• home
• find a physician
• patients & visitors
• news & health tips
• after hours care
• map & directions

June Health Tip from Dr. Burns

Now that summer is here, many of us will spend a good deal of time outdoors and encounter a variety of insect stings. Tick bites are a common reason patients come to the office: “Doctor, could this be Lyme Disease?”

Fortunately this infection is extremely rare in Missouri, with 37 cases reported in 2001, compared with over 4000 in New York during the same time. In addition to Lyme, there are other tick-borne illnesses that require the attention of your doctor, but occur infrequently. Warning symptoms of any of these infections may include:

1. a characteristic ‘target’ or ‘bull’s eye’ pattern over the site of the bite, or a more widespread rash covering the entire body,
2. fever,
3. headache, and
4. nausea and vomiting.

If you are hiking in a tick-infested area, use a good repellant beforehand i.e. DEET, stick to the center of trails, and do a thorough tick check after you’re finished. A tick typically has to stay attached at least 24 hours to transmit an infection, so early removal is important.

For information on tick removal, visit the Center for Disease Control.

Consider saving the tick for identification in case you become ill. If there is any question about the nature of the bite, or the possibility of an associated infection, don’t hesitate to call your provider at Fairview!

For more information:
MU Health Sciences Library