Tick Bites - Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention

Introduction

Ticks are tiny parasites that feed on warm-blooded hosts by biting and sucking their blood. They are common pests on lawns or front yards, especially on pets. According to fossil records, ticks have been around for at least 90 million years. They are usually harmless and cause no symptoms to mild symptoms. However, they can be carriers of diseases and pass the infection to the host. With over 800 species of ticks worldwide, only two families of ticks are known to spread diseases or illnesses to humans: Ixodidae and Argasidae.

Where Do Ticks Bite People?

Ticks are usually found in warm and moist areas of the body. Centers for disease control and prevention (CDC) suggests that once a tick crawls onto a host, it is likely to migrate to these sites:

• Armpit.

• The skin between the fingers and toes.

• Groin.

• Around the waist.

• In and around the ears.

• Inside the belly button.

• Back of the knee.

• Scalp.

Ticks do not fly; they crawl or stretch and grab onto a host. Two types of ticks: hard ticks and soft ticks, exist. Hard ticks may feed on the body for several weeks; soft ticks feed quickly and leave the body.

What Do Tick Bites Look Like?

Tick bites usually go unnoticed. One might not realize the tick bite or when the tick sucks the blood. The ticks can stay engorged in the body for up to ten days and then leave. The bite area would appear as a red bump similar to a mosquito bite. Ticks do not bite in clusters or lines but at a single point, where they may stay engorged till it is full with their feed.

What Are the Risk Factors for Tick Bites?

• Outdoor activities like hiking, camping, and gardening could increase the risk of a tick bite.

• Furry pets could be carriers of ticks into the house.

• People staying in wooded and bushy areas surrounded by tall grass are at higher risk of tick bites.

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of a Tick Bite?

Tick bites are usually painless and often show no symptoms to mild symptoms. However, symptoms might usually occur after the tick leaves the body. It includes:

• Redness.

• Swelling.

• A small bump.

• Itching sensation.

• Burning sensation.

There could be allergic reactions in a few people like:

• Rashes.

• Breathing trouble.

• Neck stiffness.

• Pain in the joints.

• Swelling and numbness.

Tick-Borne diseases show flu-like symptoms that include:

• Breathlessness.

• Fever.

• Palpitation.

• Weakness.

• Nausea and Vomiting.

• Headache.

• Confusions.

• Swelling of the lymph nodes.

• Body pain.

• Joint pain.

These symptoms are rare but require immediate medical attention.

What Are the Different Tick-Borne Diseases?

Most ticks are harmless and do not carry any disease. However, two families of ticks: Ixodidae and Argasidae, are commonly known to carry pathogens that could harm humans. Although rare, one tick bite can transmit more than one pathogen. Some of the tick-borne diseases include:

• Lyme Disease: Lyme disease is caused by Borrelia burgdorferi; the vectors are Ixodes species of ticks. Some common symptoms of Lymes disease include a bull’s eye rash, weakness in the legs, sleep disturbances, swollen lymph nodes, joint pain, etc.

• Tularemia: Tularemia is caused by Francisella tularensis; the vectors are Dermacentor variabilis and Amblyomma americanum. Some common symptoms of tularemia include fever, skin ulcers, pneumonia, large lymph nodes, etc.

• Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever: It is caused by Rickettsia rickettsii; the vectors are Rocky Mountain wood ticks (Dermacentor andersoni). Some symptoms of Rocky Mountain spotted fever include sudden high fever (102 degrees Fahrenheit to 103 degrees Fahrenheit), abdominal pain, muscle pain, rash, etc.

• Colorado Tick Fever: It is caused by Coltivirus; the vectors are Dermacentor andersoni.

• Ehrlichiosis: It is caused by Ehrlichia chaffeensis and Ehrlichia ewingii bacteria, and the vectors are lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum) and the blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis).

• Powassan: It is caused by the Powassan virus; the vectors are Ixodes species and Dermacentor andersoni.

• Babesiosis: It is caused by the protozoan Babesia; the vectors are Ixodes species of ticks.

• Heartland Virus Disease: The lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum) is the vector for this condition.

• Q Fever: It is caused by Coxiella burnetti, and the vectors are Rhipicephalus sanguineus, Dermacentor andersoni, and Amblyomma americanum.

• Tick-Borne Relapsing Fever: It is caused by the Borrelia species of bacteria, and the vectors are Ornithodoros moubata or African tick.

• Bourbon Virus Disease: It is caused by the Thogotovirus, and the vector species are unknown.

• Southern Tick-Associated Rash Illness (STRI): The lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum) is the vector for this condition.

• Anaplasmosis: It is caused by the Anaplasma phagocytophilum bacteria; the vectors are Ixodes species of ticks.

What to Do After a Tick Bite?

• Remove the Tick Carefully: The immediate step after noticing a tick stuck to the body is to remove it. Using a tweezer, gently grasp the tick close to the skin. Without twisting or jerking, pull the tick upwards with steady and even pressure.

• Clean the Bite Area: Clean the bite area immediately after removing the tick with soap and water or rubbing alcohol.

• Storage of the Tick: Either flush the tick down the toilet or store it in a tightly sealed container with rubbing alcohol to take it to the healthcare provider later. Do not crush the tick as it may contain pathogens, which can get released into the environment.

• Watch for Any Symptoms for 30 Days: If symptoms like fever, breathlessness, fatigue, rash, muscle pain, or joint pain occur, consult the healthcare provider immediately.

Further treatment would be symptom-based antibiotics.

How to Prevent Tick Bites?

• Avoid areas that are prone to ticks.

• Wear long-sleeved clothes and use protective gear like gloves when walking through bushy areas.

• Use tick repellants when going in the wild.

• Wash clothes with hot water and 0.5% Permethrin.

• Take a shower immediately after coming from the outside or within two hours.

• Check the body closely for ticks, especially in tick-prone areas like the armpit, behind the knees, scalp, etc.

• Get pets checked regularly for ticks.

• Cut down tall grass from front yards and lawns.

• Walk on the central trail when going to grassy areas.

Conclusion

Ticks are harmless insects that feed on warm-blooded animals and humans by sucking their blood. Ticks stay engorged to a single point in the site rather than biting in clusters or lines. They can stay stuck to the host for up to two weeks and leave once they are fully fed. Tick bites usually show no symptoms but can be allergic to some people. Ticks could also be carriers of diseases or illnesses that harm humans, like tularemia, powassan, rocky mountain fever, etc. If a tick is stuck to the body, it should be removed immediately using a tweezer. If a person develops any symptoms like fever, breathlessness, malaise, etc., consult a healthcare professional immediately.