What does a tick look like that has stuck. Tick ​​bite: signs, symptoms, treatment and consequences, photo

From mid-spring begins the season of activity of ticks. These insects have an active period not once a year, but two. Spring begins when the air temperature reaches approximately +10 °C, and the second period of activity begins around the end of August and lasts until mid-October. The most common places for ticks to stick to a person are the area of ​​​​the ears, chest, armpits, neck, groin, abdomen and lower back.

What are the signs of a tick bite?

The bite site, depending on the person's age, state of health, type of tick, duration of its stay on the body, etc., may have different signs. Severe bite manifestations can occur in the elderly, children, and those with allergies and immunodeficiencies. In other cases, a tick bite can be painless, many often do not notice it even after the tick has fallen off the skin.

If the saliva of the tick contained pathogens of dangerous diseases, for example, borreliosis, then erythema (a growing spot) may occur during a bite, its size can reach from 10 to 60 cm. The spot may have a bright scarlet color, regular round or ellipsoidal shape. In Lyme disease, the skin may develop a rash and 10-12 cm dark red or blue bruise-like spots. Spots can appear two days after the bite, or weeks later. Spots occur more often at or near the bite site.

What are the symptoms of a tick bite?

The first symptoms after a tick bite in humans may appear two to three weeks after infection. Therefore, after walking in the forest, you need to carefully examine the skin. If a tick is found, it must be removed as soon as possible. The most common method of removing a tick is to grab its body or head with tweezers. When removing an insect in this way, it is necessary to wear gloves, since the infection can be transmitted through microcracks in the skin.

You should consult a doctor if you experience the following symptoms:

• headache, fever or chills;
• red rash on the skin;
• muscle weakness;
• dyspnea;
• swelling;
• numbness;
• tiredness or difficulty walking;
• lack of appetite;
• paralysis.

General information about ticks

Ticks are seasonal. The first cases of attacks are recorded in early spring, when the air temperature rises above 0 0 C, and the last - in autumn. The peak of bites is observed from April to July.

Bloodsuckers do not like the bright sun and wind, so they lie in wait for their prey in damp, not too shady places, in dense grass and bushes. Most often found in ravines, on the edges of forests, along the edges of paths or in parks.

Tick ​​attack and bite

The tick gnaws through the skin with the help of a hypostome (oral apparatus) dotted along the edges with outgrowths facing backwards. This structure of the organ helps the bloodsucker to be firmly held in the tissues of the host.

With borreliosis, a tick bite looks like focal erythema up to 20–50 cm in diameter. The form of inflammation is most often correct, with an outer border of bright red color. After a day, the center of erythema turns pale and acquires a bluish tint, a crust appears and soon the bite site is scarred. After 10-14 days, there is no trace of the lesion.

Signs of a tick bite

• there is weakness, a desire to lie down;
• chills and fever occur, possibly fever;
• photophobia appears.

Attention. 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, there is difficulty breathing and hallucinations.

Temperature after a bite as a symptom of the disease

Each infection caused by the bite of a bloodsucker has its own characteristics:

1. With tick-borne encephalitis, a relapsing-type fever appears. The first rise in temperature is recorded 2-3 days after the bite. After two days everything is back to normal. In some cases, there is a repeated increase in temperature for 9-10 days.
2. Borreliosis is characterized by a fever in the middle of the disease, which is accompanied by other symptoms of infection.
3. 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 for a tick bite

So, what to do if bitten by a tick? First of all, it is necessary to remove the bloodsucker as soon as possible. This should be done slowly and carefully so as not to damage it and not provoke infection. In this case, do not use gasoline, nail polish and other chemicals. Vegetable oil or fat will not help either. It is better to use effective and proven methods.

Removing a tick with a thread

The method is simple, but requires a lot of dexterity and patience. It will be useful when extracting large individuals. For the procedure to be successful, it is recommended to perform the following steps:

Removing a tick with a thread

The removed bloodsucker must be placed in a glass container with a tight lid and delivered to the laboratory for research.

