In summer, ticks become more active. You can catch them anywhere, since they live on trees, bushes, and grass. They adapt to different conditions environment, surviving even in the unfavorable arctic climate.
Ticks feed on blood, and they can live without it for a long time. They need it to lay eggs. It takes 2 years to develop. Under warm climate conditions, this cycle is shortened, and when unfavorable conditions rises.
The unpaired outgrowth of the hypostome, which acts as a sucker, helps the tick to gain a foothold on the skin. It is easier for it to attach to the following areas: neck, stomach, groin, lower back, chest, ears, since the skin in these places is very thin. It is easy for a tick to get caught in the area where hair grows: on the head, armpits.
What is dangerous about a tick bite for humans is that it is difficult to detect. It often happens that a person notices a problem when the tick has already fallen off.
After a bite, the area of skin begins to become inflamed and red. Allergies may occur, but this does not cause pain. The tick is not able to bite through clothing; it needs to get to an open area on the skin. They need to immerse both their proboscis and their head.
With borreliosis, the bite is characterized by more pronounced symptoms. In appearance, it resembles a round spot, its diameter reaches 10–20 cm. Sometimes it increases, reaching up to 60 cm. Over time, it is surrounded by a red border. In the center it takes on a blue or white tint. The bite site begins to resemble a donut; a crust with scars forms on the skin, which disappear after 2 weeks.
After detecting a bite mark, it is necessary to determine at what stage of development the tick is. The adult form is called an imago. It differs in that it has 4 pairs of legs. The female feeds on blood longer than the male and can remain on the body for several days. A few hours are enough for the male to be satisfied. A larva called a nymph can also attach itself to the skin. The larva has 3 pairs of legs.
If a tick is found on the skin, it should be pulled out immediately. Doctors advise not to kill it, but to put it in a jar, which is sent for analysis to identify the pathogen. Since the tick takes a short time to attach itself, timely detection allows you to avoid infection. If the tick does bite through the skin, the patient should be observed by a doctor for 30 days.
The incubation period after this may last for 2 months. The rate at which symptoms manifest is influenced by the blood-brain barrier. If it is weak, signs of the disease are detected earlier.
During the incubation period, the disease can be detected using antibody tests and PCR. The first method shows when the infection passed, and the second helps to identify the specific pathogen.
Symptoms of infection
These symptoms are more often found in children, the elderly, patients with a tendency to allergies, and patients with immunodeficiencies. At first the symptoms are mild, but gradually intensify.
The disease develops slowly. The victim’s temperature rises, the heartbeat quickens, the lymph nodes become inflamed, and a rash is noticeable on the skin. The discomfort is intensified by severe itching.
How long it takes for symptoms to appear after a tick bite will depend on individual characteristics. The rash is an allergy to substances present in the saliva of the arthropod. First, the bite site and the surrounding area begins to turn red. Then a burning sensation begins and the affected area swells. After this, rashes or compactions appear.
Tick-borne encephalitis can be contracted not only through a bite. The pathogen can settle on the animal’s body and infect it. In this case, a person becomes infected when drinking milk. The virus first attacks internal organs and then spreads to the brain.
Tick-borne encephalitis and borreliosis are treated at home if the disease is at an early stage, otherwise urgent hospitalization is necessary. The patient is prescribed intramuscular injections and droppers. If the nervous system is damaged, the patient is hospitalized.
Acarodermatitis is an allergy to substances secreted by arthropods while sucking on the skin. This reaction is manifested by inflammation and severe itching, then asymmetrical rashes appear. The patient may have minor hemorrhages. Most often, the pathology affects the arms and legs.
Signs of akarodermatitis are detected several hours after infection. To cure a disease, you must adhere to good hygiene. The patient is prescribed special ointments, which are applied after hygiene procedures. If the disease is started, staphylococcus develops. Others may appear later tick-borne infections. Acarodermatitis has the most favorable prognosis and is the easiest to treat.
After a bite, ehrlichiosis can develop. The disease is caused by a bacterium carried by a tick. Its symptoms, like those of encephalitis, resemble a cold. The patient develops chills, headache, muscle and joint pain. The patient is constantly tired.
