Tick Bite.

[Tilly2]

Last week, I found a tick embedded into the skin just below my clavicle. I removed the tick with a tick removal gadget and washed the area well with disinfectant soap.

I applied tea tree cream and thought no more about it, apart from the occasional shudder.

The site of the bite is still very sore and the redness, which had disappeared is back. Literally, it hurts if I touch that area and there is a lump underneath the redness.

Shall I just continue to apply the tea tree cream? It's been over a week now and it doesn't seem to be disappearing.

[brainiac]

Was/is there a bull's-eye shaped red mark around the site of the bite? Often a sign of Lyme Disease:

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/lyme-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20374651

[Prudie]

Are you sure you got all the head out? This sounds a bit like something got left behind. I use a hydrocortisone ointment on this kind of thing but I'd keep an eye on it definitely.

[Toorak]

Tilly, I would definitely get it checked out - a red mark appearing a week after a bite can be a sign of Lyme disease

[woofgang]

Not to panic you but I live in one of the UK's Lyme hotspots and I would definitely get that checked. Lyme is nasty and often takes a while for the nasty symptoms to show. Is your doc likely to know about ticks? I know that not all do in non ticky areas.

[woofgang]

PS the bull's eye rash or circle is a definite warning sign but the lack of it doesn't mean you are ok.

[Peter Pedant]

No it is time to go and see a doctor and see what he thinks
there are important things he needs to check
do you have a dog and where do you live?

do it now rather than later
tick-tock!

[Tilly2]

When I removed the tick it was still alive and it began to crawl up the gadget towards me. If the mouthparts hadn't been removed and were still embedded, would the tick not have died? I dropped it into the toilet and flushed it away.
The site of the bite now looks like a small boil.

[ladybirder]

Have a look Tilly, is it like this:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/lyme-disease/

[Tilly2]

Thanks for the link, Brainiac and LB.
Prudie, I'll try some hydrocortisone cream. Thank you.

PP, I do have a dog and I live in Bedford.

I'm a bit worried now. :-(

[woofgang]

As I said, not every body with Lyme infection gets a bull's eye rash and by the time those who do get one, its often too late because you are already infected. The dog question may not be relevant. Hedgehogs around me are infested with the things. I don't wish them harm and I have got log and leaf piles in my garden and fence gaps but I won't feed or encourage them...seriously get it checked.

[woofgang]

Tilly booger the HC cream and get in touch with your doc.

[Peter Pedant]

is bedford park in bedford?
WHEN you go and see the GP tell him it is recorded

(

[Tilly2]

I'll make an appointment, if I can. Thank you all.

[Old_Geezer]

Good luck with it.

[Sqad]

If there is no rash and you feel well in yourself, then Lyme Disease is extremely unlikely.
I would continue with the advice of hydrocortisone cream and monitorthe situation for another 7 days.
However, should you now be totally unsettled,then contact your GP.

[Tilly2]

No appointments available at My GP surgery. Not currently offering this service!

[Tilly2]

I don't have a rash, Sqad, but do have something that looks like an infected spot.

[Sqad]

I understand that Tilly,but as I have said,if you feel well in yourself then your natural immunity should dealwith any secondary infection.

[Apc2604]

Just to say Tilly that we might have run into each other in years gone by. I lived in Bromham for 10 years! I went to school and college in Bedford, and had some great times there during my misspent youth.

[AuntPollyGrey]

// I don't have a rash, Sqad, but do have something that looks like an infected spot.//

With the caveat that I'm not a doctor and a bit 'gung-ho' I would place a comfortably warm wet cloth on the area for around 10 minutes then give it a squeeze. If anything comes out, then clean thoroughly and apply an antiseptic cream and a bandage covering if you can.
If after a couple of days it's no better, or you get a temperature, call 111.