Removing a tick with tweezers

Attention. The tweezers during the removal of the bloodsucker must be kept strictly parallel or perpendicular to the skin.

Tick ​​twisters

Tick ​​twisters are very effective

Other ways to remove a tick

1. Wrap your fingers in a handkerchief or gauze to make it easier to hold the tick.
2. Grab it at the very border with the skin and pull it out with smooth twisting movements.
3. Disinfect the wound or rinse with water.

If for some reason the tick cannot be saved for analysis, it should be destroyed by pouring boiling water or burning it on fire.

Attention. If you can not remove the bloodsucker yourself, you must contact the nearest emergency room.

Medical workers will provide first aid in case of a tick bite: they will professionally remove it and send it for research, disinfect the wound and tell you how to behave further. The doctor will definitely inform you what symptoms you should pay attention to in the next month.

What to do after removing a tick?

In people who are prone to allergies, a tick bite can cause a strong body response. Often swelling of the face develops, difficulty breathing and muscle pain appear. In this case it is necessary:

• give the victim an antihistamine: Suprastin, Claritin, Zirtek;
• provide access to fresh air, unfasten clothes;
• call an ambulance.

All other diagnostic and therapeutic measures are carried out only in a hospital setting.

Researching ticks for diseases is recommended as soon as possible.

If the tick could not be kept alive, it is recommended to donate blood for the detection of immunoglobulins to infections for early diagnosis of the disease. The analysis is carried out quickly, the result is usually ready in 5-6 hours. If there was a vaccination, when donating blood, you must indicate its date. The presence of vaccine antibodies can be confusing for healthcare professionals.

Diseases caused by tick bites

Encephalitis and borreliosis are the most common diseases caused by tick bites.

For Russia, the most significant diseases from a tick bite are tick-borne encephalitis, Lyme borreliosis and zoonotic infections. Let's consider them in a little more detail.

Attention. The virus is transmitted through the bite of a tick. Often, the transmission of the pathogen is recorded by the alimentary route - through infected cow or goat milk that has not been boiled.

The asymptomatic course of the disease is very common and can reach 85–90% in some foci. Prolonged bloodsucking significantly increases the risk of pronounced forms of pathology. The virus tolerates low temperatures well, but dies fairly quickly when heated to 80 °C.

Infection with tick-borne encephalitis is seasonal. The first peak of the disease occurs in May-June, the second is recorded in August - early September.

During a bite, the pathogen immediately enters the human blood through the salivary glands of the tick, where it is in the highest concentration. After a few hours, the virus enters the central nervous system of the victim, and after 2 days it can be detected in the brain tissues. The incubation period of encephalitis with a tick bite is 14-21 days, with infection through milk - no more than a week.

Symptoms of tick-borne encephalitis

Most victims have an asymptomatic form of infection, and only 5% have a pronounced form. Tick-borne encephalitis most often begins suddenly with the following symptoms:

• elevated to 39-40 ° C body temperature;
• Strong headache;
• sleep disturbance;
• nausea leading to vomiting;
• diarrhea;
• redness of the skin of the face and upper body;
• weakness, decreased performance.

Such symptoms are characteristic of a febrile form of the disease, which disappears after 5 days. There is no CNS involvement in this case.

Symptoms of tick-borne encephalitis - this is how a person who becomes ill after a tick bite looks like

Meningeal and meningoencephalitic forms of pathology are much more severe. The patient complains of lethargy, apathy and drowsiness. There are hallucinations, delirium, impaired consciousness, convulsions like epileptic seizures. The meningoencephalitic form can be fatal, which is a rarity in recent years.

Periodic muscle twitching indicates damage to the peripheral nerves. A polyradiculoneuritic form of encephalitis develops, in which the general sensitivity is impaired. In the polioencephalomyelitis form of the disease, paresis of the arms and legs is observed.

