First of all, you need to know that the tick does not bite right away, but crawls over the body for several hours, so you need to regularly inspect your body and pet hair.
Tick bite: how long does it take for a person to get symptoms?
Arachnids are activated at temperatures above +20 degrees and sufficiently high humidity. They can long time crawl all over the body until they find skin folds: groin, armpits, neck. Then they cut into the skin. Males quickly disappear after drinking a little blood, but the female can dig in for 2 weeks, while significantly increasing in volume.
Incubation period may be more than 1 month. The first signs will be noticeable in a week. But redness appears immediately after the tick, having saturated with blood, disappears.
The time of appearance of the first symptoms, to a greater extent, depends on the state of health of the person and his immunity. If you are allergic to the saliva of an arachnid predator, after a few hours, the temperature rises, red spots appear, and after a couple of days - weakness, migraine, shortness of breath, drowsiness, and in some cases local pain.
In children and the elderly in poor health, symptoms may appear within a couple of days.
Symptoms and treatment for a tick bite
As noted above, the symptoms depend on the state of the human immune system. High blood pressure and temperature can be caused by various diseases. But if redness appears on the skin, itching, the heartbeat increases, then this is evidence of a tick bite.
If a person has health problems, then the symptoms are more pronounced:
- Nausea.
- Breathlessness.
- Excited state.
- Headache.
- hallucinations.
If the fever persists for several days, then this is a sign of infection.
- Encephalitis. In this case, the temperature rises approximately 3 days after the bite of a dangerous insect. The fever may pass quickly, but will recur over time.
- Monocytic ehrlichiosis. The temperature jumps after 10 days, and may not drop for 20 days.
- Lyme Borreliosis. There is a slight deterioration in health, but this cannot be ignored.
- Granulocytic anaplasmosis. The temperature increases almost immediately after infection, and does not decrease within 2 weeks.
If these signs appear, you should immediately consult a qualified doctor.
Then you need to immediately send the insect for analysis, and the infected must be tested for the presence of antibodies. If one of the possible diseases is confirmed, you need to consult a doctor who will prescribe the appropriate treatment.
I will not write here what drugs to take, since everything depends on the specific case. Therefore, medicines should be prescribed only by a professional medical worker.
How to determine the encephalitic tick or not?
The encephalitis virus is transmitted dangerous insects through the blood of animals, after which it is inherited. According to statistics, about 15% of ticks in Russia are infected.
You can determine the infection if you have certain symptoms. The bite on the surface of the skin is practically not noticeable, as the virus begins to multiply inside the body. After the infection spreads throughout the body, the temperature begins to rise.
But if encephalitis affects the brain, then the work of the nervous system is disrupted. Within 1-2 weeks after the bite, no symptoms are observed. If a person has a strong immune system, then the disease may not progress and the body itself can cope with this disease.
After about 10 days, the temperature rises to 40 degrees, and is accompanied by a feverish state.
The tick was pulled out and it was dead. Why?
Using a sharp and heated knife, you need to cut off the tip of the syringe (where the needle is fixed) so that the cut is perfectly even. Otherwise, it will be difficult to achieve optimal pressure. As a result, you should get a cylinder, as shown in the image below. 
Put the piston in its original position, firmly attach the syringe to the damaged surface so that the tick is completely in the container. There must be no air inside to create a vacuum. 
In the next step, gently lift the piston. As a result, the insect will be painlessly removed. 
To avoid unpleasant consequences tick bite can be done with special means. If the weather allows, then you need to cover the skin as much as possible with clothes and wear a hat.
Spring is the time of the awakening of nature and at the same time a period of increased activity of ticks. How dangerous are these bloodsuckers, what are the symptoms that characterize a tick bite, what treatment is needed for the victim - these are questions that do not lose their relevance.
With the onset of the first warm days, the townspeople, tired of the winter, rush to their dachas, to the forest for walks and picnics, the villagers begin spring field work on their household plots- it is there that these small, sometimes invisible to the human eye arthropods from the class Arachnida are waiting for them. They pose a real threat to human health, and sometimes human life, as they are carriers of diseases such as tick-borne encephalitis and borreliosis (Lyme disease), as well as other dangerous infections.
If, after returning from the forest, after some time you find an unexpected “guest” on yourself, then, if possible, immediately contact a medical institution.
- scalp (especially behind the ears);
- axillary area;
- chest area;
- back (under the shoulder blades);
- inner thighs;
- groin area;
- area under the kneecap.
