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New to this, tick only on a few minutes.

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Lyme Disease
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Posted 6/1/2011 5:55 PM (GMT 0)
I  had a deer tick on me a few weeks ago. It was only on a few minutes, I believe. I was only in the woods 4 hours, and found it right after, and had felt it crawling right before I found it. I didn't save it, unfortunately. I have not had a rash. A very informed friend with lyme told me I probably won't get it unless the tick was on for 24 hours. Today I have influenza symptoms out of the blue. I am a very healthy person, and this just appeared with no warning. I just want to be reassured, I guess, that I'm not doing something stupid by doing nothing about the possibility of lyme. I've never been on a forum before, so thanks for your help.
Posted 6/1/2011 7:02 PM (GMT 0)
Your friend is right that a tick must be attached for a day or more before lyme bacteria is transmitted. However, it's possible that you got bitten by another tick. The day I got bitten, I saw a couple of tiny ticks crawling on my pants leg. I brushed those ticks off. But, I got bitten and got sick from a tick I missed. These ticks are so tiny, they can be easily overlooked.

What are your symptoms exactly? I'm still pretty new to the lyme disease community. Hopefully, someone else will be able to be of more help.
Posted 6/1/2011 7:51 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Lamby7,
Welcome to the Lyme Forum. Sorry you are not feeling well. Your chances of having Lyme disease are much less if the tick was only attached for a few minutes, however I do not agree that a tick needs to be attached for 24hrs. to be infected with the Lyme bacteria, or other Vector borne illnesses. All it takes is for the Vector to peirce human skin to transmit a Vector borne disease, it can be attached for one minute, or 48hrs and pass fluids to your blood stream. If you do not feel better within 24hrs. please see your doctor and insist on a course of antibiotics.

Best wishes
Posted 6/1/2011 8:36 PM (GMT 0)
Yes I believe cheezehead is correct. The tick does not have to be attached for 24 hours. It just needs to be there long enough to convey the disease to you. Is there any mark where the bite was at all? I would get to a doctor and explain what happened. It certainly couldn't hurt to take an antibiotic for a few weeks rather than take the chance and have this dreaded disease get worse rather than catch it very early. Best to you.
Posted 6/1/2011 11:59 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you all so very much!
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