ABOUT TICKS (how to prevent? what to do if bitten by a tick? symptoms of infection after a tick bite)

A tick bite is a very unpleasant, although painless event. During the warm season, many of us refresh our knowledge on the topic of ticks: how dangerous they are and how to properly remove them. But many people do not know that a tick burrows into the skin primarily because of its blood. A tick is a blood-sucking insect, and if its meal is not interrupted immediately, it will change greatly in appearance and can be confused with another bloodsucker. In this article we will tell you what happens to a tick that has drunk blood and where it disappears after its dinner.

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT TICKS

Ticks are characterized by seasonality.
The first cases of attacks are recorded in early spring, when the air temperature rises above 00 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.

During the bite, the parasites inject an anesthetic substance, like mosquitoes, so the suction goes unnoticed. Favorite places to bite are the neck, the area behind the ears, armpits, groin area, and elbow creases.

Attention. Not all ticks carry diseases. But even sterile parasites, and there are 85–90% of them, can cause allergic reactions.

The parasites are not picky when choosing a hunting object; they bite everyone who gets in their way - birds, small and large animals, humans.

TICK ATTACK AND BITE

If the tick is a carrier of encephalitis, the pathogen is concentrated in the salivary glands of the bloodsucker and enters the victim’s body at the time of the bite. Therefore, even immediate removal of the attached parasite does not reduce the risk of infection. In the case of Lyme disease, the virus accumulates in the tick's gastrointestinal tract and enters the body when it begins to feed, that is, 5-6 hours after sucking. In this case, early removal of the parasite can prevent infection.

Redness of the skin at the site of the bite does not indicate infection. The color change may appear due to allergies or the presence of the parasite in the victim’s body for many hours. If such symptoms appear, it is better to consult a doctor.

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.

What does a tick that has sucked blood look like?

The appearance of a sucking tick is not the most aesthetic picture. But in this form it is easy to notice, which means taking timely measures to remove it and prevent it from becoming infected with various diseases. In order not to miss the moment of the bite, it is necessary to study what the tick looks like. The best way is to look at a photo of a tick that has drunk blood. Let's compare the appearance of a hungry and a well-fed insect. Hungry tick:

1. It has a body length of no more than five millimeters.
2. The shape of the insect is oval, the body is elongated along the axis, flat and oblong.
3. Depending on the type of tick, the body may be red, brown or grayish.
4. The tick is active, moves quickly, its legs are in chaotic motion.

As soon as the tick has chosen a convenient place for itself, it launches its proboscis from the head under the skin of a person or animal and attaches itself to a blood vessel.

Well-fed tick:

1. It grows up to two centimeters in size.
2. It becomes rounded and convex due to microfolds of the body, invisible to the ordinary eye, its body begins to hang over the head.
3. After eating, the color of the animal darkens and becomes brown, dirty brown, dark gray.
4. The tick becomes completely motionless.

After finishing eating, the tick literally swells from the inside, its body turns into a reservoir for storing the blood it drinks.

SIGNS OF A TICK BITE

Most often, an attached parasite is not noticed immediately. Several hours pass before the victim begins to feel unwell and decides to examine himself. The first symptoms of a tick bite in a person are as follows:

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

The dynamics of the signs depends on the number of attached parasites and the characteristics of the victim’s body. The symptoms of a bite are especially pronounced in the elderly, children and those suffering from allergic reactions or immunodeficiency pathologies.

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, difficulty breathing and hallucinations may occur.

Temperature after a bite as a symptom of the disease

An increase in body temperature in the first hours after a tick bite most often does not indicate anything serious. This is how an allergic reaction to the bloodsucker’s saliva manifests itself. You should be wary if fever appears a few days after the parasite has been ingested. This reaction of the body may indicate the onset of the disease.

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

1. 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.
2. Borreliosis is characterized by 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.

How long does it take for a tick to stick?

It is worth saying that both females and males attack. But in this case, the bites are significantly different. The fact is that males need a minimum amount of food to be satisfied. They bite, quickly become saturated and fall off the body. Next, they look for females to mate with. It is precisely because of their rapid saturation that they are considered more dangerous. After all, their attacks go unnoticed in most cases and a person may not even realize that he has been bitten by a dangerous tick.

But females spend significantly more time on the body. The fact is that they need blood not only to satisfy their hunger, but also in order to form offspring. The offspring are formed inside the female during the period that she spends on the body. The female can latch on for three days and drink blood all this time.