It is in these areas that the skin is the thinnest and most delicate, rich in capillaries. In medical practice, there were cases when bloodsuckers crawled into intimate places - the genitals.
Within 2-3 hours after a tick bite, the following symptoms may appear:
- temperature increase;
- cardiopalmus;
- labored breathing;
- headache;
- weakness and drowsiness;
- aching joints;
- nausea, vomiting.
A person bitten by a tick should immediately go to a medical institution (to the doctor on duty, to the ambulance station), where specialists will not only pull out the bloodsucker, but also prescribe appropriate treatment.
Remember, you can not delay the removal of the tick. Even if it's ordinary, that is not Tick-borne Encephalitis, the bite site can become very inflamed and fester.
At home, a tick can be removed in several ways. Special tools (twisters, hooks, lasso) sold in pharmacies or specialized stores will come to the rescue.
If there is no such tool at hand, you can use a regular but strong thread, from which you need to make a loop and throw it on the tick closer to the proboscis, and then tighten it like a lasso. Slowly and carefully, avoiding sudden movements, so as not to break the tick, swing and pull it up perpendicular to the surface of the skin. The wound must be treated with an alcohol solution, iodine, brilliant green, cologne.
If the head remains in the wound, then after additional disinfection it should be pulled out with a regular sewing needle. This micro-operation is reminiscent of pulling out a splinter familiar from childhood. The needle must be sterile (it must be wiped with alcohol or ignited in a flame).
The bloodsucker, if it is on the surface of the skin, can be pulled out with your fingers. But before that, you need to wrap them with gauze or a piece of bandage, tightly grab the body of the tick and rotate it counterclockwise.
Previously, it was believed that the tick can be easily removed by lubricating the bite site with vegetable oil. In no case should this be done: the oil clogs the respiratory holes, the tick becomes immobile, and it is not possible to pull it out. But an alcohol solution of iodine can play a good role: if a tick has stuck relatively recently, it must be literally poured with iodine, and it will crawl out on its own; plus - it will be a good disinfection.
The dead tick must be burned. Living within 2 days can be sent to a microbiological laboratory for further research, placing on a damp cotton wool in a jar or vial with a tight-fitting lid. Research is usually paid.
To date, of the existing infectious diseases 12 are the most dangerous. But 2 are the most common:
- tick-borne encephalitis;
It is not allowed to treat a tick bite on your own. The fact is that the causative agents of encephalitis are arboviruses, so treatment after a tick bite is carried out with antiviral drugs. Borreliosis (Lyme disease) is a bacterial infection caused by a spirochete of the genus Borrelia. After diagnosing this disease, the doctor prescribes antibacterial drugs. Treatment is carried out strictly in a hospital.
Naturally, a tick bite does not mean that you can immediately become infected with these diseases, but everyone should know about the main symptoms and the danger that threatens in the event of a possible infection.
Tick-borne encephalitis: danger and treatment
This severe infectious natural focal disease occurs mainly in the regions of Siberia and Far East because that is where the death rate is high. For people living in potentially dangerous areas, and workers whose activities are directly related to regular visits to forests (foresters, biologists, etc.), vaccination against encephalitis is carried out.
The virus infects the brain, spinal cord, causing inflammation, and leads to paralysis and mental retardation.
The incubation period lasts 1-3 weeks. The main initial symptoms in adults:
- a rapid increase in body temperature up to 40 ° C;
- chills;
- headache and back pain;
- muscle aches, cramps;
- lethargy;
- cutting pain in the eyes and photophobia;
- shortness of breath;
- nausea and vomiting;
- plaque on the tongue.
In children bitten by an encephalitis tick, the symptoms are similar, but they proceed brighter and more rapidly than in adults. To those listed above, convulsions, paralysis of the arms and legs, loss of consciousness, skin rash can be added.
Currently, there are 5 clinical forms of the disease:
- feverish;
- meningeal;
- meningoencephalic;
- polio;
- polyradiculoneuritic.
The most common is the meningeal form. Accompanied by severe headaches, lasts 1-2 weeks with a favorable outcome.
In the spring and summer, city and district hospitals have a sufficient supply of immunoglobulin for children and adults. Intravenous or intramuscular administration of this drug (emergency prevention of tick-borne encephalitis on the 1st day after a tick bite) is prescribed and carried out only by a doctor.
In our country, antiviral drugs such as Yodantipirin (adults and children over 14 years old) and Anaferon (children under 14 years old) are used to treat encephalitis. Also appoint "Cycloferon", "Arbidol" and "Remantadin". The patient needs bed rest, abundant food rich in proteins, and vitamins (group B). Treatment is carried out strictly in an infectious diseases hospital. In a long period of recovery of the body, therapeutic massage and physical education are shown.
