EntranceA tick has bitten into itself, what should I do? How to remove a tick. Signs of a tick bite in a person, symptoms and possible consequences
But there are also not the most friendly arachnids, which are carriers of dangerous diseases, the most famous of them in Russia are encephalitis, anaplasmosis, Lyme disease and ehrlichiosis.
Even a safe (sterile) tick on the human body can cause a severe allergic reaction. Another interesting fact is that one tick can simultaneously carry several types of pathological microorganisms. Such mixed carriers account for 10% of all ticks.
What does a tick bite look like?
A typical example of a tick bite would be a Lyme disease spot. In this case, erythema appears, it gradually increases and can reach 20 or even more than 50 cm. The shape of the spot when bitten is necessarily round or oval. After some time, a bulge appears along the edge. The color may be white or bluish in the very center. After 24 hours, the stain becomes like a donut and a dry crust appears. After 2-3 weeks, there are no bite marks left.
The bite itself is never accompanied by pain, and if a person does not have an allergy, then it is completely impossible to understand that a tick has attacked. The first manifestations will be noticeable within a few hours - the reaction time depends on the characteristics of the body.
Alarming symptoms
The first and obvious sign is the detection of the tick itself on the body. Severe symptoms often appear in children, people over 60 years of age, and people with immunodeficiency and a tendency to allergies.
After a few hours, characteristic manifestations can be observed:
- general weakness, apathy, fatigue;
- drowsiness and muscle soreness;
- fever, photophobia.
The first dangerous symptoms:
- soreness and redness;
- temperature rise to 38 degrees;
- decreased blood pressure and heart rhythm disturbances;
- itching, urticaria in case of allergies;
- enlargement of regional lymph nodes.
Less common symptoms include migraines, shortness of breath, intestinal upset, and even hallucinations, visual or auditory.
Arachnids usually attach themselves to areas of sensitive skin where the capillary network is well developed. There are two types of ticks of different age groups.
- Adults are adult individuals; their peculiarity is the presence of four pairs of legs.
- Nymphs are larvae, they have three pairs of limbs.
Symptoms of fever vary depending on the infection.
- Encephalitis. Hyperthermia appears 3-4 days after the attack and lasts for 14 days. The temperature returns to normal, but after 7-9 days it rises again.
- Anaplasmosis. The temperature rises after 2 weeks.
- Borreliosis, or Lyme disease. Hyperthermia is a secondary symptom; it is combined with muscle pain and chills.
- Ehrlichiosis. Fever begins after 1-2 weeks and lasts for 20 days.
An increase in body temperature is typical for any infection transmitted by ticks. If this symptom appears, you should immediately consult a doctor.
Consequences
You can suffer from a tick bite different organs and body systems:
- liver – due to digestive disorders;
- nervous system - arises headache, epilepsy, paresis and paralysis;
- joints – arthritis and arthralgia;
- lungs – internal bleeding and pneumonia;
- kidneys – glomerulonephritis or nephritis;
- CVS – increase and decrease in blood pressure, heart rhythm disturbance.
When attacked by an encephalitis tick, both favorable and unfavorable outcomes are possible. In the first case, a person experiences asthenic syndrome, that is, severe weakness that lasts about 2 months. There is no dysfunction internal organs and the body recovers completely over time.
A favorable outcome is also possible with moderate severity of the disease, the recovery period of which can last six months. An unfavorable outcome is likely in case of violation respiratory function and with a constant increase in symptoms.
The resource site dwelled in more detail on the study of the consequences of a tick bite and stated that stress, alcohol consumption, and severe physical fatigue can aggravate the condition. You can improve your prognosis and quality of life by avoiding these negative factors.
Diseases from a bite
Ticks transmit microbial, protozoal and viral infections. They are common and found in every corner of the world.
Viral:
- tick-borne encephalitis;
- hemorrhagic fever;
- rare forms of tick-borne fever.
Microbial:
- ehrlichiosis;
- anaplasmosis;
- borreliosis.
Rickettsial:
- Marseilles fever;
- paroxysmal rickettsiosis;
- typhus;
- smallpox rickettsiosis;
- Astrakhan spotted fever;
Tick-borne encephalitis
After a bite, many people pull out the tick and throw it away, since there are no symptoms, and with them there is no suspicion of any disease. But it is strongly recommended to take the extracted tick to the laboratory for examination. In case of danger, this will allow treatment to begin before dangerous symptoms appear.
The tick-borne infection develops quickly, a person’s temperature rises to 38-39 degrees, weakness, severe migraine, and muscle aches are felt. The skin becomes red, coordination is impaired and convulsions begin.
This infection can result in irreversible damage to the nervous system. The most serious consequence is paralysis of the legs. In approximately 2% of cases, the disease without appropriate treatment ends in death within a week after the first symptoms appear.
Borreliosis
An equally insidious disease is borreliosis, the first sign of which is, at first glance, harmless redness in the bite area. But soon the red spot reaches 10-20 cm, and in severe cases and 60 cm. After some time, the spot becomes blue or white, then becomes crusty.
After a month, symptoms of damage to the nervous system, lungs, heart and musculoskeletal system, especially muscles and joints, already develop. This period is characterized by symptoms similar to the flu. Violation of the nervous system leads to paralysis, insomnia and can cause deafness.
Complications of this disease include various pathologies of the nervous system, heart and joints. Unfortunately, such consequences sometimes develop even in those who seek medical help in time.
First aid after a bite
After removing the tick, the skin is treated with an antiseptic and pre-washed running water with soap. Be sure to make sure that there are no particles left under the skin. Reddened skin can be treated with wound-healing ointment, but small area leave open in the area of the bite itself.
Those who live in unfavorable areas are advised to purchase special tick removal kits in advance. This could be a “Uniclean Tick Twister” or a “lasso handle”. After removing the tick with instruments, it is also placed in a sealed vial, which is signed and sent for examination.
If during removal of the tick you managed to get only half of it, you should definitely go to the hospital. Some institutions, open 24 hours a day, provide first aid for bites.
When to go to the doctor
Urgent help is also necessary with the development of Quincke's edema. Its symptoms:
- labored breathing;
- pale or bluish skin;
- swelling of the lips and eyelids;
- muscle soreness.
This is a severe allergic reaction, in which you need to immediately call an ambulance and provide first aid to the victim until a doctor arrives.
First aid:
- give an antihistamine - it can be Erius, Zyrtec or Suprastin;
- ventilate the room well, provide air access;
- if possible, administer the drug “Prednisolone” - 60 mg intramuscularly.
All subsequent treatment measures will be carried out in the medical institution after the examination.