Prevention against ticks in humans
Preventative measures to prevent bites include treating the skin by special means, repelling insects. They are recommended to be applied before outdoor recreation or visiting the forest. Upon returning home, you need to carefully examine the body, paying attention Special attention areas where ticks attach most often.
To avoid infection, vaccination is recommended. The vaccine is administered three times: in November, a month later, and the last dose after another 3 months. It is important that the last dose is administered at least 14 days before the tick is active. If the patient is infected, administration of immunoglobulin is indicated.
Pathogens carried by ticks can be divided into 2 types: bacteria and insect eggs. Both forms are dangerous, but bacterial infections are easier to treat. The settlement under the skin of larvae, which are carried by ticks, is much more dangerous, and even fatal for children.
It is necessary to pay enough attention to the prevention of infections that can be contracted from an insect bite. It is recommended to use repellents, and outdoor enthusiasts should be vaccinated annually. The main thing is not to ignore the symptoms that appear after the bite. The danger is that they periodically disappear, leaving a false impression of recovery.
What to do if you are bitten by a tick, symptoms and signs, emergency care, treatment and prevention, testing for encephalitis.
The content of the article:
A tick bite is the suction of a small arthropod arachnid insect, a potential carrier of pathogens of dangerous infections, to the skin of people and animals. The most dangerous diseases transmitted by ticks: encephalitis, Lyme disease, hemorrhagic fever, rash tick-borne typhus. About 20% of the tick population is carriers of the infection.
What are the main symptoms if you are bitten by a tick?
The first symptoms appear several hours after the insect attaches itself to the skin. The victim feels itching and discomfort in the affected area of the body.
Rarely does a stronger body reaction to a bite occur:
- An increase in temperature to 37-38 degrees against the background of low blood pressure and rapid heartbeat;
- Severe itching and rash;
- Enlarged lymph nodes;
- Headache;
- Weakness and drowsiness;
- Aching joints;
- Labored breathing;
- Mild hallucinations;
- Nausea and vomiting.
It is important to know! A tick bite may be asymptomatic. During the period of activity (beginning of spring - end of autumn), it is necessary to examine the body in front of a mirror and examine the surface of the head for the presence of insects.
What are the signs if you are bitten by a tick?
A tick bite is not accompanied by pain. This is caused by the high levels of anesthetic in the saliva that it injects onto the skin before biting. This prevents the timely detection and removal of the insect.
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.
Traces to look for:
- Near the earlobe on the back side;
- On the inner thigh;
- On the scalp;
- In the axillary area;
- On the back, under the shoulder blades;
- In the chest area;
- Below the kneecap.
A dangerous infectious disease can be detected by early stages, if you notice signs of changes in your skin and general health. Fever accompanied by tachycardia for 7-10 days is the first sign of infectious pathogenesis.
A sign of a bite from an ixodid tick, a carrier of the virus, is the onset of symptomatic manifestations of the disease. In tick-borne encephalitis, the virus affects peripheral nerves, the brain, and motor neurons of the spine and manifests itself in partial paralysis and convulsions.
Borreliosis (Lyme disease) is an infectious disease, manifested by the appearance of a red spot that increases to a peripheral state (from 1 to 10 mm in diameter). In rare cases, the spot at the bite site grows up to 60 mm in diameter. Over time, the center of the resulting circle turns pale, taking on the shape of a ring with a bluish tint. Signs of infection with borreliosis disappear after 2-3 weeks, and the clinical phase begins.
Where to go if bitten by a tick
Having discovered a tick, it is necessary to contact the emergency department of a trauma center as quickly as possible. Healthcare workers will remove the tick and treat the wound.
There are situations when an insect is removed and disposed of without completing a laboratory examination for the content of the transmitted virus. It is necessary to demand that the case be recorded and actions taken in accordance with the prescribed regulations.
If you live in a locality where there are no such medical facilities, you need to remove the tick yourself and place it in a tightly sealed tube (you can take a clean glass jar). The insect must be taken to a specialized laboratory for testing using the PCR method.
If within 10 days after the bite you experience symptoms of an allergic reaction, fever and general malaise, immediately consult a doctor for tests and preventive measures with medications.