What is the deceit and danger of borreliosis
Borreliosis (Lyme disease) is an insidious disease, because it tends to disguise itself as other diseases. Spirochete-borrelia, once in the body, can lie low and not manifest itself for years, thus, the disease becomes chronic with periodic relapses. The disease affects the musculoskeletal system (especially the joints), skin, nervous system and heart; can lead to disability.
The main sign, a marker, is red migratory erythema, measuring from 3 cm or more, appearing at the site of the bite. This red spot with a lighter center gives unpleasant pain, itchy, flaky and later scarred. The temperature rises, the lymph nodes increase in size, a red rash spreads across the face in the likeness of hives, and headaches torment.
At stage 2, pains appear in the muscles and along the nerve fibers, the heart rhythm goes astray. In children, vision and hearing are impaired, facial asymmetry and mental retardation develop.
At stage 3, in the absence of proper treatment, severe damage to the nervous system, multiple sclerosis, polyarthritis (an inflammatory joint disease) and dermatitis up to skin atrophy are observed.
A patient with suspected borreliosis, as in the case of tick-borne encephalitis, is immediately hospitalized in a hospital, where he receives complex therapy, including both treatment and restoration of damaged organ systems.
Adults and children over 8 years of age are given emergency prophylaxis with Doxycycline (doses are prescribed by a doctor).
Lyme disease is more successfully treated at stage 1. Antibiotics of the tetracycline series are prescribed orally. In moderate and severe cases of the disease, when the nervous and cardiac systems are already affected, cephalosporins (Ceftriaxone, Cefobid, Cefoperazone) and benzylpenicillin are administered by intramuscular and intravenous injections.
Such differences in actions are due to the fact that in different situations the danger of a tick bite is not the same. For example, in areas endemic for tick-borne encephalitis or Lyme borreliosis, people should do everything possible to minimize the risk of severe consequences from contracting the infection. Sometimes it can be quite troublesome, but any time spent in this case is justified.
Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is considered the most formidable disease, since it leads to the development of disability (usually associated with mental disorders) and deaths. In addition, the causative agent of TBE is a viral infection, against which there are currently no specific drugs and which, because of this, is more difficult to treat.
Lyme borreliosis is known for its high prevalence throughout the world. If the rules of diagnosis and treatment are violated, it can also lead to disability and death, but with the right approach to combating it, it is treated quickly and successfully.
On a note
Other infections transmitted by ticks (at least in Eurasia) are much rarer, and cases of fatal outcomes during their development are rare. On the one hand, due to this, they are considered less significant, on the other hand, it is precisely in the fact that they are given less importance, and their insidiousness lies. With them, they rarely turn to doctors on time, medical errors often occur, resulting in a severe course of these diseases and, as a result, complications.
It is important to understand that in some cases, a person can die from the consequences of a tick bite or become permanently disabled, and in almost any region, even one in which tick-borne encephalitis is not noted - from the same borreliosis, for example. The chances of not getting infected at all or easily transferring the disease are high, however, even a small likelihood of a threat to life justifies the rather troublesome measures that must be taken after a tick bite.
The first step is the immediate removal of the tick.
It must be understood that if the tick has not yet stuck, but is found only crawling over the body in search of a place of attachment, then it can simply be brushed off. It is not dangerous and is not fraught with infection. The danger is precisely the bite of the tick, that is, when the integrity of the human skin is violated, followed by bloodsucking.
However, in practice, it is impossible to understand whether the tick has already managed to secrete infected saliva into the wound, and it is pointless to make any guesses in such a situation. Therefore, it is recommended to assume that if the tick has already pierced the skin, then it could well transmit the infection.
On a note
The photographs below show a tick's proboscis, dotted with notches:
Actually, this is exactly what experienced tourists, fishermen and hunters do. Seeing a sucking tick, an experienced person immediately grabs it with his nails under the body, right next to the skin, and pulls it out. If at the same time the head remains in the skin, then it is immediately removed with a needle, like a splinter.
On a note
The actual removal of the tick occurs as follows:
On a note
If there are no devices at hand at all, then you can grab the bloodsucker with your nails under the torso, try to squeeze the head (without squeezing the body itself), make rotational movements in one direction and the other to loosen the grip of the proboscis, and then smoothly pull it out of the skin.
