UI Health Care is ready to keep you safe when Lyme disease and other hazards threaten summer fun
Enjoying the outdoors comes with its share of nuisances, including Lyme disease. June, July, and August are Iowa’s peak months for Lyme disease, a tick-borne illness that can lead to serious long-term health issues if left untreated.
To stay safe, healthy, and active all summer long, be sure to get the same-day care you need from University of Iowa Health Care’s convenient Quick Care and Urgent Care locations.
With evening, weekend, and holiday hours and a telehealth video visit option, Quick Care and Urgent Care provide safe, timely care for the tick and insect bites, rashes, and other minor injuries that can take some of the fun out of your summer if you don’t get them taken care of quickly.
You can walk into any Quick Care and Urgent Care location, or you can choose your arrival time in advance.
According to the Iowa Department of Public Health, most cases of Lyme disease in Iowa are reported during June, July, and August, and most of those happen in the eastern half of the state.
“It’s important to protect yourself while you’re out having fun, but if you do find a tick after you’ve been outside, it’s also important to know what to do if you think you’re at risk for Lyme disease,” says family medicine physician Katherine L. Imborek, MD, director of Offsite Primary Care for UI Health Care. “Our Quick Care and Urgent Care locations are there to take care of you during off hours or when your primary care provider isn’t available to see you right away.”
Protection includes applying an effective tick repellent such as DEET, wearing light-colored protective clothing with long sleeves and long pants, and tucking pant legs into socks. This is particularly important when engaging in outdoor activities that carry a higher risk of tick exposure, such as yard work, hiking, and camping. After these activities, thoroughly check yourself for ticks.
"Symptoms of Lyme disease can mimic those of influenza and may include a characteristic bull's-eye rash," says Nate Shaw, MD, a family medicine physician and medical director of UI Walk-in Clinics. "Without appropriate treatment, the infection can become much more dangerous and involve the brain, eyes, heart, joints, and skin."
If you find a tick, remove it by grasping it as close to the skin as possible with tweezers and pulling straight out. Take a clear picture of the tick or put it in a sealed plastic bag for identification if needed. If you're unsure about removing the tick yourself, Shaw says Quick Care and Urgent Care providers are ready to help.
“We can help to decrease the risk for Lyme disease following a tick bite by removing the tick and prescribing a single dose of an antibiotic, treat Lyme disease by prescribing a full course of antibiotics, and/or order laboratory testing to confirm the diagnosis of Lyme disease if needed,” he says.
When you need care for any minor injuries or illness this summer, UI Health Care has the same-day care options you need to stay safe and healthy. Choose the Quick Care or Urgent Care location that works for you.