Important! The tick must be transported to the research laboratory alive.
How to get a tick at home
The first step is to properly remove the tick from the skin without damaging it. This can be done with a special device, thread or tweezers. It is important not to squeeze the digestive tract, which will cause a backflow of saliva into the blood. To do this, you should grab the insect as close to the proboscis as possible and slowly rotate it around its axis and remove it from the skin.
It is difficult to do this with tweezers - there is a risk of rupture. Special hooks with slots are sold for this purpose. At home, in the absence of special tools, you can make a clamp that can easily unscrew the tick. To do this, just fold the thread in half, throw it over the tick, thread the ends into the loop and tighten.
The bite site should be treated with alcohol or any other antiseptic, drink an antihistamine as much as possible. permissible norm, according to the instructions included with the drug. This will reduce the body's allergic reaction to the bite. After 10-12 days, you need to donate blood for analysis in a specialized laboratory and contact an infectious disease specialist with the result. Subsequent measures to prevent or treat the virus depend on the test results and the doctor’s recommendations.
If a tick ruptures and the antennae remain in the skin, do not panic. It is necessary to treat the bite site with an alcohol solution or iodine and do not try to remove the remains with a needle; after 5-10 days the skin will “push out” them as a foreign body.
It is important to know! The seized tick must be sent for analysis to a research laboratory, having previously been placed in a resealable glass jar with damp cotton wool. If this option is not provided, the insect must be disposed of - doused with boiling water or burned.
What to do if bitten by a tick: treatment rules
The main thing is not to panic. The tick must be removed as quickly as possible, avoiding damage. If an emergency emergency room is open at your place of residence, immediately contact specialists for help. In remote villages there are often no such institutions, so you should act independently, using extreme caution.
Drug treatment if bitten by a tick
A tick is a carrier of infectious diseases, otherwise harmful bacteria, and the first thing after a bite is to take an antibiotic wide range actions, for example, "Amoxil" or "Cefodox", according to the standard scheme set out in the instructions for the drug. The course of admission is 5-7 days. An antibiotic is sufficient to prevent the development of borreliosis and other forms of tick-borne virus, with the exception of encephalitis.
After sucking on an insect, it is rational to use Doxycycline once, a semi-synthetic antibiotic from the tetracycline group. The drug has a broad spectrum of action, is able to penetrate microbial cells and block synthesis. Within two hours after administration, the antibiotic reaches its maximum concentration in the blood plasma, fully retaining its properties for 15-16 hours.
Important! If, after a tick bite, symptoms characteristic of the flu appear, you should immediately go to the hospital for additional tests and effective treatment.
How to treat a tick bite with immunoglobulin
Immunoglobulin is used for emergency prevention of tick-borne encephalitis. The use of the drug is advisable only in the first days after a tick bite. The injection is administered intramuscularly or intravenously, only as prescribed by a doctor.
The dosage is also determined by a specialist. After the vaccine is administered, the victim is observed for the presence of an allergic reaction and side effects in a hospital setting.
The drug is intended for emergency replenishment of natural antibodies that replace immunomodulators and immunostimulants in blood serum. To prevent diseases transmitted by ticks, “Immunoglobulin” is used as a vaccine.
Features of treatment of tick bites with iodantipirin
After three days after the bite, the prevention of tick-borne encephalitis with Immunoglobulin is not effective. Doctors prescribe Yodantipirin, a strong antiviral and anti-inflammatory agent that stimulates cellular immunity. The effectiveness of the drug against the tick-borne encephalitis virus has been proven.
"Yodantipirin" is prescribed to adults and children over 14 years of age. The drug has virtually no contraindications. Dosage and restrictions are indicated in the instructions. For adults, it is recommended to take 300 mg 3 times a day for the first three days after the bite, 200 mg 3 times a day for the next two days, 100 mg 3 times a day for the next five days.
For those living in regions with a high epidemiological threshold for tick-borne encephalitis, it is recommended to take Yodantipirin 200 mg (2 tablets) once a day throughout the entire period of stay in the danger zone.
