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Original poster

Tick bite - GP has said to go to walk in centre but won't explain

62 replies

IHeartKingThistle · 31/05/2023 14:00

I found a tick on my leg and took it off about an hour ago. I think it must have been on there since Monday evening. Gross I know but it must have been tiny when it attached itself. I opened a chat on the GP app thing and they've said to go to a walk in centre 40 mins away. I've asked whether it's precautionary or if it's to get antibiotics but they just sent me the same message. I really don't want to go if it's just precautionary - can anyone shed any light?

OP posts:
Meadowfly · 31/05/2023 14:03

Is the skin around the bite red? The concern is the potential for Lymmes disease

handmademitlove · 31/05/2023 14:04

Depending on how good you are at removing ticks, some may be left in and is an infection risk. When my DD had a tick we were sent to a&e - gp wouldn't touch it! I guess they send everyone as they don't trust you knowing what you are doing!

WoofWoofBeachLife · 31/05/2023 14:05

You will need antibiotics in case of Lyme disease, has it a ring around the area? I'm no expert, only deal with the horrible things on my dogs occasionally. Did you take it out properly? Anti clockwise and not just pull it? Horrible beasties. My friend found one on her fanny once lol her dog had brought it in, it fell off the dog on her bed 😄 The dog was tick treated so it didn't attach to the dog.

saraclara · 31/05/2023 14:06

It's the risk of Lyme disease, and yes you should go. They'll probably give you an antibiotic for 30 days as prophylaxis.

pbdr · 31/05/2023 14:06

If there is no rash around the bite and you're well then there is no action required. If you are in any way unwell or have a rash around the bite then it is important that you are assessed for possible Lyme disease, and you would need antibiotics if there was any suspicion of this.

Bathintheshed · 31/05/2023 14:06

My DD had a tick bite the other day. The NHS website says you only need treatment if you have a fever or rash. Otherwise to keep an eye on it.

Badbudgeter · 31/05/2023 14:08

Is there any kind of bulls eye rash. Lyme disease is so nasty I’d lean towards precautionary antibiotics even if not (deer ticks the smaller ones are more likely to carry Lyme disease. 3 weeks doxycycline is standard. Wear a lot of sunscreen, a hat and stay in the shade. It makes your skin v. Sensitive to sunburn.

Bluebells1970 · 31/05/2023 14:08

It's probably to make sure that you've removed it whole. They're bastards to get off the dogs!

I don't think they give antibiotics as prevention for much these days due to cost and tolerance.

Aurea · 31/05/2023 14:08

The tiny nymph ticks carry the highest risk of Lyme Disease. You are likely to be offered antibiotics. Please don't risk it: my son has it and it can be life changing.

saraclara · 31/05/2023 14:11

Yep. I have a friend who is pretty much disabled by Lyme disease. I'd never realised just how bad it can be.

Having seen what it did to him, I'd want the doxycycline. I'd be too worried to watch and wait.

CupcakeTowers · 31/05/2023 14:13

If you don't have a bullseye rash and it's not swollen or painful then it's relatively safe to just ignore it. The app probably has precautionary guidelines for non-urgent cases but with a tiny potential chance of turning serious.

We live in a country with a far more serious tick problem and routinely get 2-3 bites per year which have never turned serious. We are vaccinated against tick-borne meningitis but not Lyme disease. The chances of a tick carrying pathogens is less than 10% (and this is already considered a severe risk area) and the chances of getting sick from a bite is even less than that, about 1-5%.

It's also possible to get a bullseye rash without any other symptoms (in fact the majority of cases stay as skin symptoms only). Obviously it's not wise to ignore this and but it's reassuring to know that even a rash doesn't automatically mean you have Lyme or meningitis.

Original poster
IHeartKingThistle · 31/05/2023 14:15

Thanks for all the quick replies. No rash, I literally only pulled it off an hour ago so it just looks like a normal insect bite, like a red bump. It was alive and moving after it came off my leg so I think I got it all.....

OP posts:
Original poster
IHeartKingThistle · 31/05/2023 14:17

I know it's a horrible disease and I really don't want it, but if it's a journey for nothing I will be really annoyed!

OP posts:
Tiddlypomtiddlypom · 31/05/2023 14:19

IHeartKingThistle · 31/05/2023 14:17

I know it's a horrible disease and I really don't want it, but if it's a journey for nothing I will be really annoyed!

Why risk it? 🙄 just go get the damn antibiotics. It may not make itself known, if you did develop it, until it was quite far down the road.

Tulipvase · 31/05/2023 14:20

I’ve always just removed them and kept an eye on it.

NHS website says only necessary to see a GP if you have a rash or feel unwell.

DisforDarkChocolate · 31/05/2023 14:20

When I had a tic that my husband removed the GP asked me to come down so they could check it had all been removed. It only took a minute.

Tiddlypomtiddlypom · 31/05/2023 14:21

I live in a lyme area and we are always advised to have prophylactic ABX. My dad developed it but with no obvious initial symptoms. We had to do a bit of detective work to figure it out, and he has some longer term issues from it.

SlipSlidinAway · 31/05/2023 14:23

Had one on my ankle a couple of weeks ago. DH removed it and we've kept an eye on the area. No bullseye rash and I haven't felt unwell. I checked the NHS website and noted it said no action in the absence of these symptoms.

Surely antibiotics aren't given as a preventative measure given growing levels of resistance?

DorritLittle · 31/05/2023 14:24

If it’s been on since Monday there is a higher chance that you will need antibiotics as a GP told me it takes 24 hours after a tick has attached for Lyme to be a risk. However, you just need to monitor for a rash. I have never gone to a walk in or GP to initially get a tick out. I normally use a tick comb but I have used tweezers. It is obvious if some is still in there. It sounds like you pulled yours out while. I had antibiotics for a bite but that had a huge red angry rash around it. A normal non Lyme tick bite gets a smaller red area around it also. You could try a pharmacist over a walk in centre if you just want a bit of advice. I have done this to check whether a rash was a Lyme rash.

EmmaEmerald · 31/05/2023 14:26

It's not a wasted journey
please go

DorritLittle · 31/05/2023 14:26

I live in a lyme area and we are always advised to have prophylactic ABX

That seems strange to me as I also live in a Lyme area and have only ever had them once for an actual rash.

SlipSlidinAway · 31/05/2023 14:27

My friend found one on her fanny once lol her dog had brought it in, it fell off the dog on her bed 😄 The dog was tick treated so it didn't attach to the dog.

Our dogs are treated too but we still find ticks on them - dead ones that have presumably bitten them and died from the treatment.

I do worry at this time of year when they get on the bed though and every itch/little mark I have has to be thoroughly investigated!

User57632678384 · 31/05/2023 14:29

Not worth the risk. I got sent by the GP to the hospital the other day for something different, and very much minor but could cause issues later on if not treated. They sent me to the minor injuries department rather than A&E and it was far quicker and I was in, treated and out the door within 2 hours. Prevention is better than cure always!

diddl · 31/05/2023 14:30

It's perhaps the length of time that it potentially was attached that is causing the concern?

I had one at the back of my knee once-that brought tears to my eyes when I removed it!

nosunshinewhenshesgone · 31/05/2023 14:33

Knowing someone whose quality of life was destroyed by Lyme Disease... I'd be cautious and make the trip.

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