Treatment
If a sterile tick bite occurs without any manifestation of an allergy, treatment is not required and there will be no consequences. Drug therapy is carried out in case of an attack by an encephalitis tick or a carrier of other infections.
The principle of treating a patient with encephalitis:
- compliance with bed rest;
- the patient remains in the hospital for the entire period of high fever;
- immunoglobulin is prescribed for the first 2-4 days;
- the use of prednisolone, ribonuclease, and rheopolyglucin is indicated;
- in case of respiratory failure, intensive ventilation is carried out;
- in case of inflammation, ascorbic acid and vitamin B are prescribed.
During the rehabilitation period, treatment is carried out with tranquilizers, anabolic steroids and nootropic drugs. Antibacterial drugs may also be prescribed to prevent complications in the gastrointestinal tract, respiratory and hepatobiliary systems.
Principles of treating a patient with borreliosis:
- hospitalization for symptoms of neurological abnormalities;
- for disease in the erythema stage, bacteriostatics and tetracycline are prescribed;
- relief of neurological syndrome is carried out with penicillin antibiotics for intravenous administration;
- The water balance must be restored, physiological solutions are administered intravenously, vitamins and drugs are administered intramuscularly to normalize blood circulation.
Prevention
After familiarizing yourself with the rather unpleasant facts about a tick bite and its consequences, it’s time to look at preventive measures and find out how you can protect yourself from the carrier of the infection.
The likelihood of a tick bite depends on several factors:
- place of residence;
- frequency of being in the forest and field;
- visiting unfavorable areas where tick-borne infections are common.
It is better to be extra vigilant and, while walking in a dangerous area, check for ticks on your body. Ideally, this should be done every half hour, during which time the tick will not have time to attach itself and can be easily removed.
Preventing the bite itself is not so easy. To do this, you need to completely avoid areas with trees and other plants. But you can take action to prevent the consequences, which is more effective and will give real results.
The main measure of primary prevention is vaccination. Additionally, specific immunotherapy can be performed, which is indicated if infection is suspected. People working in the forest are recommended to wear special protective clothing. You can also use special means to kill or repel ticks.
Vaccine
Vaccination is carried out solely for the purpose of primary prevention; it is contraindicated to vaccinate a person after infection.
Drugs used in Russia for vaccination:
- "EnceVir". Entered from 18 years of age. Produced in Russia.
- FSME-Immun Junior. Introduced from 1 to 16 years. Produced in Switzerland.
- Encepur Children. Introduced from 1 to 11 years. Produced in Germany.
There is also the possibility of emergency vaccination. It is indicated when urgent travel to a potentially dangerous area is necessary. This vaccine has short term protection.
Repellent and destruction agents
When traveling to an unfavorable area or going into the forest, it is recommended to apply protective agents to exposed skin and clothing. They exist in two types: repellents (scare away) and acaricides (kill). The former are used to repel various insects. They can be sprayed on clothes, arms, legs, neck and other parts of the body.
Representatives of aerosols:
- "Biban";
- "Raptor";
- "Anti-mite breeze";
- "Ultraton".
Acaricides can destroy ticks, but such products can only be used to treat clothing and various items. In pharmacies you can find products from this group that can be applied to the skin, but this is not recommended, as there is a risk of poisoning and allergies.
Even if bites have become commonplace, do not forget about the potential danger. When faced with such a problem once again, one cannot hope for the usual favorable outcome, because it is much easier and safer to be examined by a doctor once than to undergo a course of treatment for several months.
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 where tick-borne encephalitis or Lyme borreliosis is endemic, people should do everything possible to minimize the risk of severe consequences from contracting the infection. Sometimes this can be quite troublesome, but any time spent in in this case justified.
Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is considered the most dangerous disease, since it leads to disability (usually associated with mental disorders) and death much more often than all others. In addition, the causative agent of TBE is a viral infection, for 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 if the right approach to combat it is treated quickly and successfully.
On a note
Other infections transmitted by ticks (at least in Eurasia) are much rarer, and cases of death due to 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 that their insidiousness lies. They are rarely treated by doctors in a timely manner; medical errors occur more often, resulting in a severe course of these diseases and, as a consequence, 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 observed - from the same borreliosis, for example. The chances of not getting infected at all or easily transferring the disease are high, but even a small probability of a threat to life justifies the rather troublesome measures that need to be taken after a tick bite.
The first step is to remove the tick immediately
It is necessary to understand that if the tick has not yet burrowed into itself, but is only found crawling along the body in search of a place of attachment, then you can simply brush it off. This is not dangerous and does not pose a risk of infection. It is the tick bite that poses the danger, that is, when the integrity of a person’s skin is violated, followed by blood sucking.
However, in practice, it is impossible to understand whether the tick has already released 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 easily transmit the infection.
On a note
The photographs below show the tick's proboscis, studded with barbs:
Actually, this is exactly what experienced tourists, fishermen and hunters do. Seeing an attached 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 tick removal itself goes like this:
On a note
If there are no devices at hand at all, then you can grab the bloodsucker under the body with your nails, 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, however, during extraction, the bloodsucker’s oral organs remain in the skin (they look like a small black dot in the center of the wound), it can be quite easy to remove them with a simple needle or nail scissors - in the same way as removing a splinter.
After removing the tick from the skin, further actions are based on the risk of developing a tick-borne infection:
First of all, the risk of infection with tick-borne encephalitis is taken into account. Testing a tick for infection with Borrelia 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 alarming symptoms in time, which will be discussed in a moment below).
On a note
You can submit a tick for analysis of whether it is infected with borreliosis pathogens to reassure yourself - if the pathogen is not detected, then there will be no reason for concern.
The next step is proper disinfection of the wound.
Immediately after removing the tick, the bite site should be treated with an antiseptic solution - for example, an alcohol solution of iodine, brilliant green, hydrogen peroxide, miramistin or chlorhesidine (in extreme cases, just alcohol or vodka). This will not prevent tick-borne infection, but will protect against secondary infection by bacteria that may be on the skin and enter the wound.
There is no need to apply bandages or cover the bite site with a plaster. The wound almost never bleeds, but it can be very itchy and itchy. If the tick has managed to get enough, detach itself and crawl away, 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 remove the infection if it has gotten there, but will only contribute to the accelerated spread of pathogens into nearby tissues. Also, you should not burn the bite site or pick at it to pour antiseptic inside.
If a red spot appears at the site of the bite, which is very painful or itchy, pain-relieving ointments (Menovazan, Lidocaine, Fenistil-gel) are usually used. If a rash and signs of allergy appear, the skin is treated with Advantan and the victim is given Suprastin (in rare cases, hospitalization may be required, especially if the child shows signs of urticaria).