But other situations are also possible when a female bites simply to satisfy her hunger. In order for her to be completely saturated, she needs about 20 ml of blood. The parasite can reach its normal level in several stages by sucking on a little blood and falling off, and then repeating the procedure several times.

RULES OF CONDUCT IN CASE OF A TICK BITE

So, what to do if you are 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 or cause infection. Do not use gasoline, nail polish or other chemicals. Vegetable oil or fat will not help either. It is better to use effective and practice-tested 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 specimens. For the procedure to be successful, it is recommended to perform the following steps:

1. Take a long and strong thread
2. Tie a loop at the border between the skin and the body of the parasite and carefully tighten it.
3. Using rotating, rocking and pulling movements counterclockwise, slowly remove the tick.

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

Removing a tick using tweezers

Another simple way to get rid of a tick. Using tweezers you can remove a bloodsucker of any size. The basic manipulations are similar to the thread pulling option. It is better to use tweezers with flat edges, grabbing the parasite at the very base. Then, using careful rotational movements, remove the tick and disinfect the wound.

Attention. When removing the bloodsucker, tweezers must be held strictly parallel or perpendicular to the skin.

It is better to use tweezers with flat edges, grabbing the parasite at the very base.

Tick ​​twisters

Not long ago, the pharmaceutical industry began producing special devices for removing the parasite. The kit includes two tools - a large one and a small one for pliers of different sizes. Using a twister, you can quickly and effectively remove the parasite without damaging it.

The kit includes a test tube into which it is recommended to place a live parasite and store it in the refrigerator for further research.

Other ways to remove ticks

If there are no devices nearby when a tick bites you, you can try to pull the parasite out with your hands. The method is risky, but if you do everything correctly, the result will be good. In this case, you must adhere to the following recommendations:

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 preserved for analysis, it should be destroyed by pouring boiling water over it or burning it over a fire.

You can often hear advice from “experienced” people on how to remove a bloodsucker using oil. Despite its apparent simplicity, the method is not only useless, but rather harmful. The parasite, sensing a threat to life, will relax its proboscis and regurgitate the contents of the stomach along with the pathogens back. At the same time, the risk of infection will increase sharply.

Attention. If you cannot remove the bloodsucker yourself, you must contact a medical center.

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

WHAT TO DO AFTER REMOVAL OF A TICK?

In people predisposed to allergies, a tick bite can cause a strong response in the body. Facial swelling often develops, difficulty breathing and muscle pain appear. In this case it is necessary:

• give the victim an antihistamine: Suprastin, Claritin, Zyrtec;
• provide access to fresh air, unbutton clothes;
• Call an ambulance.

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

You can submit a tick for analysis in Tosno at the ETALON medical center at Lenin Ave., building 3. The center is open seven days a week and on holidays.

If the tick could not be preserved, for early diagnosis of the disease it is recommended to donate blood to detect immunoglobulins for infections. The analysis is carried out quickly, the result is usually ready within 24 hours. If you have been vaccinated, you must indicate the date when donating blood. The presence of vaccine antibodies may confuse health care providers.

What to do if the tick head remains under the skin?

The tick's head may remain under the skin if it is removed carelessly or too quickly. It looks like a small splinter, so some are negligent about removing it, saying “the tick is dead, it no longer sucks blood, it will fall off on its own,” or they simply don’t notice

But this is not recommended. Remaining under the skin, the tick's proboscis will provoke inflammation and suppuration of the wound. Therefore, do not leave the head or proboscis of the tick under the skin, waiting for them to fall off on their own.

Take a sharp needle disinfected in alcohol and pick up the remaining proboscis and remove it. After a bite, a small wound will remain on the skin, which will heal quickly if the tick was not infectious. Treat the bite site with peroxide, then brilliant green or iodine. If the tick bite is very itchy, use Fenistil gel or a similar itching reliever. Try not to scratch the inflamed area to speed up the healing process.

To prevent the head of the tick from remaining under the skin, catch it as close as possible to the suction site

DISEASES CAUSED BY TICK BITE

So, why is a tick bite dangerous for humans? Infections carried by bloodsuckers can be microbial, viral, rickettsial or protozoal in nature. All of them cause serious illnesses, often resulting in disability and, in rare cases, death. The cause of irreparable disorders in the body is late detection of the parasite and untimely therapy.