What not to do when removing a tick:
If, nevertheless, during the extraction, the mouth organs of the bloodsucker remained in the skin (they look like a small black dot in the center of the wound), it is quite easy to remove them with a simple needle or nail scissors - just like a splinter is removed.
After removing the tick from the skin, further actions are based on the risk of developing a tick infection:
First of all, the risk of infection with tick-borne encephalitis is taken into account. The study of a tick for infection with its borreliosis is not always carried out (although it is useful to do this) - emergency prevention of borreliosis is not carried out, and the disease itself, if it develops, is relatively easy to treat (it is only important to monitor your well-being in order to recognize the alarming symptoms in time, which will be discussed a little below).
On a note
It is possible to hand over a tick for analysis of infection with its causative agents of borreliosis for complacency - if the pathogen is not detected, then there will be no reason for concern.
The next step is competent disinfection of the wound.
Immediately after removing the tick, the bite site must be treated with an antiseptic solution - for example, an alcoholic solution of iodine, "brilliant green", hydrogen peroxide, miramistin or chlorhesidin (in last resort, just alcohol or vodka). This will not prevent tick-borne infection, but it will protect against secondary infection by bacteria that may be on the skin and enter the wound.
It is not necessary to apply bandages and seal the bite with a plaster. The wound almost never bleeds, but it can be very itchy and itchy. If the tick has had time to get enough, unhook and crawl away on its own, the wound in the form of a point at the site of the skin puncture will have a characteristic appearance, which will make it easy to distinguish a tick bite, for example, from a mosquito bite.
You should not try to squeeze ichor or blood out of the wound - this will not help to remove the infection if it got there, but will only contribute to the accelerated spread of pathogens to nearby tissues. Also, do not cauterize the bite or pick it open to pour the antiseptic inside.
If a red spot appears at the site of the bite, which is very painful or itchy, painkillers are usually used (Menovazan, Lidocaine, Fenistil-gel). When a rash and signs of allergy appear, the skin is treated with Advantan, Suprastin is given to the victim (in rare cases, hospitalization may be required, especially if the child has signs of urticaria).
Thus the first health care with a tick bite does not involve taking some powerful antiviral agents or antibiotics. After the PMP is not required any special care behind the wound: you can wash, you can wet the bite with water and keep it in the sun - this will not have any effect on the condition of the victim.
Tick analysis for infection
It may be advisable to test a tick for infection, if only in order to completely remove concerns about the risk of infection in the event of a negative result. However, even if the tick was infected, this does not mean at all that the bitten person will certainly get sick - that is, a positive test result is not a basis for starting treatment.
Tick analysis for infection with the tick-borne encephalitis virus is carried out in microbiological laboratories at various hospitals and clinics, as well as in commercial laboratories. In each city, in the help desk or by calling the ambulance number, you can find out the address of such a laboratory.
The study of a tick usually lasts 2-3 days and costs about 500-700 rubles. The analysis is carried out if the tick was delivered for testing no later than the third day after the bite.
Before analysis, the tick does not need to be frozen, alcoholized and tried to be fed with something. It is enough to place it in a hermetically sealed container with a piece of damp cotton wool.
Moreover, if the bite occurred in an endemic region, and the medical facility has drugs for emergency prevention of tick-borne encephalitis, then the victim will most likely be given it right away - in case the tick still turns out to be encephalitic.
On a note
By introducing immunoglobulin, it is effective only in the first 4 days after the bite. After this time, the procedure no longer makes sense.
If the tick, according to the results of the study, turned out to be a carrier of the tick-borne encephalitis virus, then it is necessary to carefully monitor the condition of the victim for at least a month. In addition, 2 weeks after the bite, blood should be taken to determine antibodies to the tick-borne encephalitis virus. It is pointless to take tests earlier than 10 days, since the result will certainly be negative (antibodies will not yet have time to form in sufficient concentration).
Emergency prevention of tick-borne encephalitis
Emergency prevention of tick-borne encephalitis consists in the introduction into the body of the victim of serum with antibodies to the virus-causative agent of the disease. These antibodies (immunoglobulins, otherwise gamma globulins) bind viral particles and prevent them from spreading and replicating in the body. If such prophylaxis is carried out before the start of active reproduction of viruses, then the disease will not develop.
On a note
However, it should be noted that the effectiveness of such preventive measures has not been proven by the methods of modern evidence-based medicine in the West. Accordingly, neither in Europe nor in the USA such TBE prophylaxis is carried out. In Russia, immunoglobulin preparations against tick-borne encephalitis are considered effective, and the method of emergency prophylaxis is used in all regions endemic for this disease.
