What to do if a person is bitten by a tick: symptoms and consequences of infection, treatment and prevention
In the spring, ticks are activated - parasites, potential carriers of infections, the most dangerous of which is considered tick-borne encephalitis. It is almost impossible to immediately notice a pest on the body or clothing, and most often it manages to stick to the victim. Moreover, the longer he drinks blood, the higher the likelihood of infection. Therefore, it is very important to know how a tick bite usually looks on the human body in order to take action in time.
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What does a tick bite look like: photo
Causes of a tick bite in humans
The most common causes of a bloodsucker bite are:
- walks in potentially dangerous places - forest areas, paths overgrown with grass, wetlands, etc .;
- bringing home objects from the forest - baskets, branches, fallen trees, bouquets of flowers;
- insufficient inspection or lack of pet hair - they often bring parasites into the house.
How dangerous is a tick bite
It is not the bite itself that is dangerous, but the infection that penetrates through it. The most dangerous diseases that ticks carry are:
- encephalitis;
- borreliosis (Lyme disease);
- erlichiosis;
- tularemia;
- relapsing fever.
A detailed description of the diseases is given in the article below. In addition, parasite bites can cause allergic reactions, up to anaphylactic shock.
What to do with a tick bite first aid
Given the danger of bloodsuckers, it is necessary to proceed immediately after its discovery. Doctors strongly recommend that you immediately contact a medical facility.
Antibiotics for a tick bite
Doctors often prescribe antibiotics as a preventive measure. However, it should be borne in mind that taking them is not a guarantee that the bitten person will not get sick, and also that they are powerless against tick-borne encephalitis, since the disease is caused by a virus.
The most commonly used are Cefpodoxime, Doxycycline, Amoxicillin.
Dosage and frequency of administration is prescribed by a doctor. It is advisable to take tablets only in the first 72 hours after the bite.
Remove stuck tick
It is better to entrust this to the doctors, they will do it correctly, quickly and painlessly. In the absence of such an opportunity, you need to act independently, for this there are several ways. It is advisable to use special tools: pliers, special or pharmacy tweezers. It is important not to touch the pest with bare hands, as there is a risk of infection through microcracks and wounds on the skin!
The algorithm of actions when removing a pest:
- grab it as close to the skin as possible;
- make several scrolling movements in any direction;
- slowly, without jerking or making sudden movements, remove it;
- treat the bite site with any antiseptic.
What to do if not the whole tick was pulled out
If the pest was removed incorrectly, then its head may come off and remain under the skin. This is easy to see with the naked eye: a black dot is visible in the middle of the red spot.
In this case, you should not panic, as a rule, the body itself rejects the foreign body within a few days.
It is recommended to fill the wound with plenty of iodine and carefully monitor it. In case of signs of inflammation or suppuration, it is recommended to consult a doctor.
How to process
For processing, you can use any antiseptic agent:
- alcohol solution;
- hydrogen peroxide;
- chlorhexidine;
- brilliant green.
Take the tick to the lab
It is recommended to take the parasite to the laboratory for analysis in order to identify its infection with infections. To do this, the insect is placed in a container with a tight lid (a test tube is well suited for testing). Together with the tick, a moistened piece of cotton wool or cloth should be placed there so that it does not die. Before transfer to the laboratory, it is permissible to store the insect in the refrigerator for 48 hours.
10 days after the bite of the parasite, it is recommended to donate blood to detect antibodies to infections transmitted by ticks. Immediately after the tick is sucked, it is not advisable to conduct a study.
Perform immunotherapy as recommended by a doctor
Based on the results of the study of the pest, as well as the blood serum for antibodies, the doctor decides on the advisability of immunotherapy, which involves the introduction of gamma-immunoglobulin into the body. Currently, in our country, this service is provided on a paid basis. The drug can be obtained free of charge only as part of the services provided under the VHI policy.
Signs and symptoms of a tick bite
The bite itself is not accompanied by pain in humans, and therefore goes unnoticed for a long time.
What are the symptoms after a tick bite: the first signs
It directly depends on the characteristics of the human immune system, how long after the bite the first signs of it appear.
Most often, the first symptoms of a tick attack are the following:
- general weakness, drowsiness;
- aches in muscles and joints;
- photophobia;
- chills.
Further symptoms of a tick bite in humans
Further, the symptoms become more specific and depend on the type of infection. Common manifestations of infection:
- temperature increase;
- swollen lymph nodes;
- tachycardia;
- nausea and vomiting;
- headache;
- neurological symptoms.
