With the short summer season in Vermont, most people try to spend as much time as possible outside. However, it is important to remain vigilant for ticks after each outing.

It takes 36-48 hours for a deer tick to transmit Lyme disease to its host. That means that the best prevention for Lyme disease is a thorough tick check when you come in after spending time outside. Antibiotics are generally not needed for ticks that are removed within 24 hours. However, if you find an engorged deer tick that has been there for longer than 24 hours, your Primary Care Provider will likely give you a dose of preventative medication to reduce your risk of developing Lyme disease.

Thomas Chittenden Health Center has both in-person and telehealth appointments for acute visits every day of the week, including Saturday and Sunday morning! If you are concerned about any potential tick-borne illness or exposure, call for an appointment or to speak with your health care provider today.

Check out the links below for more information on tick-borne diseases, tick bite prevention and treatment.

Online Resources

For information on preventing tick bites:
https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/avoid/on_people.html

For instructions on tick removal:
https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/pdfs/FS_TickBite.pdf

For tick borne disease symptoms, including Lyme disease:
https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/symptoms.html