The main requirement for such prevention is to carry it out in the first 4 days after the bite. It is believed that in the first 2 days its effectiveness is maximum, on the 3rd-4th day it is already much lower, and starting from the 5th day it is pointless to do it.
All preparations of immunoglobulins for emergency prophylaxis of TBE are produced in Russia, the most common serum is produced by Microgen. Its packaging costs approximately 6500-7000 rubles for 10 ampoules of 1 ml. The amount of the drug is calculated according to the body weight of a person: for every 10 kg of body weight, 1 ml of the drug. Accordingly, it is possible to calculate the approximate cost of an injection (the procedures themselves, excluding the cost of immunoglobulin, are either free in polyclinics or cost symbolic money).
Injections of immunoglobulin against TBE are not carried out during pregnancy and lactation.
A few words about the means for self-prevention of tick-borne encephalitis
Contrary to popular misconception, self-prevention tick-borne encephalitis with tablets or traditional medicine after a bite is impossible. This is due to the fact that effective means such protection does not exist today, and those that are commercially available are either dummies or drugs with unproven effectiveness.
An example of a useless drug is Anaferon, a well-known homeopathic remedy that does not contain components that could somehow affect the development of an infection.
Drugs with unproven efficacy are Jodantipyrine and Remantadine. Their ability to suppress the development of tick-borne encephalitis has not been confirmed by evidence-based medicine (which, however, does not prevent a large number doctors prescribe these drugs as preventive).
Other drugs marketed as antiviral or immunomodulatory (for example, Reaferon-Lipint, Cycloferon) also do not have any effect on the development of the disease.
On a note
Similarly, independent prevention of borreliosis is not carried out. Borreliosis itself is successfully treated with relatively inexpensive, accessible and safe antibiotics (the first-line drug of choice is doxycycline). Theoretically, prophylaxis could also be carried out with antibiotics, but in practice, almost all those bitten would need to use them because of the wide range of Borrelia themselves, despite the fact that the actual frequency of infection with the infection is low and approximately comparable to the frequency side effects from the antibiotic itself. In other words, it is easier and safer not to carry out drug prophylaxis, but to treat borreliosis itself already during its development (which is revealed by the results of a blood test for borreliosis).
Monitoring the condition of the victim after a bite: what to look for
Regardless of the fact of carrying out emergency prevention of tick-borne encephalitis, as well as the region in which the person was bitten and whether he had an anti-encephalitis vaccination, after a tick bite, you should carefully monitor the condition of the victim for at least a month, and if symptoms of the disease appear, immediately contact doctor.
On a note
The tick can infect a person with various infections, so having a tick-borne encephalitis vaccine is not a complete protection.
On average, Lyme borreliosis is 1-2 weeks, but sometimes it can stretch up to several months. If at this time the victim's health worsens or the following symptoms appear, then this is an occasion to consult a doctor as soon as possible for an early diagnosis. Warning symptoms after a tick bite include:
If any of these symptoms appear, you should contact an infectious disease specialist as soon as possible. It is the timely treatment started for all tick-borne infections that makes it possible to avoid the threat of developing serious consequences.
Even if the analysis of the tick revealed that it was infected with an infection, the likelihood of developing the disease in humans is low. According to statistics, even when bitten by infected ticks, an average of 2-6% of those bitten fall ill.
However, the onset of the disease can be diagnosed even in the incubation period. To do this, you need to take a blood test for tick-borne encephalitis and borreliosis. Immunoassay in the blood reveals antibodies to the causative agents of the corresponding diseases.
As noted above, such an analysis will be indicative no earlier than 10 days after the bite. On the 14th day after the incident, it makes sense to donate blood for antibodies to the tick-borne encephalitis virus, and 20 days later - for antibodies to Borrelia. If a particular disease is confirmed, the doctor will prescribe treatment even before the onset of severe symptoms.
Prevention of tick bites
It is easier to prevent a tick bite than to run around hospitals and worry about possible infection. At the same time, all the difficulties of such protection against attacks by bloodsuckers are mainly organizational, not requiring any special knowledge and skills.
It is also useful to use repellents based on pyrethroids and DEET. Many of these products are also suitable for children.
On a note
If the tick has just begun to dig in, or is still crawling over the skin in search of a place for suction, it is hardly noticeable, as it has small size. A sucking small larva is also not always easy to detect - it can look like a papilloma, and even with a close examination it can be “slip through” with a glance. Similarly, it can be difficult to find a tick in the hair if it has climbed onto the head.