Thus, first aid for a tick bite does not involve taking any 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 site 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 check a tick for infection, if only in case of a negative result, to completely remove concerns regarding the risk of infection. However, even if the tick was infected, this does not mean that the bitten person will certainly get sick - that is, a positive test result is not a basis for starting treatment.
Tick analysis for virus infection tick-borne encephalitis carried out in microbiological laboratories at various hospitals and clinics, as well as in commercial laboratories. In each city, you can find out the address of such a laboratory at the information desk or by calling the ambulance number.
A tick study 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, preserved in alcohol, or tried to be fed with anything. 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 institution has drugs for emergency prevention of tick-borne encephalitis, then the victim will most likely be given it immediately - in case the tick turns out to be encephalitic.
On a note
By administering immunoglobulin, it is effective only in the first 4 days after the bite. After this time, the procedure no longer makes sense.
If, according to the results of the study, a tick turns out to be a carrier of the tick-borne encephalitis virus, then it is necessary to closely monitor the condition of the victim for at least a month. In addition, 2 weeks after the bite you should donate blood to determine antibodies to the tick-borne encephalitis virus. There is no point in taking tests before 10 days, since the result will certainly be negative (antibodies have not yet had time to form in sufficient concentration).
Emergency prevention of tick-borne encephalitis
Emergency prevention of tick-borne encephalitis involves injecting serum with antibodies to the virus that causes the disease into the victim’s body. These antibodies (immunoglobulins, or otherwise gammaglobulins) bind viral particles and prevent them from spreading and replicating in the body. If such prevention is carried out before the active reproduction of viruses begins, the disease will not develop.
On a note
However, it is worth noting that the effectiveness of such preventive measures has not been proven by modern evidence-based medicine in the West. Accordingly, such prevention of TBE is not carried out either in Europe or in the USA. In Russia, immunoglobulin preparations against tick-borne encephalitis are considered effective, and the emergency prevention method is used in all regions where this disease is endemic.
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 days 3-4 it is already significantly lower, and starting from the 5th day there is no point in doing it.
All immunoglobulin preparations for emergency prevention 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 based on a person’s body weight: for every 10 kg of body weight, 1 ml of the drug. Accordingly, you can calculate the approximate cost of the injection (the procedures themselves, excluding the cost of immunoglobulin, in clinics are either free or cost symbolic money).
Immunoglobulin injections against TBE are not performed during pregnancy and lactation.
A few words about means for self-prevention of tick-borne encephalitis
Contrary to popular belief, independent prevention of tick-borne encephalitis using tablets or traditional medicine after a bite is impossible. This is due to the fact that effective means for such protection do 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 widely known homeopathic remedy that does not contain components that could in any way affect the development of infection.
Drugs with unproven effectiveness are Yodantipyrine 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 of doctors from prescribing these drugs as preventatives).
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, antibiotics could also be used as prophylaxis, but in practice, their use would be required for almost all those bitten due to the wide range of Borrelia themselves, despite the fact that the actual frequency of infections 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 as it develops (as determined by the results of a blood test for borreliosis).
Monitoring the victim’s condition after a bite: what to pay attention to
Regardless of the fact that emergency prevention of tick-borne encephalitis was carried out, as well as in what region the person was bitten and whether he had an anti-encephalitis vaccination, after a tick bite you need to carefully monitor the victim’s condition for at least a month, and if symptoms of the disease appear, immediately contact doctor.
On a note
A tick can infect a person with various infections, so being vaccinated against tick-borne encephalitis is not complete protection.
On average, Lyme borreliosis lasts 1-2 weeks, but sometimes it can last up to several months. If at this time the victim’s health worsens or the following symptoms appear, then this is a reason to quickly consult a doctor for a speedy diagnosis. Alarming symptoms after a tick bite include:
If any of these symptoms appear, you should consult an infectious disease doctor as soon as possible. It is timely treatment for all tick-borne infections that allows you to avoid the threat of severe consequences.
Even if an analysis of a tick reveals that it is infected with an infection, the likelihood of a person developing the disease is low. According to statistics, even when bitten by infected ticks, on average 2-6% of those bitten get sick.
However, the onset of the disease can be diagnosed during the incubation period. To do this, you need to take a blood test for tick-borne encephalitis and borreliosis. Immunoassay detects antibodies to pathogens in the blood.
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 after 20 days - for antibodies to Borrelia. If a particular disease is confirmed, the doctor will prescribe treatment even before severe symptoms appear.
Preventing Tick Bites
It can be easier to prevent a tick bite than to then run to hospitals and worry about possible infection. Moreover, all the difficulties of such protection from attacks by bloodsuckers are mainly organizational, and do not require any special knowledge and skills.
Repellents containing pyrethroids and DEET are also helpful. Many of these products are also suitable for children.
On a note
If the tick has just begun to dig into itself, or is still crawling on the skin in search of a place to suction, it is hardly noticeable, since it has small sizes. An attached small larva is also not always easy to detect - it may look like a papilloma, and even with a close examination it can be “skimmed” by the eye. Likewise, it can be difficult to find a tick in the hair if it has climbed onto the head.
When traveling outdoors in a region where tick-borne encephalitis is endemic, you must first 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 if there is 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. An insurance package for one person costs about 500-800 rubles, and the insurance amount covers tick analysis for encephalitis and borreliosis, blood tests of the bitten person and 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
Ticks are carriers of many diseases, including tick-borne encephalitis, tick-borne borreliosis (Lyme disease), rickettsiosis and other infections.
If you find an attached tick, remove it as soon as possible!
You cannot delay removal. The longer a tick drinks blood, the more infection it gets into the body.
Removing a tick
If you plan to submit a tick for analysis, it is advisable to remove the tick alive and intact; as a rule, only such ones are accepted. To avoid tearing the plier, do not pull it sharply.It is convenient to remove ticks with tweezers. In this case, the tick should be grabbed as close to the proboscis as possible, then gently pulled up, while rotating around its axis in a convenient direction. Usually, after 1-3 turns, the entire tick is removed along with the proboscis.
If you don't have tweezers or special device, then you can simply wrap a piece of bandage, gauze or cotton around the tick and act as described above.
There is a method for removing ticks using thread. To do this, tie a strong thread into a knot as close as possible to the tick’s proboscis, then twist it in one direction (pulling it up a little) until the tick unscrews. This method is not always convenient, especially for self-removal and extraction of ticks from animals.
If the tick is stuck in a place that is inconvenient for its removal, and no one can help you, remove it as best you can, even if it breaks, this is better than spending a long time looking for help.
