AFC URGENT CARE Swampscott
450 Paradise Rd
Swampscott, MA 01907
PHONE
HOURS
8am to 8pm (Monday to Friday)
8am to 6pm (Saturday and Sunday)
Tick Bite and Lyme Disease Testing
In Massachusetts we share our beautiful environment with some not so friendly insects and ticks seem to be the most common ones that we see at our clinic. Tick bites can cause infections often taking weeks of recovery time so it is best to be cautious when outdoors. Ticks can also be a nuisance to even household pets such as cats and dogs. Luckily, in most cases a tick bite is not a medical emergency requiring a visit to the ER. Tick bites and associated rashes can cause a lot of stress and anxiety and that is why our urgent care clinic is open late to ensure that you can get tested and treated immediately if you get bitten.
Tick Bite? Don’t Panic!
The fact that you discovered a tick bite means you are ahead of the game. Even if you didn’t catch the tick biting or are just seeing the classic circular rash on your body for the first time, there is still adequate time to visit our clinic and begin testing and treatment. We see all sorts of patients in the summer months with tick related concerns. From those who still have a tick lodged on their body, to those worried after seeing ticks in their household cat or dog and requiring tick/lyme disease testing for peace of mind. So rest assured that if you’ve been bitten or discovered ticks in your household we are there to take care of you at your own schedule – without the long anxiety ridden waits. You can walk in to our urgent care clinic without any appointments and discuss your concerns with our physicians. We’ll help you out.
Think you have a tick-borne infection?
Without knowing you were bitten we have to rely on symptoms such as fatigue, fever, swelling and of course the classic circular rash caused by ticks to verify if you have a bite related infection. These symptoms can often develop well after a tick bite but make note that “waiting for a rash to develop” is not a good idea. That is because in many cases a rash may not develop at all. Other symptoms that may develop independently include:
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Swelling
- Stiffness
- Bull’s-eye Pattern Rash (mentioned earlier and depicted in the picture)
- Headache
- Nausea
- Dizziness
If you suspect that you may be suffering from a tick bite related infection such as Lyme Disease, it is always a good idea to consult a physician. Our center is open late, has minimal wait times and provides walk-in service without any prior appointments for patients with tick bite and associated infection symptoms.
Frequently Asked Questions
I still have a tick on my body. What should I do?
First of all there is no need to panic. In most cases a tick bite causes us to flick the bug away and the pain is minimal. If on the other hand a tick gets stuck deep inside your skin, our staff can remove it with medical grade precision tweezers. Yes we do this regularly in tick season and this is not unusual. Anesthetics can also be used to virtually eliminate the pain (if any at all) and post removal cleaning and disinfection of the skin is also essential. We can then asses whether further treatment is necessary on a case by case basis.
Will my insurance cover the visit and which insurance plans do you accept?
Yes in almost all cases a tick bite or a rash related visit will be covered by your health plan and we accept most insurance plans offered in the state of Massachusetts. Our urgent care clinic, like most is generally a far more affordable option for most patients that will visit an ER for tick bite related concerns. If you do not have a comprehensive health insurance plan, we offer very affordable self pay options for testing and treatment for Lyme Disease.
Visit Our Clinic Today
AFC Urgent Care Swampscott treats Lyme disease for patients of all ages on a walk-in basis, seven days a week. Our medical professionals have been practicing in the Northeast region for many years, and are exceptionally knowledgeable in the management of tick-borne illnesses. Each summer we see tick bite patients from Lynn, Marblehead, Salem, Revere and Peabody areas offer our urgent care services to anyone else in need.
For more information about our services, call us at 781-691-9366, or visit us today!
Prevention tips for Lyme disease
As always prevention is the best cure and here is what you should do to avoid getting bit in the first place:
- Avoid wooded and bushy areas with high grass
- Walk in the center of trails
- Wear protective clothing such as pants and long sleeves
- Spray sufficient repellent on the exposed parts of your body
- Examine your outdoor gear and pets for ticks