Consequences if bitten by a tick
Risk of infection dangerous diseases cannot be excluded, even if the tick bite was short-lived. It is enough for an infected insect to penetrate into a place convenient for it, and it immediately releases saliva with a high content of an anesthetic substance and sticks its proboscis into the skin - contact has occurred.
The bite of an infected tick is not always accompanied by infection that turns into a disease, however, the threat exists. In rare cases, the consequences may be irreversible if left untreated. effective measures.
Ticks carry many dangerous viral diseases. There are four most common and dangerous diseases that develop after an ixodid tick bite:
- . This is the most dangerous tick-borne infection; it begins to reproduce at the site of the bite without visible external manifestations. Symptoms appear on days 10-14, when the virus infects the lymphatic system and lines the walls of blood vessels with multiplied cells. At this point, the victim feels general weakness and flu-like symptoms. The situation gets worse when the virus penetrates further and affects the central nervous system. Paralysis of the limbs occurs, blindness and deafness occur, vomiting and widespread convulsions, frequent headaches, loss of consciousness, arrhythmia, mental disorders and disorientation in space are observed. In some cases, death occurs after inflammation of the brain.
- Borreliosis. An infectious disease transmitted by ticks. More commonly known as Lyme disease. It is manifested by the presence of an enlarging red ring with white fields at the site of the bite. Over time, the spot increases in diameter to 70 mm and acquires a blue tint. After 14-21 days, the spot disappears and the stage of damage to the nervous and cardiac systems and joint dysfunction begins. A mutation of the virus occurs and widespread changes in general malaise: fever and weakness, sore throat and head, hypertonicity of muscles and tendons, severe swelling of the joints, impaired skin sensitivity, loss of sleep, deafness, partial paralysis, arrhythmia, dizziness, mental disorders. Death occurs extremely rarely due to lack of timely treatment. Symptoms are often confused with mental illness without treatment for borreliosis.
- Hemorrhagic fever. A disease that affects blood vessels and leads to blood clotting disorders. In the initial phase it is often asymptomatic. When plasma stratification occurs in the capillaries, the blood does not clot, and numerous internal bleeding occurs. There are abundant rashes on the skin and internal organs. Multiple organ failure occurs (kidneys, liver, cardiovascular and respiratory systems fail) and widespread metabolic disorders.
- Tick-borne typhus. Infection occurs when scratching the bite site. The disease results in persistent, prolonged headache, fever, pain in the spine, and possibly coma. The patient's consciousness becomes inhibited, disorientation occurs in space, the lower abdomen becomes covered with a spotty rash Pink colour, and the body temperature exceeds 40 degrees and lasts about two to three weeks. In some cases, death occurs.
The consequences of a tick bite can be prevented if care is taken when removing the insect from the skin and timely drug prevention of viral diseases transmitted by ticks is carried out.
Good afternoon, our dear readers. The time of spring and summer is coming. More and more often lately we encounter or hear such a disease as “tick-borne encephalitis”. People are afraid to go into the forest. Someone says 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 attack are recorded in early spring, when the air temperature rises above 0 0 C, and the latter - in autumn. 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- 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. With focal forms, a large percentage of 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 bites ixodid ticks, characterized by damage to the nervous system, skin, joints, heart, the disease tends to be chronic.
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. If started late and improperly treated, 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 along the edges with growths 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 clip (cut the end and bend it) or cut from packaging material, such as a pill bottle.
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 your 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 a tick yourself,
it is located in a 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, 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 with you.
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;
- carry out 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 mite in a clean container (test tube, vial, jar, etc.), in which you first place absorbent paper (filter paper, paper napkin, etc.) slightly moistened with water - it is important that the body of the insect 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 live, a dead, or part of a tick, but it is advisable to keep the tick whole and alive, because not all laboratories have equipment for analyzing a 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 is better to order a comprehensive tick test for infections (required 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 is a component of blood 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.
Total 45 tablets for 9 days.
It is not recommended to use immunoglobulin and iodantipyrine together.
Yodantipyrine can also be used as 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 hyperthyroidism 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.
The main distinguishing sign of borreliosis (Lyme disease) is migratory 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 measurements. 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.
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 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 what to do. updated: April 4, 2018 by: Subbotin Pavel