What to do with a tick bite, depending on the type of disease
The course of action and further treatment depends on the type of infection. In any of the cases, a visit to the doctor is mandatory, timely therapy will help to avoid serious complications and gives a chance for a full recovery.
| Disease | Symptoms | Description | Treatment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Encephalitis | a sharp increase in temperature to 40 degrees; the appearance of a rash on the body; nausea and vomiting; | Tick-borne encephalitis is a disease that affects the human central nervous system. The causative agent is a virus. It is characterized by rapid development and severe course. Often leads to severe disability and death. | compliance with bed rest; the introduction of immunoglobulin; the use of blood substitutes and prednisolone; with the development of meningitis - high doses of vitamin C and group B. |
| Borreliosis | the appearance at the bite site of a characteristic red spot in the form of a ring (wandering erythema), which eventually becomes bright at the edges and light inside; temperature increase; enlargement of regional lymph nodes; muscle and joint pain. | A viral disease, the course of which often becomes chronic. In rare cases, the first symptoms may appear only after six months. | at the stage of the red spot, antibiotics of the tetracycline group show high efficiency; neurological symptoms are stopped by intravenous infusions of antibacterial drugs of the penicillin and cephalosporin series; the water balance is restored with the help of prednisolone and blood substitutes; vitamins, drugs to improve cerebral circulation and anabolic hormones are used as maintenance therapy. |
| erlichiosis | fever, fever; digestive disorders: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea; general intoxication of the body; SARS symptoms: sore throat, dry cough. | An infectious disease characterized by a long incubation period: the first symptoms may appear 3 weeks after the bite. | Ehrlichiosis is quite successfully treated with antibiotics and resolves without serious complications. Ehrlichia (disease-causing bacteria) are sensitive to tetracycline antibiotics (doxycycline, tetracycline), alternatives are rifampicin and chloramphenicol. |
| tick-borne relapsing fever | the appearance of a papule at the site of the bite; severe headache and dizziness; sleep disturbance and delirium; increased sweating; nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. | An infectious disease carried by ticks. The causative agent is bacteria - spirochetes. | The disease is successfully treated with antibiotics of the tetracycline group. With severe intoxication of the body, furosemide or osmotic diuretics are used. |
| Tularemia | fever, fever; Strong headache; suppuration of the lymph nodes; in some cases, nosebleeds. | Acute infectious disease. | The antibiotic streptomycin is the preferred drug for the treatment of tularemia. An alternative to the drug can be gentamicin, doxycycline, chloramphenicol, ciprofloxacin. |
| Babesiosis | elevated temperature; headache; aches in muscles and joints; loss of appetite; digestive disorders of various nature. | Babesiosis is most dangerous for dogs. Among humans, only immunocompromised individuals are affected. Outwardly, the disease manifests itself as a viral disease. | a combination of Quinine and Clindamycin; a combination of Cotrimoxazole and Pentamidine Diisocyanate; simultaneous appointment of Atovakon and Azithromycin. |
| spotted fever | loss of appetite; vomiting "coffee grounds"; hemorrhagic rash; nosebleeds. | Spotted fever is not common in Russia. It is carried by ticks that live in the United States. The causative agent of fever is the bacterium Rickettsia. | The most effective drug for the treatment of spotted fever is doxycycline. To eliminate the hemorrhagic symptom, heparin is injected intravenously in a glucose solution. |
Prevention of tick bites
Parasite bites can have very serious consequences. In order to avoid them, it is necessary to pay due attention to the observance of preventive measures.
Wear closed clothing and shoes.
Use protective chemicals - repellents and acaricides. They need to treat the skin and clothing of adults and children in accordance with the instructions. For animals, there are also special products in the form of drops, collars, aerosols.
During the walk and upon returning home, it is necessary to conduct thorough examinations of all participants in order to find ticks on the body or hair.
This method is recognized as an effective measure for the prevention of tick-borne encephalitis throughout the world. Vaccination is carried out in 3 stages, the last one should be carried out no later than 2 months before the onset of the season of tick activity.
Recently, cases of tick attacks in summer cottages have become more frequent. In this regard, the implementation of pest control is a very important preventive measure. In addition, you should minimize the risk of ticks in the country on your own: do not litter the site with plant and construction debris, avoid the appearance of stray animals and rodents, do not bring branches, deadwood, flowers, etc. from the forest.