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

Tick-borne encephalitis

The main carrier of this disease is the ixodid tick. In the wild, the pathogen circulates between bloodsuckers and small animals, usually rodents and birds. In areas developed by humans, livestock—cows and goats—become an additional reservoir. The causative agent of tick-borne encephalitis persists in parasites for a long time and passes to the offspring through eggs.

Attention. The virus is transmitted through a tick bite. Transmission of the pathogen through the alimentary route is often recorded - through infected cow's or goat's milk that has not been boiled.

Asymptomatic disease is very common and can reach 85–90% in some areas. Prolonged blood sucking significantly increases the risk of developing 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 found in the greatest concentration. After a few hours, the virus penetrates the victim’s central nervous system, and after 2 days it can be detected in brain tissue. The incubation period for encephalitis from a tick bite is 14–21 days, and when infected through milk - no more than a week.

Tick-borne encephalitis

Symptoms of tick-borne encephalitis

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

• increased body temperature to 39-40 °C;
• 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 the febrile form of the disease, which disappears after 5 days. There is no damage to the central nervous system in this case.

Meningeal and meningoencephalitic forms of pathology are much more severe. The patient complains of lethargy, apathy and drowsiness. Hallucinations, delirium, impaired consciousness, and convulsions similar to epileptic seizures appear. The meningoencephalitic form can be fatal, which is very rare in recent years.

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

Lyme disease (Lyme borreliosis)

Borreliosis is common in the northern regions of Russia. The pathogen enters the human bloodstream 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 thickening and ring erythema appear at the site of suction, which can reach 20–50 cm in diameter.

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

Often the central nervous system, 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.

Lyme disease

Ehrlichiosis

The disease is also transmitted by ixodid ticks. Deer are considered the main reservoir of Ehrlichia, with dogs and horses serving as intermediate reservoirs.

The virus enters the human body during a bite through the parasite's saliva. The incubation period can be up to 3 weeks, and the acute form of the disease lasts 14–21 days. In some cases, the pronounced phase drags on for up to 6–8 weeks.

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

• fever;
• increased sweating;
• weakness, drowsiness;
• nausea to the point of vomiting;
• rigor.

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

Relapsing tick-borne typhus

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

• fever;
• increased body temperature;
• aching 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.

The disease is wavy in nature. The acute phase usually lasts from 3 to 5 days, then the victim’s condition returns to normal and the temperature drops. A few days later everything repeats again. There can be many such attacks. Each subsequent one occurs with less severity.

Relapsing tick-borne typhus

Coxiellosis

It is one of the most common zoonotic infections in the world. The disease can be transmitted by both farm and wild animals. One of the distributors of the pathogen is the tick, most often the ixodid tick. It is capable of maintaining rickettsiae in the body for a long time and transmitting them 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.

KU fever is often accompanied by pneumonia, pain in the lower back and muscles. The temperature in the first days of the disease can change several times during the day. This disease can only be treated in a hospital setting; it responds well to therapy and recovery occurs quickly. Complications are rare, and the outcome of the disease is most often favorable. A person who has recovered from coxiellosis develops a strong immune system.

Ticks are attacking!

The active season of ticks lasts more than six months. The most dangerous month is June; the second peak of tick activity occurs at the end of August - beginning of September, which coincides with the “mushroom” season.

It's time to remember the main thing: where, when and how ticks attack, how to avoid it, what to do if it doesn't work out and what we risk in this case. Biochemist Rinat Gimadiev, head of the general clinic unit of the laboratory of personalized medicine LabQuest, talks about this.

What infections do ticks transmit? Why do they only talk about encephalitis and borreliosis?

– Ixodid ticks can be carriers of several infections, both viral and bacterial. When examining a tick in the laboratory, an analysis is carried out to identify the causative agents of four diseases that are most relevant in our country - tick-borne encephalitis, borreliosis, granulocytic anaplasmosis and human monocytic ehrlichiosis.

Tick-borne encephalitis is a severe viral disease that affects the brain and spinal cord. It can lead to disability due to persistent disturbances in the functioning of the nervous system and result in the death of the patient. The mortality rate of tick-borne encephalitis ranges from 1.5-2 percent to 30-40, as, for example, in the case of the Far Eastern type of pathogen. Tick-borne borreliosis (Lyme disease, Lyme borreliosis) can affect muscles, liver, kidneys, heart, joints, and other organs. It can develop unnoticed and end with recovery, or it can go from an acute to a chronic form, which happens quite often.