If, when removing a tick, its head or part of it comes off, this is not a problem, but it is worth considering that tick particles remaining in the skin can cause inflammation or suppuration. Also, if the head is torn off, the infection process can continue.
The head remaining in the skin looks like a black dot. The area where the tick is attached is wiped with cotton wool soaked in alcohol, and then the parts of the tick remaining in the skin are removed with a sterile needle (for example, heated over a fire) in the same way as you remove an ordinary splinter.
The tick does not need to be smeared with oil or anything else. Even if the tick comes out on its own, you will waste time, because physical removal will be faster. In addition, such a tick may not be accepted for analysis.
After removing the tick, the skin at the site of its attachment is treated with tincture of iodine or alcohol; no bandage is required.
What are the dangers of a tick bite?
Even if the tick bite was short-lived, the risk of contracting tick-borne infections cannot be ruled out.The tick should be placed in a small glass bottle along with a piece of cotton wool lightly moistened with water. Be sure to close the bottle with a tight cap and store it in the refrigerator. For microscopic diagnosis, the tick must be delivered to the laboratory alive. Even individual tick fragments are suitable for PCR diagnostics. However, the latter method is not widespread even in large cities.
You need to understand that the presence of an infection in a tick does not mean that a person will get sick. A tick analysis is needed for peace of mind in case of a negative result and vigilance in case of a positive result.
Most the right way determine the presence of the disease - take a blood test. There is no need to donate blood immediately after a tick bite - tests will not show anything. No earlier than 10 days later, you can test your blood for tick-borne encephalitis and borreliosis using the PCR method. Two weeks after a tick bite, test for antibodies (IgM) to the tick-borne encephalitis virus. For antibodies (IgM) to borrelia (tick-borne borreliosis) - in a month.
Q: I took the tick off myself, it looks like it just started to attach itself, is there a risk of getting sick and with what?
A: The risk of getting tick-borne infections exists even with a short period of tick suction.
It is not possible to unequivocally answer the question of what one can become infected with, since different regions Ticks carry various infections.
The most dangerous disease transmitted by ticks It is believed that Rospotrebnadzor publishes lists annually; unfortunately, such information is not published for other infections.
IN southern regions In Russia, the most dangerous tick-borne disease is.
There are other diseases, so if you feel worse, consult a doctor immediately.
Q: I was bitten by a tick, two weeks have passed since the bite, I felt fine, but today I have a fever, what should I do?
A: Poor health may not be associated with a tick bite, but tick-borne infections cannot be ruled out. Be sure to consult a doctor.
Redness of the tick bite site
V.: We removed the tick, the bite site turned red almost immediately. What does it mean?A: Most likely, this is an allergic reaction to the bite; inspect the bite site daily; if you notice an enlargement of the spot, soreness of the bite site, or a deterioration in general health, consult a doctor.
V.: The tick was removed, but after a few days the bite site became swollen and painful to touch.
A: You need to see a surgeon.
V.: We removed the tick, at first the bite site was a little red, then the redness went away, and today, two weeks after the bite, it turned red again.
A: You should see an infectious disease doctor. Very often, the early stage of the disease with tick-borne borreliosis is accompanied by the appearance at the site of the bite.
Emergency prevention of tick-borne encephalitis
V.: I live in a region where tick-borne encephalitis is endemic. Yesterday I was bitten by a tick, noticed it in the evening, immediately removed it and took it to the laboratory for analysis. Today they called from the laboratory and said that a tick-borne encephalitis virus had been found in the tick and that I needed to take a course of iodantipyrine. What else can be done to prevent tick-borne encephalitis? Very worried.A: There is no need to worry too much, since a bite from an infected tick does not mean that a person will get sick (even without prevention). Yodantipyrine is also approved for use for emergency prevention of tick-borne encephalitis. You can also recommend a balanced diet during the incubation period of TBE, try to avoid any stressful situations for the body (overheating, hypothermia, severe physical activity etc.).
V.: I was bitten by a tick, I threw it out, and now I’m worried that maybe the tick was encephalitic. When can I get my blood tested?
A: There is no point in donating blood immediately after a tick bite - tests will not show anything. No earlier than 10 days later, you can test your blood for tick-borne encephalitis using the PCR method. After two weeks, test for antibodies (IgM) to the tick-borne encephalitis virus.
Q: I'm pregnant (10 weeks). Bitten by a tick - what to do to prevent tick-borne encephalitis?
V.: I was bitten by a tick, I pulled it out. I’m very worried, but there’s no way to see a doctor (I’m far from civilization), and there’s no way to buy medicine. What should I do?
A: Most people who do not receive emergency prophylaxis when bitten by a tick infected with tick-borne encephalitis do not get sick. Since you don't even know whether the tick was infected or not, there's no need to panic. Try to find an opportunity to consult a doctor if your health worsens.
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Blood-sucking ticks are carriers of numerous infections and belong to the class of especially dangerous ones. Infection occurs directly through the bite of an arthropod. The most serious infections carried by ticks are encephalitis and borreliosis.
The peak of registered bites occurs in the first half of summer, but tick activity is observed until late autumn. The tick can get caught on clothing and then work its way to exposed skin. Often penetration dangerous tick occurs through the sleeves, at the bottom of the trousers, in the collar area.
Classification of ticks
These representatives of arthropods rarely reach 3 mm in size; the size of mites generally ranges from 0.1 to 0.5 mm. As befits arachnids, ticks lack wings.
Ticks are classified into two main groups:
- Sterile - those individuals that are not carriers of any infections;
- Infected ticks that are carriers of viral, microbial and other diseases (encephalitis).
It is worth noting that most often ticks begin to bite in early spring and late autumn. Please note that not all ticks are carriers of infectious diseases. Despite this, even a sterile tick can lead to serious consequences. This is why it is so important to know what to do in a specific situation when attacked by a tick.
Tick bites are the first signs in people
As a rule, the first sign of a bite is the presence of an insect attached to the victim's body. Most often, areas of the body hidden under clothing and places with a well-developed capillary system are affected.
A tick bite is usually painless, and this fact goes unnoticed even after the tick finishes drinking blood and falls off the skin.
The first signs after a tick bite may appear after 2-4 hours. These include:
- headache;
- weakness;
- photophobia;
- drowsiness;
- chills;
- aching joints;
- pain in the muscles.
If there is redness during the bite, this may be a normal allergic reaction. But red spots that reach 10-12 cm in diameter may be a symptom. They can appear either after 2 days or weeks later.
Overly sensitive people may experience signs of a tick bite such as:
- nausea;
- vomiting and stomach upset;
- Strong headache;
- dizziness;
- wheezing breathing;
- hallucinations.
