Learning what a tick bite looks like is essential because you cant rely on seeing the tick.
The tick may fall off quickly or be so small its undetectable.
Its vital to identify the signs of Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses as quickly as possible.
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Early treatment can cure most tick-based infections.
Permanent health complications can develop if they go untreated.
First Signs
Ticks may bite any body area.
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Ticks may feed for minutes or hours (if you don’t remove them).
How long they feed depends on the punch in of tick and its size.
You may not feel the tick because their saliva has anesthetic properties.
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And some ticks (like those that spread Lyme disease) are too tiny to see easily.
As the tick draws in blood, its body enlarges and becomes more visible.
Once the tick is full, it falls off.
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This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.
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Some people develop anallergic reactionto the bite, and have itching, swelling, and redness in the area.
A mild allergic reactions typically resolve within a few days.
However, a rash is the top sign of Lyme disease.
About 70% to 80% of people infected with Lyme disease develop the bull’s-eye rash described above.
Stage 2
During this stage, the bacteria spread to other body areas.
Small, oval rashes may appear about 30-45 days after the tick bite.
Reddish lumps may also appear.
The skin may swell, harden, shrink, and become discolored.
Other Tick-Borne Diseases and Symptoms
Ticks carry different microorganisms, leading to varying tick-born diseases.
Each disease affects the way your tick bite appears.
However, it typically has a less distinctive bull’s eye pattern.
The rash is also smaller, expanding to no more than 3 inches across.
A STARI rash typically appears within seven days of the tick bite.
The rash may be circular but tends to have a more irregular shape.
The jot down of tick that causes southern tick-associated rash illness is the lone star tick.
These ticks are most common in the southern United States, where Lyme disease is rare.
It’s because of a toxin in tick saliva that disrupts nerve and muscle function.
This can only occur if a tick attaches to the skin and feeds.
As the condition progresses, the person may become unable to move their arms and legs.
Symptoms of tick paralysis usually resolve within hours after removing the tick.
But if the tick stays attached, the paralysis can worsen, potentially impairing speech or breathing.
Bug Bite vs. Use the sanitized tweezers to try and remove any tick remnants left.
Remain vigilant and monitor your health for any symptoms over 30 days after noticing the bite.
having a tick bite in the past), and, in some cases, blood test results.
Most tick-borne diseases can be effectively treated with a short course of antibiotics.
This information lets you know when to seek early treatment that prevents a serious disease.
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American Academy of Dermatology.Signs of lyme disease that appear on your skin.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Signs and symptoms of untreated Lyme disease.
Centers For Disease Control.Tick bite: What to do.
2021 May;13(5):e15306.
doi:10.7759/cureus.15306
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Southern tickassociated rash illness.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF): Clinical signs and symptoms.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
California Department of Public Health.Tick paralysis.
American Family Care Urgent Care.How can I differentiate between a harmless bug bite and a tick bite?.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.How Lyme Disease Spreads.
Alberta.Tick bite: Care instructions.