When traveling to nature in a region endemic for tick-borne encephalitis, it is first necessary to be vaccinated against TBE. Then even a tick bite that occurs will be much less dangerous: a person will not get sick with encephalitis, and even if he does get sick (which happens extremely rarely with a vaccination), the disease will proceed easily and without complications.
However, vaccination cannot protect against Lyme borreliosis - a specific anti-borreliosis vaccine has not been developed.
Finally, some insurance companies now offer tick bite insurance. The insurance package for one person costs about 500-800 rubles, and the sum insured covers the analysis of the tick for encephalitis and borreliosis, blood tests of the bitten and the full treatment of the disease.
Useful video about first aid for a tick bite
What to do if a child is bitten by a tick
The first 2 diseases (tick-borne encephalitis and borreliosis) are the most common, the rest are diagnosed much less frequently. Some ticks can be carriers of several infections at once, and, as a result, infect a person with several diseases at once.
How does a tick bite
Female ticks can stay on the skin from several hours to a week, while males are able to stick for a short time, making small bites. Therefore, for example, if a person saw on his skin a tick that was not attached, but simply crawling, it is likely that the tick still inflicted a bite.
Where and when are you most likely to get a tick bite?
The greatest danger of contracting a serious disease from a tick bite is people living in endemic areas for diseases, as well as those who visit these areas during a special period - from May to mid-June and from late August to late September.
But the danger of being attacked by ticks persists throughout the warm season when visiting almost any forest areas, parks and other areas where there is grass and shady shelters. You can get a tick bite even in your country house or in adjoining territory his private house, if the grass is not mowed there.
Maximum number of bites from infected ticks
registered annually in Siberia, the Urals and the Volga region. However, a considerable number of those bitten annually seek medical help in almost all regions of Russia, including the Crimea and the Caucasus.
What parts of the body do ticks mostly bite?
Ticks are localized in the grass mainly at a height of 30 cm, and cling to the legs of those who pass by. Most often, they accumulate on the grass along the paths, smelling the people passing here. Sometimes they climb shrubs and lower branches of trees.
Once on the human body, the tick begins to look for places with thin skin, which is easier to bite through, so most often it sticks in the area:
- groin,
- abdomen and lower back,
- armpits
- chest,
- ears and neck,
- scalp.
If a tick bite is suspected and for prevention purposes, it is these places that should be most carefully examined after visiting the forest and park.
What does a tick bite look like?
Signs of a tick bite in humans are sometimes limited to only a small reddish spot and swelling in the wound area, and after a few days the skin takes on a normal appearance. Under the influence of saliva and microtrauma caused by a tick oral apparatus, on the skin there is a slight inflammation and a local allergic reaction. There is no pain, but in some cases a slight itching may be present.
Seeking a doctor is necessary in any case, even if there are no negative reactions from the body. The course of the first stages of dangerous diseases is sometimes hidden, in addition, some diseases have a long incubation period. Only a blood test will confirm the absence of the disease.
Signs of an allergic reaction to a tick bite
An allergy occurs in response to tick saliva getting into the wound. The individual reaction of the body depends on the state of health in general. The consequences of tick bites are more severe in allergy sufferers, children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems. You can remove a moderate allergic reaction with the help of antihistamines.
Common signs of allergies:
- weakness;
- drowsiness;
- aches in the joints;
- headache;
- nausea;
- dizziness,
- temperature increase;
- itching and rash in the area of the bite and on other parts of the body.
With a strong individual allergic reaction, anaphylactic shock may occur, which is preceded by:
- difficulty breathing;
- hallucinations;
- angioedema (rapid and massive swelling of the face, throat, or extremities);
- loss of consciousness.
Anaphylactic shock can be controlled with the administration of prednisolone and adrenaline. If the symptoms after a tick bite indicate a severe allergic reaction, an urgent emergency call is necessary, otherwise a fatal outcome is possible.
Signs of the development of tick-borne encephalitis
The incubation period for tick-borne encephalitis can last from 4 to 14 days. During this period, the infected person does not have any external health problems. Then the temperature rises sharply to 38-39 ° C, the patient has a fever, appetite disappears, muscle and eye pain appears, nausea or vomiting, severe headache.
Then comes remission, during which the patient feels some relief. This is the second phase of the disease, during which the nervous system. Subsequently, meningitis, encephalitis, paralysis may develop. If left untreated, death is likely.