If you are bitten by a tick, measure your body temperature every day for 10 days! Its increase 2-9 days after the bite may indicate that you have become infected with an infectious disease!
Symptoms of a tick bite
Most often, the first symptoms begin to manifest themselves 7-24 days after the bite. There have been cases where a sharp deterioration in the condition was observed after 2 months. Therefore, it is necessary to monitor your health status.
If the tick has not been infected, then the redness and itching quickly disappear without a trace, and no other symptoms appear. If the insect has been infected, then after the tick has bitten such symptoms as general weakness, chills, drowsiness, body aches, joints, photophobia, and numbness of the neck appear.
Please note that the affected area is painless, with only slight round redness.
The severity of symptoms may vary. How tick bites manifest themselves depends on the age, individual characteristics, general condition of the person, and the number of insects attached.
The main symptoms of an encephalitis tick bite in humans:
- Body aches
- Frequent headaches
If you have such symptoms, you can’t put anything off; you should immediately go to the clinic.
| Description of symptoms | |
| Temperature | One of the most common symptoms of a tick bite is an increase in body temperature. This occurs within the first hours after the bite and is an allergic reaction to insect saliva entering the body. An elevated temperature may appear after 7-10 days, when the bitten person forgets to think about the experience. If during this period it is recorded heat, this is a sign of the development of an infectious process. |
| Redness after bites | This symptom is characteristic of Lyme disease. The tick site is redder and resembles a ring. This can happen 3-10 days after the defeat. In some cases, a skin rash occurs. Over time, the redness after the bite changes in size and becomes much larger. Over the next 3-4 weeks, the rash begins to gradually subside and the spot may disappear completely. |
| Rash | The rash that occurs due to a tick bite, also known as erythema migrans (pictured), is a symptom of Lyme disease. It looks like a bright red spot with an elevated central part. It may also be dark red or blue in color, making it look like a bruise on the skin. |
The earlier treatment is started, the better the prognosis. Therefore, it is important to get vaccinated on time, to insure against tick-borne encephalitis, so that injections with immunoglobulin and subsequent therapy are free of charge.
What does a tick bite look like on a person's body?
The tick attaches to the human body using a hypostome. This unpaired outgrowth performs the functions of a sensory organ, attachment and blood sucking. Most probable place tick suction to a person from bottom to top:
- groin area;
- stomach and lower back;
- chest, armpits, neck;
- ear area.
Bites can often manifest themselves in different ways. Let's look at the photo of what a tick bite looks like on a human body:
If, after removing the tick, a small black dot remains at the site of suction, this means that the head has come off and must be removed. To do this, the affected area is treated with alcohol and the wound is cleaned using a disinfected needle. After removing the head, you need to lubricate the wound with alcohol or iodine.
Be sure to save the tick (put it in a plastic bag) so that a laboratory test can be carried out to determine whether it was an encephalitis tick or not. The severity of the consequences for the bitten person or animal and further therapy depend on this.
It is necessary to understand that a small tick bite can lead to serious problems with health. Thus, encephalitis can cause paralysis of the limbs and lead to death.
If you are close to the city, go to the emergency room immediately; specialists will remove the tick without unnecessary risk. But there is a risk of crushing it when you remove it yourself, and if the crushed tick turns out to be infected, a large amount of the virus will enter the body.
The further course depends on how quickly the person reacted to the defeat. If he ignored the symptoms and did not see a doctor, the prognosis is extremely unfavorable. The fact is that tick bites can only manifest themselves after a while.
Consequences for the body
A tick bite can cause a number of diseases in humans. Naturally, if you do not pay attention to this, serious consequences are possible.
Below is a list of possible consequences of tick-borne infections in the form of lesions:
- nervous system - encephalomyelitis, various types of epilepsy, hyperkinesis, headaches, paresis, paralysis;
- joints – arthralgia, arthritis;
- cardiovascular system – arrhythmia, blood pressure surges;
- lungs - a consequence of pulmonary hemorrhages;
- kidney – nephritis, glomerulonephritis;
- liver – digestive disorders.
At severe forms These infections may result in loss of ability to self-care, decreased ability to work (up to group 1 disability), epileptic seizures and the development of dementia.
Diseases that can occur from bites
- Tick-borne encephalitis
- Tick-borne typhus
- Hemorrhagic fever
- Borreliosis. The causative agent of this disease is spirochetes, which are spread in nature, including by ticks. The disease occurs in a chronic form, affecting almost all organs and systems. When treating borreliosis (Lyme disease), antibiotics are mandatory! They are used to suppress pathogens. Lyme borreliosis is caused by a microorganism from the group of spirochetes.
- Tick-borne encephalitis. Infectious viral disease, transmitted through tick bites, characterized by fever and damage to the central nervous system. The consequences of a bite from an encephalitis tick can be very disastrous. In some cases, after suffering from encephalitis, people become disabled.
- Tick-borne typhus. The rash from typhus is initially often called pink, although this first symptom appears only on fair skin. The next stage is the blanching of the rash, and later it turns red and darkens again. In severe cases of typhus, where hemorrhagic elements are visible, bleeding into the skin (petechiae) often develops.
- Hemorrhagic fever. The danger lies in severe and sometimes irreversible damage to vital organs. All people with suspected hemorrhagic fever are subject to hospitalization in the boxed department of the infectious diseases hospital.
Prevention
- It is best to get vaccinated earlier, because after infection the vaccine is prohibited. The vaccine is indicated for those who live in a disadvantaged region and are professionally associated with the forest.
- First of all, when going to tick habitats, you need to dress properly. Clothes should have long sleeves, trousers, and you should also put something on your head, preferably a hood. Thermal underwear can be very convenient, as it fits perfectly to the body and prevents insects from crawling into secluded places.
- When going to an area where ticks are found, be as “armed” as possible, take all the necessary things that you will need in case of a tick bite.
- When moving through the forest, stay in the middle of the paths, avoiding tall grass and bushes.
Good afternoon, our dear readers. The time of spring and summer is coming. Increasingly in Lately We meet or hear such a disease as “tick-borne encephalitis”. People are afraid to go into the forest. Some people say that ticks can be found in city parks, and so on. Why is a tick bite dangerous?
With the arrival of spring, ticks leave their burrows and sit on blades of grass close to the ground, just waiting for someone to plunge their jaws, hungry for fresh blood, into. In order not to become a victim of this bloodsucker, which can carry diseases dangerous to humans, we are properly equipped for a trip to the forest or countryside.
But also, before talking about what to do if you are bitten by a tick, you need to understand why a tick bite is dangerous in general. As they say, you need to know your enemy by sight. This is the only way to avoid panic and not commit the wrong actions.
