Tick Week: a tick bite...
During this Week of the Tick, it is wise to be extra vigilant. Ticks can transmit diseases, especially Lyme disease. In the Netherlands about 1.5 million people get a tick bite every year and about 27,000 people get Lyme.
The risk of Lyme after a tick bite is fortunately small: about 2 to 3 in 100 people with a tick bite get the disease. See also
What do you do immediately after a tick bite?
Do you see a tick on your skin? Then remove it as soon as possible with pointed tweezers or tick forceps. Do not smear anything on the skin, i.e. no oil, alcohol, soap or nail polish. Gently pull the tick straight out of the skin. Then write down when the bite was, where on your body the tick was and where you were. Also take a picture of the spot. After that, watch for a spot or ring that gets bigger for 3 months. A blood test right after a tick bite is useless. (Home Doctor)
When do you need medication after a tick bite?
Medications are usually not needed if the tick has been in your skin for less than 24 hours. If the tick has probably been there longer than 24 hours, discuss with your doctor whether to wait it out or get a single dose of antibiotics. However, that treatment must start within 72 hours of removing the tick. Do you get a larger red or red-blue spot or ring, or symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle pain, fatigue or aching joints? If so, contact your doctor.
What remedies are available: non-prescription and prescription?
You can get a remedy with DEET from us without a prescription. This helps to keep ticks at bay and is intended to help prevent tick bites. With a prescription from your doctor, antibiotics may be needed in certain situations, such as those with a higher risk after a tick bite or with Lyme disease. Examples include doxycycline. If doxycycline is not suitable, amoxicillin or azithromycin may be an alternative. Pharmacy.com additionally lists other antibiotics that doctors use in some situations.
What is the role of the pharmacy?
As a pharmacy, we help you use medicines properly and safely. We check every prescription: is the medicine correct, is the dosage right and does it fit with other medicines you are taking? If necessary, we consult with your doctor or specialist. We can also include self-care products, such as DEET, in your medication file. This way we can check whether everything can be used safely together. Do you have questions about use, side effects or doubts after a tick bite? Then we think with you.
Why choose your local pharmacy?
The great advantage of the local pharmacy is the close cooperation with your general practitioner. We know you, your GP knows you and you know us. That gives peace of mind. You get personal advice from a trusted team nearby, while at the same time we can coordinate well with your doctor if needed. And that personal contact goes hand in hand with extra convenience: we are the trusted pharmacy in the neighborhood where you can also arrange many things online. So you combine close care with the convenience of digital contact.
Learn more at Thuisarts.nl about ticks and Apotheek.nl about Lyme disease.
Questions? Feel free to ask. We're happy to help.
