Getting a firm diagnosis for Lyme disease, an infection caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, can take several weeks. Tick. Tick. Tock.

As you wait for the results of the blood test, which measures the body’s immune response to the bacterium, the disease can get a foothold. Fortunately, infectious disease specialists are working to develop new tests to detect and treat prevent Lyme disease earlier.

While they’re at it, take these steps to protect yourself from infected ticks, which transmit the illness.

Prevention Is Key

Ticks are most active in the summer and early fall, but these tips can help you stay safe year-round:

Steer clear of wooded, brushy and grassy areas. If you’re walking or working where infected ticks often lurk, wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts. Tuck your pant legs into your shoes or socks. On hikes, walk in the center of the trail, away from the leaves, brush and tall bushes. For added protection, spray DEET repellent on your clothes and exposed skin. Be sure to follow product instructions.

Do a body check for ticks after spending time outside. Ticks are often found in hard-to-see places. Search your entire body (you may need to use a mirror) and check your kids, too. Pay special attention to these spots:

• Scalp
• Ears
• Armpits
• Belly button
• Waist
• Between the legs
• Behind the knees
• In and around all body hair

Use a tick collar on pets and check them often. Cats and dogs can bring infected ticks into your home.

What if I Get a Tick Bite?

Remove the tick as soon as you see it. Your chances of getting Lyme disease are reduced if you remove the tick within 24 hours of being bitten.

Using clean, fine-tipped tweezers, pinch the tick as close to your skin as possible. Pull straight up. If you twist or jerk, the mouth parts of the tick can stay embedded in your skin. If that happens, use tweezers to remove mouth parts. Then wash the area and your hands with rubbing alcohol or soap and water.

Note the date on your calendar and where you think you might have acquired the tick. See your healthcare provider if you develop a rash or fever within several weeks of removing the tick.

A red rash, known as erythema migrans, occurs in approximately 70 to 80% of those infected. It begins at the site of a tick bite after a delay of anywhere from three to 30 days. Average onset is about seven days. The rash gradually expands over a period of a couple days and can reach up to 12 inches (or more) across. Parts of the rash may clear as it grows, resulting in a “bull’s-eye” appearance; it may feel warm to the touch but is rarely itchy or painful.