Ticks are characterized by seasonality. The first cases of attacks are recorded in early spring, when the air temperature rises above 0 0 C, and the last cases - in the fall. Peak bites occur from April to July.
Bloodsuckers do not like bright sun and wind, so they lie in wait for their prey in damp, not too shady places, in thick grass and bushes. Most often found in ravines, on the edges of forests, along the edges of paths or in parks.
The most common diseases transmitted through a tick bite.
| Disease | The causative agent of the disease | Tick vector | What does it look like? |
| Virus from the Flavaviridae family | Ixodid ticks: I. ricinus, I. persicatus |  |
| Spirochete -Borrelia burgdoferi | Ixodid ticks:
|  |
| Virus of the Nairovirus genus, Bunyavirus family | Ticks sort ofHyaloma
|  |
Source: policemed.com
- Tick-borne encephalitis- an infectious viral disease transmitted through tick bites, characterized by fever and damage to the central nervous system, often leading to disability and death.
On average, symptoms of the disease appear 7-14 days (5-25 days) after infection. The onset of the disease is acute; more often the patient can indicate not only the day, but also the hour of onset of the disease.
In most cases, the disease ends in complete recovery. For focal forms large percentage that the person will remain disabled. The period of incapacity for work ranges from 2-3 weeks to 2-3 months, depending on the form of the disease.
Ixodid tick-borne borreliosis (Lyme disease)— This is an infectious disease transmitted through the bites of ixodid ticks, characterized by damage to the nervous system, skin, joints, heart, the disease is prone to chronicity.
If the tick is removed no later than 5 hours after the bite, the development of borelliosis can be avoided. This is explained by the fact that the causative agent of the disease, Borrelia, is located in the intestines of the tick and begins to be released only when the tick actively begins to feed, and this occurs on average 5 hours after penetration into human skin.
The prognosis for life is favorable. When started late and improper treatment the disease becomes chronic and can lead to disability. The period of incapacity for work is from 7 to 30 days, depending on the course and form of the disease.
Crimean hemorrhagic fever- a severe viral infectious disease transmitted through tick bites, characterized by fever, intoxication and bleeding. The disease belongs to a number of dangerous infectious diseases.
Late hospitalization and incorrect diagnosis and treatment often lead to death. The mortality rate is 25%. The period of incapacity for work is from 7 to 30 days, depending on the form of the disease.
How does a tick bite occur?
The tick gnaws through the skin using a hypostome (oral apparatus) dotted with growths along the edges facing backwards. This structure of the organ helps the bloodsucker to remain firmly in the tissues of the host.
With borreliosis, a tick bite looks like focal erythema up to 20–50 cm in diameter. The shape of the inflammation is most often regular, with an outer border of bright red color. After a day, the center of the erythema turns pale and acquires a bluish tint, a crust appears and soon the bite site is scarred. After 10–14 days, no trace remains of the lesion.
Signs of a tick bite.
- there is weakness, a desire to lie down;
- chills and fever occur, possibly an increase in temperature;
- photophobia appears.
Important! In people of this group, symptoms may be supplemented by low blood pressure, increased heart rate, itching, headache and enlargement of nearby lymph nodes.
In rare cases, difficulty breathing and hallucinations may occur.
Temperature after a bite as a symptom of the disease.
Each infection caused by a bloodsucker bite has its own characteristics:
- With tick-borne encephalitis, relapsing fever appears. The first rise in temperature is recorded 2–3 days after the bite. After two days everything returns to normal. In some cases, a repeated increase in temperature is observed on days 9–10.
- Borreliosis is characterized by fever in the middle of the disease, which is accompanied by other symptoms of infection.
- With monocytic ehrlichiosis, the temperature rises 10-14 days after the tick bite and lasts about 3 weeks.
Almost all diseases transmitted by bloodsuckers are accompanied by fever.
Rules of conduct when bitten by a tick.
So, what to do if you are bitten by a tick? First of all, don’t panic, do everything according to the instructions. It is necessary to remove the bloodsucker as soon as possible. This should be done slowly and carefully so as not to damage it or cause infection.
Do not use gasoline, nail polish, or other chemical substances. It won't help either vegetable oil or fat. It is better to use effective and practice-tested methods.
STEP 1— Remove the tick as soon as you find it.
Remove the embedded tick as quickly as possible. If a tick is infected, the likelihood of contracting tick-borne encephalitis depends on the amount of virus that penetrates during the “bite” of the tick, that is, on the time during which the tick was in the attached state.
You should try to remove the tick alive, along with the head, because the tick has salivary glands in its head, which contain viruses, bacteria and other microorganisms.
What to do first if bitten by a tick:
- treat the bite site with an alcohol-containing solution,
- if you have rubber gloves, put them on,
- pull out the tick using one of the following tools:
Method 1 Tick twister:
place the slit (loop) of the device under the tick along its narrow part as close to the skin as possible, then rotate the tick around its axis (like a screw) - when rotating, the proboscis spines twist and after 2-3 turns the tick is removed entirely.
A homemade pliers twister can be made from a bread bag clamp (make a cut at the end and bend it) or cut from packaging material eg from tablet packaging.
Method 2 Using thread:
Tie a strong (synthetic) thread around the head of the tick in the form of a loop in a knot as close to the tick's proboscis as close to the skin as possible, make several turns so as not to tear the tick in half with the thread.
By stretching the ends of the thread to the sides using rocking and twisting movements, carefully remove the tick, pulling it slightly. Do not make sudden movements, pull slowly, without jerking and stopping.
Or, after tying the thread, twist both ends of the thread together, holding the twisted thread at an angle of 45 degrees to the bite site, begin to make rotational movements around the tick, slightly pulling the thread toward you:
Method 3 With tweezers:
Grab the tick with tweezers near the proboscis, close to the skin without squeezing the abdomen, and rotate the tick around its axis.
When using tweezers, you must act very carefully, as there is a high risk of squeezing (crushing) the body of the tick and introducing infection into the wound, which will increase the risk of infection.
Method 4 With fingers:
If you don't have any of the above on hand, try removing the tick with your fingers. Wear gloves, finger pads, or wrap your fingers in a bandage.
Wipe the skin with alcohol.
Rotate the tick around its axis alternately in one direction and the other.
After removing the tick, treat the wound with any antiseptic (iodine, brilliant green, betadine, alcohol, chlorhexidine, hydrogen peroxide, cologne, etc.) and wash your hands thoroughly. The wound must be treated with an antiseptic every day; it is not necessary to fix it with a bandage. The wound usually heals within a week.