Lyme disease (Lyme borreliosis)

Distributed in the northern regions of Russia. The causative agent enters the human blood when bitten by ixodid ticks and can persist in the body for years. The first symptoms of the disease include:

• headache;
• temperature rise to 38-39 ° C;
• fatigue, weakness and apathy.

1–3 weeks after a tick bite, a seal and annular erythema appear at the suction site, which can reach 20–50 cm in diameter.

Circular erythema - the main symptom of borreliosis

Attention. Despite the fact that a few weeks after the bite, the red spot disappears without a trace, it is necessary to conduct an analysis for the presence of the causative agent of Lyme borreliosis, since the disease has serious complications and can be transmitted from pregnant to child.

Often, the CNS, heart, muscles and ligaments, joints and organs of vision are involved in the pathological process. Late diagnosis and untimely therapy can lead to chronic borreliosis, which often ends in disability.

erlichiosis

The disease is also carried by ixodid ticks. Deer are considered the main reservoir of erlichias, dogs and horses act as an intermediate reservoir.

Ehrlichiosis can be asymptomatic or clinically pronounced, even fatal. Common signs of the disease include:

• fever
• increased sweating;
• weakness, drowsiness;
• nausea up to vomiting;
• rigor.

In the acute phase of ehrlichiosis, anemia, a decrease in the level of platelets and leukocytes in the blood, is observed.

relapsing tick fever

The infection is usually registered in the south of Russia, in Armenia, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Georgia and Kyrgyzstan. The disease always occurs suddenly and begins with a bubble at the site of a tick bite. Then other symptoms are added to the skin manifestations:

• fever;
• increased body temperature;
• aches in the joints;
• nausea and vomiting;
• headache.

Gradually, the bubble becomes bright red, a pronounced rash appears on the patient's body, the liver enlarges, the skin and whites of the eyes turn yellow.

Rash with tick-borne typhus

The disease is undulating. The acute phase usually lasts from 3 to 5 days, then the victim's condition returns to normal, the temperature drops. A few days later, everything repeats again. There can be many such episodes. Each subsequent proceeds with less severity.

Coxiellosis

It is one of the most common zoonotic infections in the world. The carrier of the disease can be both farm animals and wild ones. One of the distributors of the pathogen is a tick, most often ixodid. He is able to keep rickettsia in the body for a long time and pass them on to offspring. The first symptoms appear 5-30 days after the tick bite:

• increased sweating;
• elevated temperature;
• dry, exhausting cough;
• loss of appetite;
• redness of the face and upper body;
• migraines, weakness and drowsiness.

Often, Q fever is accompanied by pneumonia, back pain, and muscle pain. The temperature in the first days of the disease can change several times during the day. Such a disease is treated only in a hospital, therapy lends itself well and recovery occurs quickly. Complications are rare, the outcome of the disease is most often favorable. A person who has been ill with coxiellosis develops strong immunity.

Treatment of victims of a tick bite

If a tick has bitten and, according to the results of the tests, an infection is detected, the patient is given immunotherapy based on the doctor's prescriptions. Further treatment depends on the type of pathogen that has entered the body.

Therapy of patients with tick-borne encephalitis

There are currently no specific treatments for tick-borne encephalitis. If signs of damage to the central nervous system appear, the victim must be hospitalized for medical care. The treatment regimen includes:

1. Bed rest during the whole fever and a week after it ends.
2. In the first days of the disease, the introduction of immunoglobulin is indicated. To achieve the best result, it is necessary to apply the remedy as soon as possible, preferably in the first three days after a tick bite.
3. In general cases, the patient is prescribed corticosteroid drugs, blood substitutes.
4. With meningitis, increased doses of vitamins B and C are administered.
5. In case of deterioration of respiratory functions, the victim is shown artificial ventilation of the lungs.

During the recovery period, the patient is prescribed nootropics, tranquilizers and testosterone simulators.

As an addition to the main treatment, antibiotics may be prescribed for the victim of a bite. Antimicrobials are used to suppress pathogenic microflora that can cause various complications.