The problem is that the signs of the disease in the initial stage are often confused with the flu and acute respiratory infections, so they do not go to the doctor, but self-medicate. When high temperature after a detected or suspected tick bite, time should not be missed - a blood test and hospital treatment are necessary.
Symptoms of borreliosis
If a tick carrying borreliosis has bitten, the bite site takes on the appearance of a specific erythema, which gradually increases to 10-20 cm, and sometimes up to 60 cm in diameter. The erythema patch may be round, oval, or irregular shape. The victim may experience burning, itching and pain at the site of the bite, but more often the first signs are limited to erythema alone.
After some time, a saturated red border forms along the contour of the spot, while the border itself looks slightly swollen. In the center, the erythema becomes pale white or cyanotic. After a few days, a crust and scar form in the bite area, which disappear without a trace after about 2 weeks.
The incubation period before the onset of the first symptoms ranges from several days to 2 weeks. Then comes the first stage of the disease, which lasts from 3 to 30 days. During this period, the patient experiences aching muscles, headache, weakness, fatigue, sore throat, runny nose, stiff neck muscles, nausea. Then, for some time, the disease can go into a latent form up to several months, during which the heart and joints are affected.
Unfortunately, erythema is often mistaken for a local allergic reaction, without attaching much importance to it. And the malaise during the first stage of the disease is attributed to a cold or overwork at work. The disease flows into a latent form, and openly declares itself after a few months, when serious harm has already been done to the body.
Signs of the development of other diseases
An increase in temperature to 38°C and above may indicate the beginning of the development of any of the tick-borne infections. It is important to remember that a symptom such as fever does not occur immediately after a bite. The incubation period of some diseases can last up to 14 days (ehrlichiosis, hemorrhagic fever), or up to 21 days (tularemia).
Against the background of a high temperature, the following symptoms may indicate the onset of the disease:
- heart palpitations and pressure surges;
- sore throat, tongue lining and runny nose;
- anorexia, nausea and vomiting;
- swollen lymph nodes and a rash on the face (typhus);
- nosebleeds, abdominal pain, diarrhea (tularemia);
- chills, sweating, clouding of consciousness, lower back pain (hemorrhagic fever).
After a tick bite, it is necessary to measure the temperature daily for 2 weeks and monitor the state of health: any changes that appear cannot be ignored.
First aid for a tick bite
You should also consult a doctor if a trace of a possible tick bite has been found on the skin or if the signs of infection of any of the tick-borne infections described above appear. If necessary, after the examination, the doctor prescribes an appropriate course of treatment with the use of anti-inflammatory and antibacterial drugs or recommends immunotherapy.
Taking antibiotics after a tick bite is not always justified. If it is impossible to immediately consult a doctor, for the purpose of emergency prevention, it is better to take immunomodulators (for example, iodantipyrine). Allergy sufferers can take antihistamines.
First, the insect must be removed. Let's say right away that this is not easy to do, since during the bite the tick releases salivary fluid, part of which serves as a fastening material and acts as glue, so the insect's nose sticks firmly to the wound surface. What to do? If the tick has not yet advanced deeply, then you can move it left and right for 1-2 minutes, after which it should smoothly exit. Forcibly pulling out or pulling out the tick with tweezers is not recommended: this way you can remove the tick, but its head will remain in the thickness of the skin, which will further cause an inflammatory process. You just need to grab the insect with your fingers for side surfaces abdomen, as close as possible to the head, and gently pull up.
To safely pull the tick, you can use ordinary thread: tighten the loop around the head, the closer to the skin, the better. Then we pull - gradually, slowly. In order to speed up the process, some advise dripping 2-3 drops of sunflower oil, alcohol or a strong saline solution on the tick.
In most situations, this technique allows you to remove the tick without problems. However, if you are in a hurry, and a head remains in the thickness of the skin, do not try to open the wound. Usually, within 1-2 days, the skin itself pushes the foreign body to the surface. But, in order to avoid inflammation, it is necessary to lubricate the bite site with alcohol, brilliant green or other disinfectant 2-3 times a day.
What to do after a tick bite in a child
With the onset of warm days, we increasingly want to go to nature, to fresh air, away from the bustle of the city. And, of course, we take children with us - they also need active rest. However, at the same time as going out into nature, danger may await us - just at this time, ticks become active in forests and plantings.
Nevertheless, back to the question: what to do if the tick has already bitten the child?
First, you should not panic. You need to pull yourself together and try to remove the insect from the thickness of the skin. If you do not undertake to do it yourself, then you can contact the nearest emergency room or sanitary and epidemiological station - they will do it quickly and competently. If you will carry out the removal yourself, then do it slowly, gradually loosening the insect, without pulling it out, so as not to tear off the head.