If the head of the tick comes off during removal - if the head is present, a black dot will be visible - it must be removed. The remaining part in the skin can cause inflammation and suppuration. When the head of the tick is torn off, the infection process can continue, since a significant concentration of tick-borne encephalitis virus may be present in the salivary glands and ducts.
To remove the severed head, it is better to contact the nearest medical facility.
If this is not possible, the remains of the tick can be picked out from the wound with a sterile needle (previously calcined in a fire). After removing it, wash the bite site with soap and water, dry and disinfect with alcohol, brilliant green, iodine or another alcohol-containing solution.
If there is no sterile needle and antiseptics, leave it as is - after suppuration, the head (proboscis) of the tick will be squeezed out along with the pus.
Wear rubber gloves or finger pads. Do not come into contact with the tick.
If you can't remove the tick yourself,
he is in hard to reach place or you are afraid of damaging it, contact the nearest medical institution at your location (emergency room, surgical department of a clinic, infectious diseases hospital, first aid station, medical outpatient clinic).
To find out where the nearest medical facility is located, please call:
- from a landline phone number 03
- c mobile phone by number 112
You must have your passport and compulsory medical insurance policy.
According to the compulsory medical insurance policy, any medical institution is required (in accordance with SP 3.1.3310-15):
- remove tick;
- deliver the tick for examination for the presence of dangerous infectious diseases characteristic of the territory where it was collected;
- conduct emergency prevention;
- If a tick is infected, inform the victim about the need to take emergency preventive measures within 72 hours after biting under the supervision of an infectious disease specialist, or, in his absence, a general practitioner.
After removal, the tick must be saved for analysis.
Place the removed tick in clean dishes(test tube, vial, jar, etc.), into which first place absorbent paper slightly moistened with water (filter paper, paper napkin, etc.) - it is important that the insect’s body is in a humid environment.
Storage and delivery of ticks in compliance with these conditions is possible only within 2 days(according to some laboratories – up to 5 days). The sooner you deliver the tick, the more accurate the analysis will be.
For testing for encephalitis and borelliosis, you can bring a living or a dead tick, or part of a tick, but it is advisable to keep the tick whole and alive, because not all laboratories have equipment for analysis of the dead tick or its parts.
What not to do:
- Do not pick up or crush a tick with your bare hands - the infection can enter the bloodstream through microcracks in the skin.
- Do not remove the tick with your teeth; in this case, infection with infectious agents through the mouth cannot be ruled out.
- Do not pick out ticks with sharp objects.
- The tick should not be squeezed, pulled by the abdomen, or pulled out sharply.
- The tick does not need to be filled or smeared with anything.
- The tick does not need to be cauterized.
- Do not scratch the bite area.
If an unattached tick is found, it is removed and destroyed (thrown into the fire, into a jar with hot water(> 60 degrees Celsius) or oily liquid).
STEP 2.1— Do a tick test within 2 days from the moment of the bite.
Within 2 days (48 hours), take the preserved tick for laboratory testing to determine the presence of tick-borne infections.
Some laboratories accept ticks up to 5 days from the date of the bite, but the most informative study of the tick is on the 1st day (24 hours) from the moment of removal.
For testing for encephalitis and borelliosis, you can bring a living or a dead tick or part of a tick, but it is advisable to keep the tick whole and alive. Some laboratories only take whole ticks for analysis.
Tick analysis is carried out by government and non-government institutions.
The address of government institutions (Centers for Hygiene and Epidemiology, infectious diseases hospitals, laboratories) where analysis can be carried out can be found:
- from a landline phone number 03;
- from a mobile phone by number 112;
- in the Internet.
Attention! The laboratory does not provide the service of removing ticks from the skin, but only diagnoses the extracted ticks. Ticks are removed only in medical institutions (emergency room, hospital, clinic, first aid station, outpatient clinic).
Analysis time: 2 days(1st day – delivery, 2nd day – receipt of test results, sometimes on the same day if you brought the tick in the morning). It's better to order comprehensive analysis tick for infection (necessarily for tick-borne encephalitis and tick-borne borreliosis, preferably for other infections).
If laboratory tests do not reveal tick infections, monitor your health for 30 days. If you feel fine, you don’t need to do anything else.
Just because a tick has an infection does not mean you will get sick.
A tick analysis will relieve anxiety in the event of a negative result and allow you to act consciously and rationally in the event of a positive result.
STEP 3.1— The tick is infected: no later than 4 days from the moment of the bite, seek medical help.
If the tick is infected, seek medical help no later than 4 days (96 hours) from the moment of the bite. You can go to the clinic at your place of residence or to a paid clinic to see a general practitioner or infectious disease specialist. The doctor will prescribe treatment appropriate to the pathogen.
The most severe infections caused by a tick bite, which are very severe, have a chronic course and a long rehabilitation period (up to 1 year) and can lead to disability and death:
borreliosis or Lyme disease (bacterial infection),
tick-borne encephalitis (viral infection),
Treatment usually consists of a course of antibiotics and immunomodulators. It is better to start taking them on the first day after a tick bite. Treatment must be prescribed by a doctor.
If a tick is infected with the tick-borne encephalitis virus and no more than 4 days (96 hours) have passed since the bite, as an emergency prophylaxis, the doctor may prescribe seroprophylaxis - a single intramuscular injection of human immunoglobulin against tick-borne encephalitis (this component serum proteins) in a dose of 1 ml = 1 ampoule per 10 kg of body weight.
Immunoglobulin is administered to persons not vaccinated against tick-borne viral encephalitis; those who have received an incomplete course of vaccinations; having defects in the vaccine course; those who do not have documentary evidence of preventive vaccinations, as well as vaccinated persons in case of multiple tick bites.
The effectiveness of immunoglobulin administration is greatly influenced by the speed of seeking medical help after a tick bite, especially for children.
After the administration of immunoglobulin, antiviral drugs of the interferon group and vitamin C are also prescribed to stimulate the immune system.
In cases:
impossibility of administering immunoglobulin,
if it is not possible to conduct a laboratory test of the tick or blood,
if you consulted a doctor when more than 3-4 days have passed since the tick was bitten,
you don’t have money for immunoglobulin,
the doctor may prescribe emergency prevention of tick-borne encephalitis with the antiviral drug yodantipirin.
Yodantipyrine tablets are taken orally after meals:
- 300 mg (3 tablets) – 3 times a day for the first 2 days;
- 200 mg (2 tablets) – 3 times a day for the next 2 days;
- 100 mg (1 tablet) – 3 times a day for the next 5 days.
A total of 45 tablets for 9 days.
It is not recommended to use immunoglobulin and iodantipyrine together.
Yodantipyrine can also be used as an additional measure if you have been vaccinated against tick-borne encephalitis.