When talking about the dangers of tick bites, tick-borne encephalitis and borreliosis are indeed most often mentioned. This is explained by their greater prevalence and danger in terms of health consequences. The other two infections are less studied and less common, although, unlike tick-borne encephalitis, they are common wherever ixodid ticks live, as is borreliosis. Anaplasmosis occurs with high fever, weakness, chills, headache, joint and muscle pain, nausea and vomiting, sometimes cough and sore throat. Ehrlichiosis has similar symptoms. Both infections are treated with antibiotics.

It must be borne in mind that about 20 percent of ticks are infected with several infections at once - usually two, less often three, and can transmit them to a person in one bite. This situation is called a mixed infection; it is more severe, more difficult to treat and more often causes complications.

They say that if the tick was in the body for less than 36 hours, the risk of contracting tick-borne infections is minimal and you can calm down. This is true?

– No, that’s not true – you definitely shouldn’t calm down. Tick-borne encephalitis is transmitted immediately. If a tick is a carrier of this infection, the pathogen is found in its salivary fluid and enters the human body at the moment of suction. With tick-borne borreliosis, this happens somewhat differently. The pathogen is contained both in the salivary fluid and in the intestines of the tick. If it is removed within two days, there may be less risk of infection. However, without researching the tick, we cannot know what infections it carries. Therefore, there is always a risk, no matter how long the tick is in the body, and it is not possible to assess it. In any case, you need to go through all the stages from its extraction to transfer to the laboratory, donation of blood for analysis and, if necessary, preventive measures.

The tick bit me away from home (while hiking, at the dacha, etc.). What to do if this happens in an area where encephalitis is endemic or where this infection does not occur?

– If an area is endemic for tick-borne encephalitis, and the person bitten has not been vaccinated against this infection, you definitely need to go to a place where it is possible to get medical care. In other cases it is advisable to do this. If the tick was recovered alive, it must be taken to the laboratory for examination. This is a fairly tenacious creature: if the proper conditions for transportation are created, the ixodid tick can be transported alive even a few days after extraction. The main thing is to provide it with humidity and air flow. To do this, place the tick in a plastic container and cover it with a damp cotton swab.

If you couldn’t catch the tick alive, what should you do with it? Can it be submitted for analysis?

– It is possible, although the concentration of the pathogen in it will be lower. The dead tick or its fragments should be placed in ice and delivered to the laboratory as quickly as possible. In this case, you have up to 2 days left.

Why examine a tick at all if you can just donate blood for infection?

– The tick must be examined, because this is the fastest way to determine what infections it could transmit through a bite and whether a person needs prevention of a disease that has not yet developed - whether he needs immunoglobulin, as is the case with the threat of tick-borne encephalitis, or antibiotic therapy, which carried out for other infections. If infection occurs, the sooner we start treatment, the fewer health consequences. The tick is examined within 48 hours, this is enough to take emergency measures.

For the same amount of time, up to two days, a venous blood test is performed using the PCR method, which makes it possible to detect the pathogen in the human body. This study must be carried out within 5 days, then the likelihood of detecting a virus or bacteria decreases. Further, only a blood test for antibodies to specific infections will be informative. The problem is that they appear only after 10-14 days, that is, time will be lost. This can be avoided by having the tick examined. Antibodies in the blood may be associated with a past infection or vaccination, so you need to take an IgM test. It is type M antibodies that are responsible for the acute phase; if their increase is observed, this means that the disease is currently developing in the body. It is recommended to do an enzyme immunoassay blood test for antibodies to tick-borne infections twice.

How much time do you have for emergency prevention of tick-borne infections?

– Immunoglobulin, which is used to prevent tick-borne encephalitis, is administered in the first 96 hours after the bite. Antibiotic therapy for borreliosis is most effective in the first 5 days. It will give results even if you start it later, but the course in this case will be longer.

Why is it advised to monitor how you feel, even if the tests were negative?

– Such a recommendation is given in case the research results were false negative. This is always possible, especially if the optimal time for testing blood using PCR was missed, and the enzyme immunoassay was done before antibodies appeared in the blood. Each research method has specificity and sensitivity; none gives a 100% accurate result. In any case, you need to monitor your well-being for a month after the bite and if flu-like symptoms appear, erythema (red ring) around the site of suction, any pain, nausea, vomiting, rashes on the body, consult a doctor, informing him that there was a tick suction . By the way, it is advisable to remember the date when this happened.