Therapy of patients with borreliosis

Treatment for Lyme borreliosis involves taking antibiotics. They are used to suppress spirochetes - the causative agents of the disease. The most commonly used drugs are penicillins and cephalosporins. To stop erythema, antimicrobial agents of the tetracycline group are prescribed.

Antibiotics are used to treat borreliosis

With the appearance of neurological disorders, the victim is hospitalized. In the hospital, complex therapy is carried out, including:

• blood substitutes;
• corticosteroids;
• testosterone mimics;
• nootropics to improve cerebral circulation;
• vitamin complexes.

The outcome of borreliosis depends on the timely detection of a tick bite, the correct diagnosis and early initiation of therapy. Illiterate treatment often leads to the chronic phase of Lyme disease, which is stopped with great difficulty and can result in disability or death of the victim.

Attention. For the treatment of infections of a protozoal nature, drugs are used that exclude further growth and development of protozoa.

Complications after a tick bite

Summarizing all of the above, we can draw a very disappointing conclusion about the consequences of a tick bite. As you can see, infections affect the most important systems of the body:

• lungs - with the development of symptoms of pneumonia and pulmonary bleeding;
• liver - there is a violation of digestion, problems with stools (diarrhea);
• CNS - with frequent headaches, hallucinations, paresis and paralysis;
• cardiovascular system - arrhythmia appears, blood pressure jumps;
• joints - arthritis and arthralgia are formed.

The consequences of a tick bite can develop in two ways. With a favorable outcome, loss of working capacity, weakness and lethargy continue for 2–3 months, then all body functions return to normal.

With an illness of moderate severity, recovery lasts up to six months or longer. A serious form of the disease requires a rehabilitation period of up to 2-3 years, provided that the disease proceeded without paralysis and paresis.

With an unfavorable outcome, there is a persistent and prolonged (or permanent) decrease in the quality of life of the victim of a tick bite. Manifested by impaired motor function. The clinical picture worsens significantly under the influence of nervous and physical overwork, pregnancy, regular alcohol intake.

Persistent disorders in the form of epileptic manifestations and spontaneous convulsions lead to the incapacity of the patient.

Disability as a result of a tick bite

As you know, there are 3 groups of disability. The degree of damage to the body after a tick bite is determined by a special medical commission:

1. Disability group III - mild paresis of the arms and legs, rare epileptic seizures, the inability to perform highly qualified work that requires accuracy and attention.
2. Disability of the II group - bright paresis of the limbs, partial paresis of the muscles, severe epilepsy with a change in the psyche, asthenic syndrome, loss of the ability to self-service.
3. Disability group I - acquired dementia, severe impairment of motor function, persistent and complete epilepsy, widespread muscle paresis, loss of self-control and inability to move independently.

In especially severe cases, with inadequate treatment of infections caused by a tick bite or the complete absence of therapy, a fatal outcome is possible.

Prevention of tick bites

The main and main measure for the prevention of 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.

Vaccination is the main measure to prevent diseases caused by tick bites.

Advice. Despite the limited risk group, it is better for everyone to be vaccinated. After all, it is not known where you are “lucky” to meet 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. Still won't drive it. The drug requires very strict storage rules, compliance with a certain temperature and light regime, which is impossible to do at home. Therefore, it makes no sense to purchase an expensive drug and store it in the refrigerator.

There are two vaccination options:

1. Preventive vaccination. Helps protect against a tick bite for a year, and after additional vaccination - at least 3 years. Revaccinations are carried out every three years.
2. Emergency vaccination. Allows you to protect yourself from tick bites for a short time. For example, such a procedure will be necessary for an urgent trip to regions with high tick activity. While in epidemiologically dangerous areas, it is recommended to take jodantipyrin.

The introduction of the vaccine is carried out only after a detailed survey, visual inspection and temperature measurement. Persons with inflammatory diseases are not vaccinated until complete recovery.

How to protect yourself from a tick bite?