Some doctors do not trust Yodantipirin as a drug for the treatment of tick-borne infections.
During the incubation period of tick-borne encephalitis, provide a balanced diet, try to avoid any stressful situations for the body (overheating, hypothermia, heavy physical activity, etc.).
Contraindications to immunoglobulin and iodantipyrine include pregnancy.
Yodantipyrine is contraindicated in persons with increased function thyroid gland and hypersensitivity to iodine.
Neither immunoglobulin nor iodantipyrine protects against other tick-borne diseases.
Repeated use of immunoglobulin is possible no earlier than 1 month after administration.
Some experts recommend that in regions where there is a high risk of infection with borreliosis, within the first 3 days after the bite (the sooner the better!), start preventing borreliosis with antibiotics, without even waiting for the results of the tick analysis.
IMPORTANT! The decision on the need to administer anti-tick immunoglobulin and prescribe antibiotics and other medications is made by the doctor!
STEP 2.2— If you have not had a tick tested or you suspect an infection, take a blood test.
If after a tick bite:
you did not submit the tick for analysis;
or the results of the analysis revealed that the tick is a carrier of tick-borne encephalitis, borreliosis;
or any symptoms appear (fever, headache, weakness, malaise, etc.)
take a blood test for tick-borne encephalitis and tick-borne borreliosis and other tick-borne infections, even if you feel well. Borreliosis (Lyme disease) can also be asymptomatic.
Blood is donated on an empty stomach (at least 4 hours must pass after eating), do not smoke for 30 minutes before donating blood.
You must have a passport, a compulsory medical insurance policy (or voluntary health insurance, if you have one), and tick bite insurance (if you have one).
Deadlines for donating blood for analysis:
Blood for tick-borne infections is tested 10-20 days after the bite:
after 10 days - for borreliosis and encephalitis using the PCR method (the PCR method can determine the presence of tick-borne encephalitis, tick-borne borreliosis, granulocytic anaplasmosis, monocytic ehrlichiosis);
after 2 weeks (14 days) – for IgM antibodies against tick-borne encephalitis virus,
after 3-4 weeks (21-30 days) - for IgM antibodies against the causative agent of borreliosis.
Before taking tests, consult with your doctor or laboratory doctor about when and what tests you need to take.
If the test results are positive, this means that the tick has given you an infection.
You can donate blood for testing free of charge at your local clinic. To do this, you need to contact a therapist or infectious disease specialist.
Or in paid laboratories.
The turnaround time for tests is about 1 week.
If a blood test does not confirm infection, there is no danger, but you need to monitor your well-being.
If a blood test confirms infection, it is necessary to seek treatment from a general practitioner or infectious disease specialist for diagnosis, hospitalization, treatment and medical observation.
After the course of treatment, another blood test is performed; if the result is positive, treatment is continued, and if the result is negative, it is advisable to repeat the blood test after 3-6 months to exclude relapses.
STEP 3.2— If you haven’t given a tick or blood test: see a doctor for 1 month and monitor your well-being.
If for some reason you did not submit a tick or blood test, you must be observed by an infectious disease specialist within 1 month from the moment of the bite.
Also monitor how you feel: whether symptoms of tick-borne encephalitis, borreliosis or other infections appear.
Symptoms of tick-borne encephalitis and tick-borne borreliosis usually appear within the 2nd week after the bite. Symptoms may occur earlier or later – 1 month after infection
General symptoms: chills, fever up to 38-40, headache and body aches.
Main hallmark borreliosis (Lyme disease) – migrating annular erythema. This is a bright red spot at the site of the bite, which gradually enlarges, forming rings. With borreliosis, erytherma may not form, but may occur with symptoms similar to tick-borne encephalitis.
Borreliosis is very well treated in the early stages, but in advanced cases it becomes difficult to treat.
If your health condition worsens, immediately contact a medical facility for examination and possible subsequent treatment.
Prevention of tick bites.
The main and main measure to prevent diseases transmitted by bloodsuckers is vaccination. The event significantly reduces the risk of infection after tick bites. Vaccination is necessary for people living in epidemiologically dangerous areas or people whose work is related to forestry.
Advice. Despite the limited risk group, it is better for everyone to get vaccinated. After all, it is not known where you will be “lucky” to encounter a tick.
Primary vaccination is allowed from an early age. Adults can use domestic and imported drugs, children - only imported ones. You should not buy the vaccine yourself and bring it to the vaccination office. They won't drive her anyway.
The drug requires very strict storage rules, compliance with certain temperature and light mode, which is impossible to do at home. Therefore, there is no point in purchasing an expensive drug and storing it in the refrigerator.
There are two vaccination options:
- Preventive vaccination. Helps protect against tick bites for a year, and after additional vaccination - for at least 3 years. Revaccinations are carried out every three years.
- Emergency vaccination. Allows you to protect yourself from tick bites for a short period of time. For example, such a procedure will be necessary for an urgent trip to regions with high tick-borne activity. While staying in epidemiologically dangerous areas, it is recommended to take iodantipyrine.
The vaccine is administered only after a detailed interview, visual inspection and temperature measurement. Persons with inflammatory diseases are not vaccinated until complete recovery.
How to protect yourself from a tick bite?
When going to an unfavorable area, you should choose clothes in light colors:
- a shirt or jacket with cuffs and a tight-fitting collar, trousers tucked into boots;
- anti-encephalitis suit;
- a thick hood with ties that protects the ears and neck from ticks;
- It is advisable to treat clothes with insecticidal agents.
Special products are produced to repel ticks. insecticides DEET-based, however, repellents are not effective enough and require application every 2 hours. They can be processed open areas bodies and clothes.
Acaricides are more effective. The drugs are used for contact destruction of ticks. They can only be processed outerwear worn over underwear.
Attention! Acaricides for application to the skin are often found on sale. However, they should be used very carefully. A severe allergic reaction and poisoning is possible.
Insurance against tick-borne encephalitis.
Recently, insurance for expenses associated with possible encephalitis after an “encounter” with a tick has become widespread. This measure is often used as an addition to vaccination or as an independent measure.
Insurance will help pay for expensive treatment for tick-borne encephalitis and other infections carried by bloodsuckers.
Attention! The article is for reference only. Competent diagnosis and treatment of diseases is possible only under the supervision of a specialist.
That's all for us, we hope that this article will help you, be careful and careful. Join us on Odnoklassniki, and read us on our channel in Yandex.Zen. Bye bye everyone.
Based on materials from: beetlestop.ru, helpcase.ru.
Tick bite - detailed instructions on what to do. updated: April 4, 2018 by: Subbotin Pavel