Where it lives, what it looks like, when it bites - the main thing about ticks for those who didn’t know or forgot

1. The tick lives in the forest floor, selecting grass and small shrubs to hunt. He does not live in trees and never climbs there. Therefore, it is useless to wait for an attack from above (ticks also cannot jump); he does it from below.

2. Tick habitats are not only taiga and dense forests. It can be found in fields, in summer cottages, in tourist centers, in cemeteries, in forest parks, on the territory of sanatoriums, even in city parks and squares. Ticks can enter the house on animal fur, on other people’s clothes, on flowers, etc.

3. The active season of ticks lasts as long as the air temperature remains above +7 degrees. It is believed that they do not bite in July and August, but this is not true. Tick ​​activity does vary depending on many factors (weather, humidity, life cycle, etc.), but the risk of bites continues throughout the season. And the type of tick that lives in the European part of the country has a second peak of activity, which occurs in August and September.

4. Prevention of tick-borne infections is the most closed clothing that prevents ticks from crawling onto the body, the use of repellents and frequent self-examinations when hiking in the forest. Plus vaccination against tick-borne encephalitis if a person lives or plans to visit an endemic area. Neither homeopathy, nor dietary supplements, nor food products protect against tick-borne infections. Mosquito repellents do not repel ticks.

5. The tick does not attach itself immediately. For some time he “travels” throughout the body in search of the most convenient place to bite. Therefore, it is recommended to conduct self-examinations every 10-15 minutes - in this case, there is a high probability of removing it earlier. Particular care should be taken to inspect the areas under the armpits, on the elbows, under the knees, in the groin folds, on the neck and behind the ears, since these are the places where ticks are most often chosen for suction.

6. A tick that has not had time to feed well on blood is very small - only up to 2-3 mm. It is easy to miss and confuse it with a mole or speck. So you need to examine the skin carefully. By the way, it will not be possible to brush off a tick that has already attached itself (only if it has been sitting in the skin for a long time and has had time to feed itself) - its hypostome (the part of the head with which it attaches to the victim) resembles a harpoon and is firmly held in the skin.

7. You will not feel a tick bite because its saliva has an analgesic property. Itching, burning, and pain may appear only after a few days.

8. It is very important to remove the tick intact. If it is crushed, the risk of contracting tick-borne infections increases, since saliva and intestinal contents are more likely to get into the wound - both contain pathogens. If after removal a dark dot is visible in the wound, it means that the tick’s head remains there. There is no need to pick it out, it is unsafe.

9. The bite site must be washed and treated with an antiseptic. In this case, the risk of infection with borreliosis is reduced, as well as the development of a secondary infection, which may also have to be treated with antibiotics. Be sure to wash your hands with soap.

10. Regardless of whether you were able to transfer the tick for research, after sucking you need to consult an infectious disease doctor. Be sure to do this if, after visiting places where you can encounter a tick, your health has worsened - even if it seems to you that it is ARVI. Unfortunately, in some cases the tick may not be noticed at all (for example, if it was a male that feeds for only a few hours and does not grow much in size), but in this case there is still a risk of contracting tick-borne infections.

TREATMENT OF TICK BITE VICTIMS

If a tick has bitten and the test results reveal an infection, the patient is given immunotherapy based on doctor’s prescriptions. Further treatment depends on the type of pathogen that has entered the body.

Treatment of patients with tick-borne encephalitis

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

1. Bed rest during the entire duration of the fever and a week after it ends.
2. In the first days of the disease, administration of immunoglobulin is indicated. To achieve the best result, it is necessary to apply the product as early as possible, preferably in the first three days after the tick bite.
3. In general cases, the patient is prescribed corticosteroid drugs and blood substitutes.
4. For meningitis, increased doses of vitamins B and C are administered.
5. If respiratory functions deteriorate, the victim is advised to receive artificial ventilation.

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

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

Therapy for 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 relieve erythema, antimicrobial agents of the tetracycline group are prescribed.

If neurological disorders appear, the victim is hospitalized. In the hospital, complex therapy is carried out, including:

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

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

Attention. To treat protozoal infections, medications are used that prevent further growth and development of protozoa.

What happens to a tick when it drinks blood?

The tick drinks blood for several reasons, usually to continue development, replenish reserves in the body, and procreation. After a bite, the animals do not die, but continue to exist.

For example, tick larvae wait for their prey in the soil. They need blood to transform into nymph, the next stage of a tick's life.

Adult males and females behave differently after being bitten and fed with blood. The male falls off and dies after several copulations. This completes his mission.