Going to an unfavorable zone, you should choose clothes of light colors:

• a shirt or jacket with cuffs and a tight collar, trousers tucked into boots;
• anti-encephalitis suit;
• a tight hood with drawstrings that protects the ears and neck from ticks;
• clothing should preferably be treated with insecticidal agents.

The best way not to "meet" a tick is to strictly follow all preventive measures.

To repel ticks, special insecticidal products based on DEET are produced, however, repellents are not effective enough and require application every 2 hours. You can treat them with open areas of the body and clothes.

More effective acaricides. Preparations are used for contact destruction of ticks. They can only be processed with outerwear worn over underwear.

Attention. Often on sale there are acaricides for application to the skin. However, they should be used very carefully. Possible severe allergic reaction and poisoning.

Tick-borne encephalitis insurance

Recently, insurance of expenses associated with a possible disease with encephalitis after a “meeting” with a tick has become widespread. Such a measure is often used as an addition to vaccination or as an independent measure.

Insurance for the costs associated with the treatment of a tick bite will not hurt anyone

Insurance will help pay for the expensive treatment of 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.

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 area, parks and other areas where there is grass and shady shelters. You can even get a tick bite in your country house or in the adjacent territory of your 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, which the tick inflicts with its mouth apparatus, a slight inflammation and a local allergic reaction occur on the skin. 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, pain in the muscles and eyes 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 is affected. 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 a high temperature appears 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 in 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 muscle aches, headache, weakness, fatigue, sore throat, runny nose, stiffness of the 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.

Everyone knows that ticks are encephalitic, but not everyone understands what this means. And the fact that they also carry other diseases is not known at all. We tell you the symptoms of which diseases can appear after a tick bite.

This article is intended for persons over 18 years of age.

Are you over 18 already?

Every year, as soon as the spring sun comes out, we gather a large company and go to nature to enjoy delicious shish kebab. And then the insects wake up, which are impatiently waiting for us there. We are used to mosquito bites, all the more it is enough to take a mosquito spray with you, but tick bites can lead to serious consequences.

The tick season usually begins in early April, but in recent years, the first bites have been reported by victims as early as March. It lasts until September-October, so even in summer we must not forget about these little pests. Why are ticks so dangerous, what diseases do they carry? Read on for more information about the symptoms that a person may experience after being bitten by a tick.

Tick ​​bite: symptoms in humans

V Europe experts know 15 diseases, and 7 of they are dangerous to people. These are Lyme disease (borreliosis), tick-borne encephalitis, ehrlichiosis, tick-borne relapsing fever, tularemia, babesiosis, spotted fever. The first 4 are the most common. These diseases appear after a tick bite, but the main danger in that some of they are asymptomatic.

Doctors never tire of reminding you that after a tick bite, you should immediately go to the hospital and take the tick for examination. Most people neglect this rule - they remove the tick and immediately forget about it. You can’t do this, and so that you are not among them, we will tell you what diseases these insects carry and what are the first symptoms of infection.

Borreliosis

In 1975, in the city of Lyme (Connecticut), many cases of rheumatoid arthritis in children and adults after contact with a tick were recorded. After the research, scientists were able to establish the cause of the disease - bacteria of the genus Borrelia.

The first signs of borreliosis appear later 7-14 days after a tick bite.Main symptoms:

• fever, chills;
• enlarged lymph nodes;
• nausea and vomiting;
• at the site of the bite - a bluish-red ring, its diameter gradually increases.

Bacteria affect literally all systems - nervous, circulatory, digestive, musculoskeletal. The disease penetrates all organs and tissues, and if at first the symptoms resemble ordinary poisoning, then by the 4th week they will develop into impaired speech and memory, facial paralysis, arrhythmia and dizziness.

Note that there is no vaccine for the prevention of borreliosis. The best prevention is to protect yourself from being bitten.

erlichiosis

Bacteria of the genus Ehrlichia enter the human blood with tick saliva. The first signs appear after 7-20 days after the bite.The disease manifests itself in the following symptoms:

• increase in body temperature;
• pain in muscles and joints;
• general weakness;
• at the site of the bite - a watery vesicle (vesicle), which later turns into an ulcer and becomes covered with a crust.

