How long must a tick that is infected with the Lyme disease bacteria be attached to a person before the bacteria is transmitted to the person?
Some say that it can happen as soon as the tick bites, others say that the tick needs to be attached for 24-48 hrs, others say 72 hours and some say 3 days! Many people bitten by ticks are not able to say for certain how long the tick has been attached (unless of course they are regularly checking themselves for ticks!). The other thing to be very careful about is removing ticks from pets: these may well have been attached for a long time and may be fully engorged. There is recorded evidence of at least one Lyme sufferer having acquired the infection not from being bittern, but by removing the ticks from her dog with her bare hands. You should report ANY adverse reactions which occur after being bitten by a tick, or after removing a tick, and the precautionary principle is that Lyme is likely to be present more than it is not. It is also a good idea to take a photograph of any rash that appears. It might help with the diagnosis!
Related Questions
- How long must a tick that is infected with the Lyme disease bacteria be attached to a person before the bacteria is transmitted to the person?
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