Dr. Eugene RyanQ: I was bitten by a tick. What’s the risk of me getting Lyme disease?
A: The chance of developing Lyme disease following a tick bite has increased in Tennessee but still remains low-risk. Georgia is the same. According to CDC report, there were 15 reported cases of Lyme disease in Tennessee in 2017 and eight in Georgia. The ticks that cause Lyme disease are most common in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic states, so the risk is definitely lower in our region.
Symptoms of Lyme disease should not be ignored, though. They can begin three to 30 days after a bite and can include fever, headache, muscle and joint aches and rash. The rash begins as a red, warm area that may spread out to look like a bull’s-eye. This may occur anywhere, not just at the bite site.
If you develop these symptoms following a tick bite, it’s very important to see your doctor, but it’s not necessary to see your provider every time you get a tick bite.
– Eugene Ryan, M.D., Parkridge Medical Group – Primary Care; member, Chattanooga-Hamilton County Medical Society