Ehrlichiosis may be asymptomatic, especially in adults.

babesiosis

The Babesiidae bacteria that cause this disease infect red blood cells. Symptoms:

• dark color of urine;
• constipation and diarrhea (alternating);
• elevated temperature;
• general weakness;
• yellowness of the mucous membranes.

The disease can be asymptomatic, in which case it can be detected only after a blood test. It is also known how long after contact with a tick signs may appear: 7-15 days.

tick-borne relapsing fever

A very serious disease, the symptoms of which appear almost instantly:

• high temperature, up to 40C;
• headache and muscle pain;
• disorders of the nervous system.

Pay attention to how the bite looks: it turns into a small papule, and later a rash appears all over the body.

spotted fever

This disease manifests itself quite quickly - after 1-2 days after being bitten by an infected tick. Of the symptoms:

• elevated temperature;
• nosebleeds;
• nausea and vomiting;
• disturbances, temporary loss of consciousness.

After a few more days, hemorrhages can be seen on the mucous membrane, rashes appear on the skin, replaced by reddish nodules.

Tularemia

This is another dangerous disease that is transmitted through the bite of a tick. Of the first symptoms that can be found at home:

• swollen lymph nodes;
• lethargy and weakness;
• intoxication.

Treatment of the above diseases should begin immediately. Diseases can develop into a chronic form and even lead to death or disability. Moreover, after one bite, you can pick up several diseases from a tick at once!

After returning from the street, be sure to inspect the entire body for bites. Most often, a tick can be found on the head or on the leg - it is these areas of the skin that remain less protected.

As you can see, we talked about all the diseases, but we kept silent about one. Tick-borne encephalitis is a very serious disease and, unfortunately, the most common, so we will talk about it in more detail.

Symptoms of an encephalitic tick bite in humans

To begin with, we note that the word "encephalitic" does not refer to a tick belonging to a particular species: it means that it is infected with the encephalitis virus. What is this disease?

Viral encephalitis is an acute inflammation of the brain, accompanied by damage to the spinal cord, peripheral nerves. If treatment is not started in time, the disease begins to progress: a person’s speech and memory fail, intellectual abilities decrease, personality degradation / change occurs, paralysis and death are possible.

By appearance, it is impossible to determine whether an insect is infected or not, which is why doctors ask you to bring ticks that you have suffered from for analysis in order to eliminate the risks of the disease.

Remember: after a tick bite, you need to urgently see a doctor. There are risks of contracting encephalitis if you do not feel well in the first few days, namely:

• you have elevated body temperature up to 39-40 C, chills;
• the bite site is reddened and very painful;
• you find it difficult to look at the light;
• a rash appeared on the body;
• have nausea and vomiting;
• you experience headache and weakness, aching muscles and joints.

With viral encephalitis, symptoms may subside within a few days, so it is easy to confuse it with the common cold. But after some time they repeat, and there can be about 10 such waves.

Symptoms may appear after 2 days, or after 3 weeks. Sometimes the disease is asymptomatic, and this encephalitis is even more dangerous, because the more the disease progresses, the more difficult it is to cure.

Summarizing all of the above, we can draw a specific conclusion: after a tick bite, you should immediately consult a doctor to eliminate the risks of diseases. When you remove a tick, try to do it as carefully as possible so that it remains alive. Then put it in a small jar - and run to the laboratory! You will also need to donate blood there.

But it is best to avoid tick bites. When going outdoors, wear closed shoes and long sleeves. Cover your neck, armpits, head, and tuck your pants into your socks. Girls must braid their hair and hide it under a hat or scarf. Do not forget about special insect repellents.

Remember that ticks mostly live in bushes and dead wood, so do not climb there unless necessary. As soon as you get home, inspect all your belongings, shake them thoroughly. Only in this way will you protect yourself from the dangerous diseases that these insects carry!

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