8/28/2023 0 Comments Do tick bites itch or hurt![]() Over time this rash may change to look purple which indicates potentially serious complications, but this does not usually happen until late in the course of the illness. The rash then spreads to legs, buttocks, face and trunk and is not itchy. The typical rash begins as pink to red macules (flat spots) on wrists, ankles and forearms. Two to 14 days after the tick bite, acute symptoms include fever, chills, severe headache and abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, poor appetite, and muscle aches and pains. RMSF can affect an individual at any age but children have the most severe disease. RMSF can be found throughout the US at any time of year, but peak incidence is April through September. Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF) is a potentially serious illness caused by the bite of the brown dog tick. A description of these diseases, areas of greatest risk, and pictures of the various ticks that carry them can be found on the Centers for Disease control website: and Some cause only mild illness requiring supportive care, while others cause potentially serious disease and require prompt treatment. For more information on Lyme disease visit the Centers for Disease Control website: Īlthough Lyme disease is one of the most commonly known illnesses caused by ticks, there are many others to watch for. Evidence shows that these lingering symptoms are more likely due to injury to tissues and the immune system caused by the illness and will lessen and disappear over time. Some people worry that lingering symptoms after treatment mean that the treatment has not worked or that they have “chronic Lyme disease”. For example, early localized disease, indicated by the typical EM rash at the site of the bite, is treated for 2 weeks, while late disseminated disease indicated by joint involvement (arthritis) is treated for longer. Different antibiotics are used and treatment time varies depending on your age and on the stage of the disease. The good news is that Lyme disease, caused by bacteria, is easily eradicated with antibiotic treatment. When in doubt, see your health care provider to determine if treatment is necessary. Only about 1% of people will have heart problems or infection of tissues in the brain called meningitis as a result of Lyme disease. Additional symptoms of infection with Lyme disease are fever, headache, muscle and joint aches and pains, and nerve weakness indicated by facial drooping. The allergic reaction will occur within about 24 hours of a tick bite and gets less red over time, lasts about a week, and does not enlarge over time. It is important not to confuse this typical presentation of Lyme disease with an allergic reaction to tick saliva, which does not indicate infection. The rash is called Erythema Migrans (EM) and occurs at the site of the bite in 70% of people with Lyme disease about 1 – 2 weeks after the bite and expands over time to be as large as 8 – 12 inches in diameter it can be hot, but is usually not itchy or painful. This rash is typically pink or red and can have a skin colored ring near the center which makes it look like a “bulls eye”. Symptoms of Lyme disease include: the typical “bulls eye” rash at the site of the bite, and later can occur all over the body. Transmission can occur in the fall from an adult deer tick but this is rare. Lyme disease is most prevalent in the spring and summer months with a peak incidence in June and July in Maryland. ![]() Therefore, daily tick checks and removal of ticks before they become engorged will greatly reduce the chances of becoming ill from a tick bite. The tick must be attached to the skin and feeding for 24 to 72 hours in order to pass on Lyme disease, but the risk of transmission of the infection is 0% – 1% if it is attached for less than 72 hours, and up to 25% for ticks attached for 72 hours or longer (Shapiro, 2014). Lyme disease is transmitted when the nymph tick, about the size of a poppy seed, attaches firmly to the skin and consumes a blood meal. It is caused by the Borrelia burgdoferi bacteria in the United States which is carried by the black legged tick, commonly referred to as the deer tick. Lyme disease is most prevalent in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and upper Midwestern states. When most people think of illnesses associated with tick bites, they think of Lyme disease. This article will discuss common illnesses associated with tick bites and their symptoms, how to minimize the chances of getting a tick bite, and what to do if you find a tick on you or on your child. Many are easily treated when the symptoms are recognized early. Most bites, especially when the tick is discovered soon after attaching, do not cause illness however tick borne diseases can range from mild to severe. Tick bites are a common occurrence during the spring and summer months. Ruegg, CPNP The Bay Pediatric Center, Easton, MD 21601
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