After the procedure, it is imperative to treat the wound with alcohol, iodine or brilliant green.
When a child is bitten, the process of neutralization does not end there. Even if you have successfully removed the insect, you should take the baby to the clinic or hospital without delay. It is advisable to put the withdrawn tick in a closed jar and give it to the laboratory for 2 days to examine for the possibility of infection. After the analysis, depending on the result, the doctor will tell you what to do next. As a rule, the affected child is closely observed for 3 weeks, paying attention to any symptoms that appear.
If the examination of the tick showed its contagiousness, then the child will definitely need to take a blood test. Already 10 days after the bite, you should donate blood for the presence of borreliosis and tick-borne encephalitis using PCR. After 2 weeks, tests are taken for the presence of antibodies to the encephalitis virus, and 30 days after the bite - for the presence of antibodies to Borrelia.
As an urgent preventive measure, Anaferon can be prescribed to the affected child, but only a doctor should make such an appointment.
What should you do after a tick bite?
- Firstly, the best remedy from a tick bite is prevention. Wear proper clothing, use appropriate insect repellant, and periodically check yourself and your child for ticks.
- A means of preliminary prevention of diseases caused by ticks is vaccination, which includes the introduction of several portions of the vaccine at regular intervals. Vaccination should be done at least one and a half months before the onset of the "dangerous" season.
- Remember that the most favorite places for ticks to enter are the hair on the head, subscapularis, spine, perineum, umbilical region, legs and arms.
- When bitten by a tick, to speed up its removal, you can drop a few drops on the insect vegetable oil, or a sharp-smelling substance ( ammonia, ethyl alcohol, acetone, kerosene, etc.).
- A securely settled tick should be removed gradually, swinging left and right, without sudden movements.
- After removing the insect, it is necessary to carry out the mandatory treatment of the wound.
- If the tick has not been completely removed, you can contact your doctor for medical advice.
- The extracted tick is recommended to be examined in the laboratory of the sanitary and epidemiological station for infectivity.
- It is imperative to monitor general condition the victim - to control body temperature for 3 weeks. If symptoms such as fever, pain in the head or muscles, nausea, or the appearance of the wound worsens (redness, pain, swelling), you should urgently seek advice from an infectious disease specialist. As for the child, it is recommended to show it to a specialist in any case.
What can not be done after a tick bite?
- You can’t leave an insect in the wound (say, if it gets drunk, it will fall off on its own). The tick can exist in the thickness of the skin for about 10 days. During this time, the infection can not only enter the body, but also spread and develop to the full extent.
- You should not try to abruptly pull out the insect, pull it up with force, because in such a situation you risk tearing off its body, and the head with the proboscis will remain in the layers of the skin. The tick must be easily swayed or twisted out of the wound.
- You can not put pressure on the tick, pierce it, burn it with matches or cigarettes - this increases the risk of infection, even if the skin is not damaged. Yes, and it will be much more difficult to remove a crushed insect.
- It is impossible to leave the wound untreated after removing the tick - use any disinfectants at hand - iodine, alcohol, vodka, alcohol solutions, brilliant green, etc.
- After a tick bite, symptoms such as fever, headaches, muscle weakness, skin redness, vomiting, etc. should not be ignored. Be sure to contact a medical specialist immediately!
If you have been bitten by a tick and you have not been previously vaccinated against tick-borne encephalitis, then urgent preventive measures can be taken with the help of immunoglobulin - a medical specialist introduces prepared antibodies obtained from human blood serum. Such antibodies can suppress the development of tick-borne encephalitis in the body. Immunoglobulin is administered during the first 96 hours that have passed since the time of the insect bite. Important point: the calculation is based on the time of the bite, and not on when the tick was discovered. Immunoglobulin vaccination can also be carried out in childhood.
If the tick turned out to be infected, and the victim has suspicious symptoms, then he is urgently sent to the hospital. He will be assigned the strictest bed rest and a fairly long course of treatment in the infectious diseases department of the hospital.
Fortunately, not all ticks are infected. The danger is precisely the encephalitic tick, which outwardly does not differ from the usual representative. For this reason, any bite should be carefully considered, as it can have extremely adverse consequences.
What to do after a tick bite? Of course, it is better to contact a medical institution for help without delay. However, such perfect option does not always work, because where ticks live, the doctor is usually far away. Therefore, the recommendations we have listed can help in organizing first aid for the victim, and also direct them to competent further actions.
