Lyme Disease: When To Call A Doctor

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When To Call a Doctor

Call your doctor if:

• A tick is attached to your body and you are unable to remove the entire tick.
• You have a circular red rash that expands over the course of several days, especially if you know you were recently exposed to ticks. The rash may be accompanied by flu-like symptoms, such as fatigue, headache, stiff neck, fever, chills, or body aches.
• You feel very tired or have joint pain (especially with redness and swelling), irregular heartbeats, severe headache, or neck pain.
• You are pregnant or nursing and you think you may have been exposed to ticks.

Watchful Waiting

If you have been in an area where ticks that carry Lyme disease are present, watch for signs of infection such as flu-like symptoms or an expanding red rash.

Who To See

The following health professionals can diagnose and prescribe treatment for Lyme disease or complications of Lyme disease:

• General practitioner
• Internist
• Pediatrician
• Nurse practitioner
• Physician assistant
• Infectious disease specialist
• Rheumatologist
• Dermatologist
• Neurologist
• Cardiologist

To prepare for your appointment, see the topic Making the Most of Your Appointment.

Last updated:	September 03, 2008
Author:	Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS
Reviewed By:	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine, Christine Hahn, MD - Epidemiology
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Pat Truman, MATC