What is a Tick Bite? Symptoms and Treatment

by Abbas Jahangir · June 22, 2024

There are more than five thousand known species of ticks, and they are in the class of mites, one sub-class of arachnids. The terms tick and mite are sometimes used interchangeably among the public. However, species that feed on plants are generally called mites, while species that survive as parasites on the bodies of warm-blooded animals are called ticks. With the arrival of spring months and nature becoming more active, it may become more possible for ticks to bite people as more time is spent in parks and gardens.

What is a Tick Bite?

Ticks, which live as parasites on warm-blooded animals, adhere to the skin surface, suck human or animal blood, and survive by feeding in this way. Ticks, which prefer warm and humid areas, attach to areas where these conditions are met when they reach the animal or human body. This condition is called tick bite or tick bite. Ticks, which generally reach animals more easily in nature and are commonly seen on animals, can also bite humans. The places where a tick is most likely to be found on the human body are the armpits, places where hair and bristles are dense, and the groin area. Ticks, which find a suitable spot on the human body, attach to the human body by biting and suck blood. Many insect species leave the human body immediately after biting them. However, unlike these pests, ticks remain attached to the body at the point where they bite. Ticks do not only suck blood after biting the body. In addition, they can also release some secretions into the body that may be harmful to the human body. The human body protects the body against harmful substances that may come from ticks. However, if a tick remains unnoticed on the body for a long time, it can lead to risky consequences in some cases. Ticks can stay in their current location for approximately 10 days until they are fully saturated. At the end of the period, they spontaneously leave the body and leave this point.

Tick Bite Symptoms

In some cases, a nonpoisonous tick bite may not cause any symptoms. However, tick bite symptoms are quite noticeable, especially for people with allergies. Weakening or complete loss of reflexes may be among the most common symptoms. This is often accompanied by muscle weakness. Symptoms of tick bites may include pain and swelling in the area where the tick bites. Additionally, rashes or blisters may also appear in the same area. A burning sensation in the bitten area is also among the possible symptoms. In rare cases, difficulty in breathing may occur. If ticks do not carry any infectious agents, fever is not among the expected symptoms. However, on the contrary, ticks infected with a virus harmful to the human body can cause more serious symptoms. Among these symptoms;

Intense or mild headache,
Weakness and body rash,
Nausea and vomiting,
Fire,
swelling of lymph nodes,
Pain in muscles and joints,
There is neck stiffness.

In case of a tick bite, you should contact healthcare institutions without waiting to see any symptoms or side effects of tick bite. It is very important to consult a doctor as soon as possible before trying to remove a tick in order to be protected from infectious diseases. Because early diagnosis and treatment is important to prevent diseases that can spread from ticks to humans to prevent them from harming people. Early diagnosis is very important for the treatment of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever or some other diseases such as tick-borne Lyme Disease or Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.

What should be done in case of a tick bite?

The most common mistake in case of a tick bite is trying to remove the tick unconsciously. A person who sees a tick clinging to his body should directly contact a healthcare institution without taking any action on his own. If it is not removed correctly with the appropriate technique, the tick may break apart or release the poison or infectious agents it carries into the body, causing various diseases. Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever is the most common. Therefore, taking these risks into consideration, the most effective method is to consult a healthcare institution without wasting time. After the tick is removed professionally in a health institution, some tests need to be performed to investigate whether there is any tick-borne infection. For this reason, disease agents that can be transmitted through ticks are usually investigated by performing a series of blood tests. Additionally, it is necessary to take various precautions to protect against tick bites. People who spend time in risky areas, especially those who live in rural areas, do farming or animal husbandry, need to have their bodies protected against tick bites during their daily work. Tick repellent sprays, choosing clothes that cover all parts of the body, and checking the body at the end of the day are among some effective protection methods. In addition, choosing light-coloured clothes will be beneficial for people who spend time in rural areas, as it will make ticks easier to spot. People who have pets such as cats and dogs should take care to have their animals treated and checked for parasites on time. If your pet goes on outdoor excursions, the animal should be checked for ticks or other parasites after the excursion.

Tick Bite Treatment

Tick bite treatment is among the treatments that should be done without delay, and every minute lost can negatively affect human life. For this reason, once a bite is detected, it is necessary to consult the nearest health institution without wasting time. After applying to a health institution, the tick is removed from its location using the correct methods and the area is cleaned with appropriate medications. Immediately afterwards, a blood test is performed to determine whether the tick has transmitted any virus to the human body. Patients who are not infected in any way are discharged and called to the hospital for a repeat blood test for control purposes. In infected patients, treatment is started without delay. Early diagnosis and treatment are very important, especially in the treatment of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever. Electrolyte and fluid balance is maintained in order to re-regulate the patient’s disturbed physiological balance. In addition, clotting factor and fresh blood can be transferred to prevent clotting disorders. It is also very important to control the high fever seen especially in Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever. For this purpose, the necessary medications are given to the patient without wasting any time. The healing process of patients who receive timely intervention and appropriate treatment can begin approximately on the 10th day. Depending on the condition of the infection in the body and the individual characteristics of the patient, the treatment period may take up to 1 month. “Does a tick bite kill?” The answer to the question can be answered as “No” if appropriate treatments are applied on time. However, it is very important to seek medical attention immediately after the bite.

If you have been exposed to a tick bite, you should consult a health institution without delay. This way, you can get the necessary treatments and regain your health without wasting time.