdoors is the best part of spring and summer, but in many parts of the continental United States—especially in the Northeast, mid-Atlantic, and upper-Midwest regions—avoiding ticks should be a health priority. Blacklegged (or deer) ticks can carry Lyme disease, which can turn day trips and long weekends into visits to urgent care.
The best defense against Lyme disease is to prevent tick bites, which will reduce your risk of other tick-borne diseases, too. Learn how to avoid bites, what to do if a tick does bite you, and how Sollis Health can make your Lyme disease treatment fast, convenient, and comfortable.
What is Lyme disease?
Lyme disease is one of the more severe tick-borne illnesses caused by bites from infected blacklegged ticks. This bacterial infection can affect people of any age. If left untreated, infection can cause more serious symptoms like arthritis, facial paralysis, severe headaches with neck stiffness, and heart palpitations. Other symptoms include:
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Headaches
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Low-grade fever and chills
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Stiff neck
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Fatigue
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Muscle and joint aches and pains
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Poor appetite
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Swollen glands
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Tingling or numbness in arms and legs
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Facial paralysis
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Difficulty concentrating
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Sleep disturbances
In most cases, a tick must be attached for more than 24 hours before the Lyme disease bacterium can be transmitted. If you remove a tick within 24 hours, you can greatly reduce your chances of getting Lyme disease.
Lyme disease symptoms can appear anywhere from three to 30 days following infection. In most cases, the first sign of Lyme disease is a red rash (called erythema migrans) at the tick bite site that often, but not always, resembles a bulls-eye. This rash can last for several weeks and may feel itchy or hot. In some cases, the rash may disappear and return. It may also mimic other skin problems like eczema, poison ivy, sunburn, and hives.
How to avoid tick bites
In 2023, the United States had 89,000 confirmed Lyme disease cases. Areas like the Hamptons and Upstate New York are common areas for ticks, with numbers rising every year.
The tick season ranges from March to November. Your exposure risk increases when you spend time in grassy or wooded areas, and ticks can be around any time when temperatures are above freezing, regardless of the season. While not all ticks can carry Lyme disease bacteria, the risk is present in the Northeast, upper Midwest, and along the Northwest coast.
When you’re spending time outside in a place with tick risk, there are several steps you can take to reduce the likelihood of tick bites.
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Regular tick checks can help reduce the chance that ticks latch on to your skin. Perform tick checks during your time outdoors and afterward. Check all exposed skin and clothing and run your fingers over your scalp to find any ticks that may be hiding in your hair.
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Avoid ticks by staying on clear, well-traveled trails. Stay out of high grass.
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Dress for protection with light-colored long-sleeve shirts and pants, high socks, and boots or shoes (rather than sandals or going barefoot). This makes ticks easier to spot and prevents them from getting onto your skin.
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Use tick repellent. Spray your clothes, shoes, and camping gear with 0.5% permethrin, which lasts for several washings. You can also buy permethrin-treated clothing and gear.
What to do if you experience Lyme disease symptoms
If you notice early signs of Lyme disease, receiving treatment right away improves your chances of curing the illness. See a medical professional immediately if you start experiencing the above symptoms and you’ve spent time in areas with a high tick population.
The characteristic bulls-eye is an immediate indicator of Lyme disease. If you don’t have this rash, a doctor may perform a series of lab tests to detect the bacteria.
If you’re diagnosed, you may be prescribed antibiotics to treat the bacteria, preventing worsening of the disease and reducing symptoms. Antibiotic treatment may be oral or intravenous, depending on the severity.
Doxycycline, amoxicillin, and cefuroxime are common oral antibiotics for Lyme disease treatment. Doxycycline may require 10 to 21 days of doses, while amoxicillin and cefuroxime usually require 14 to 21 days. More severe cases of Lyme disease with meningitis manifestations or heart block may require intravenous antibiotics. Patients can receive these treatments in an office or at home.
How Sollis can help with Lyme disease
Every case of Lyme disease is different, but it’s in your best interest to contact a healthcare provider as soon as you recognize a bite or symptoms. When there are signs of tick bites or Lyme disease, traditional healthcare may slow you up with lines, phone calls, and scheduling. At Sollis Health, we understand how essential immediate care is, especially when it comes to Lyme disease.
With our on-demand concierge medical services, Sollis is always available—even when you’re vacationing in the Hamptons. We often see tick bite cases in our recently-expanded Hamptons center throughout the summer. We provide tick removal Lyme disease diagnosis and treatment, emergency care following a tick bite, and even private medical transfers to New York City.
After you’re seen in-center for symptoms of Lyme disease, your treatment may include an at-home observation, a one-time dose of antibiotic treatment for Lyme disease prevention, or a two- to three-week course of antibiotics. Lyme disease blood test results indicate a positive after about 28 days after the initial exposure. If you come to us with no symptoms following your bite, we’ll request a blood test four weeks from your visit. We may recommend earlier testing if you show symptoms. You may still have positive blood test results months to years after successful treatment.
Tick treatment is just the beginning. When you become a Sollis member, you gain access to:
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Unlimited Visits: Same-day appointments to treat common illnesses, ER-level emergencies, and everything in between.
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On-Demand Virtual Care: 24/7, 365 access to our in-house physicians via phone, text, or video.
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Expedited Specialist Access: With more than 2,000 top specialists on our speed dial, you’re seen in days (not months).
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Streamlined Care Navigation: We handle appointments, administrative tasks, and continuity of care between your Sollis medical team, primary care physician, and specialists.
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Expert Medical Teams: Receive care from ER-trained physicians selected from the nation’s leading hospitals.
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On-Site Imaging and In-House Labs: With basic imaging (X-ray and EKG) and routine blood work with rapid and same-day results, we diagnose you without delay.
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Hospital Advocacy: If hospitalization is part of your journey, we can help secure direct admission and VIP hospital services.
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Travel Medicine: Get 24/7 guidance and advisory medical services wherever you go.
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House Calls: For an additional cost, receive premium care—like blood work, IV infusions, stitches, and X-rays—from the comfort of home.
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Advanced On-Site Imaging: For an additional cost, our on-site CT, X-ray, ultrasound, and MRI (at select locations) expedite your diagnosis and streamline your treatment.