A sexually mature female has one goal - to lay eggs. A fertilized individual will not be able to do this if there is not enough blood in its body, so the insects go on a “hunt.” After replenishing blood reserves, the female’s task is to get to the soil and lay eggs, which will turn into larvae. Thus, the circle is closed and the life cycle of the tick with the participation of new individuals is resumed.

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 hemorrhages;
• liver - indigestion, problems with stool (diarrhea);
• CNS - with frequent headaches, hallucinations, paresis and paralysis;
• cardiovascular system - arrhythmia and blood pressure surges appear;
• joints - arthritis and arthralgia are formed.

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

For moderate illness, 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 or paresis.

If the outcome is unfavorable, there is a persistent and long-term (or permanent) decrease in the quality of life of the victim of a tick bite. Manifests itself as a violation of motor function. The clinical picture worsens significantly under the influence of nervous and physical fatigue, pregnancy, and regular alcohol intake.

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

Disability as a consequence of a tick bite

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

1. Group III disability - mild paresis of the arms and legs, rare epileptic seizures, inability to perform highly skilled work that requires precision and attention.
2. Disability of group II - severe paresis of the limbs, partial paresis of muscles, severe epilepsy with mental changes, asthenic syndrome, loss of the ability to self-care.
3. Group I disability - acquired dementia, severe motor dysfunction, 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 complete lack of therapy, death is possible.

PREVENTION OF TICK BITES

The main and main measure to prevent diseases transmitted by bloodsuckers is vaccination, but it does not protect 100% and not against all diseases transmitted by ticks. But the event significantly reduces the risk of infection after tick bites.

There are two vaccination options:

1. 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.
2. 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.

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.

When hiking, it is recommended to avoid ravines and tall grass; it is better to walk in the middle of the path. When leaving the forest, you need to carefully examine yourself for ticks. In this case, it becomes possible to detect and remove the parasite before the bite.

To repel ticks, special insecticidal products based on DEET are produced, but repellents are not effective enough and require application every 2 hours. They can be used on exposed areas of the body and clothing.

Acaricides are more effective. The drugs are used for contact destruction of ticks. They can only be used on 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.

How to recognize that an infection has occurred?

Another danger of tick parasitism on the human body is that at the initial stage it is impossible to determine whether the parasite is infected with an infection. Signs appear after a few weeks (sometimes after 10 days), the speed of onset of symptoms depends on the sensitivity of the body, as well as the person’s immunity.

The parasite's saliva or external surfaces often contain harmful microorganisms. However, they are not present in all individuals, but only in those that have previously bitten infected animals and birds. If such a tick attacks a person, then we can assume the development of dangerous diseases, since the probability of this is quite high. For an infection to manifest itself, it takes time to develop and spread in the body.

Such a period

called incubation: infection has already occurred, but symptoms have not yet appeared.

Signs suggesting the development of infection:

• erythema, it can be quite large - up to 60 cm;
• temperature increase (and this happens sharply and to extreme values): 39...40°C;

• itching – the intensity of this manifestation can be high, itching is difficult to bear, resulting in scratching;
• swelling is a natural reaction of the human body to a developing inflammatory process.

Erythema on the skin after a tick bite

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.

The irreparable consequences of a tick bite can be prevented if you seek medical help in time and begin treatment. Remember, an attached parasite does not immediately transmit the infection. The longer it stays on the body, the greater the risk of contracting tick-borne encephalitis or Lyme borreliosis.

Danger from ixodid ticks

They are carriers of dangerous diseases. The most common are borreliosis and tick-borne encephalitis. Infection occurs during a bite. Borrelia are found in the saliva of the parasite, while the tick-borne encephalitis virus is found in the blood. The likelihood of infection increases with prolonged suction or improper removal.

It is impossible to say exactly how long it takes a tick to get drunk. If it remains on the human body for more than a day, the likelihood of contracting borreliosis increases. When bloated, his body becomes vulnerable. It bursts when pressed hard. When trying to remove it from the skin, the head may come off. Splashes of infectious blood enter a person's wound, causing infection with tick-borne encephalitis.

On a note!

If a tick has drunk blood, it increases in size and becomes noticeable. In areas dangerous for tick-borne encephalitis, it is not recommended to get the parasite yourself. You should immediately seek help at the emergency room or call the hotline. After removing the tick, it is sent to the laboratory for examination. If the result is positive, the victim is given immunoglobulin or an antibiotic. After 14 days you need to donate blood for analysis.