What are Ticks and How Do they Bite?

Ticks are spider-like ectoparasites that consume blood. They measure poppy seed to grape-sized in adulthood and live in woodland, tall grassland, and thicket.

After locating the host, the tick finds shelter in warm, moist areas—frequently the scalp, armpit, groin, or upper back of the ears. The tick uses modified mouthparts to puncture the skin and insert a barbed tube-feeding instrument into tissue beneath. Ticks most frequently release a cement-like material that resists expulsion and saliva containing anesthetic compounds that anesthetize the bite.

Human tick bites on humans will be anywhere but like warm, hidden places. Dog tick bites on dogs will likely to be on ears, neck, between the toes, and on skin foldings. The longer the duration of tick bite, the greater the transmission of the disease, hence tick bites must be located as early as possible.

Symptoms of Tick Bites

Early recognition of tick bite identification symptoms makes it possible for early treatment. Most tick bites are not reactive at first, but the patient must look out for warning signs:

Immediate Symptoms:

  • Redness or itching where bite has occurred
  • Small red papule where bite occurred
  • Tick bite swelling where tick bite occurred

Tick Bite Rash Patterns:

  • Bull's-eye rash: Round tick bite rash with transparent center, typical of tick bite Lyme disease, 3-30 days following the bite
  • Red, spreading rash: Any rash that spreads is medially assessed
  • Multiple rashes: Rashes distant from the area of the bite are highly suggestive of systemic infection

Systemic Symptoms (days to weeks after the bite):

  • Fever and chills
  • Headache and weakness
  • Muscle and joint aching
  • Swollen lymph nodes

Tick bite vs mosquito bite:

  • Tick bites typically have a darker visible lesion (the tick) in the center if attached
  • Tick bites are not as pruritic on first bite as mosquito bites
  • Tick swelling is local
  • Mosquito bites can be felt immediately, but tick bites cannot be felt for days or even hours

Health Risks Associated with Tick Bites

Medical consequences of tick bite complications are beyond the local immediate cutaneous reaction. Ticks transmit a variety of diseases-causing pathogens:

  • Lyme Disease: Most common tick-borne disease, tick bite Lyme disease is caused by an infected black-legged tick. Its symptoms and signs are bull's-eye rash, fever, fatigue, and joint pain. It causes arthritis, neurologic sequelae, and cardiac sequelae in the absence of treatment.
  • Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever: Typically fatal illness, with headache, fever, rashes with spots, and immediate antibiotic treatment.
  • Anaplasmosis and Ehrlichiosis: Bacterial infection with potential to produce flu-like illness potentially fatal in immunocompromised host.
  • Babesiosis: Parasitic red blood cell disease with extremely high mortality in splenectomized individuals or compromised immune status.
  • Powassan Virus: Fatal but rare viral illness with ability to cause inflammation of the brain without cure.
  • Alpha-gal Syndrome: Two tick bites cause an allergy against red meat that triggers hives, queasy stomach, and potentially fatal anaphylaxis.
Risk of disease transmission is carried time-sensitive. All pathogens require 24-48 hours of feeding time to get transmitted, thus the tick bite removal becomes highly imperative.

How Do You Remove a Tick Safely?

Safe removal of tick will lower the chances of infection. Follow the below mentioned safe removal process of the tick:

What You'll Need:

  • Fine-point tweezers or tick remover
  • Rubbing alcohol or antiseptic wipes
  • Sealed container (where to put the tick in order to test it)

Removal Steps:

  • Wash your hands with soap and water
  • Pinch the tick as near to the skin surface as possible with fine-tip tweezers
  • Pull straight up using firm steady pressure without jerking or twisting
  • Remove all mouthparts
  • Wash bite area and hands thoroughly
  • Submerge tick in a small vial of rubbing alcohol
  • Watch for infection or rash at bite area within a few weeks

What NOT to Do:

  • Do not apply petroleum jelly, nail polish, or heat—these enhance the chance of disease transmission
  • Do not twist or jerk the tick
  • Do not squeeze the tick between your hand

Read More: What You Must Know About Bed Bug Bites Treatment And Prevention


Prevention Tips: How to Protect Yourself from Tick Bites

The most effective measure in preventing tick bite prevention and hence avoiding tick-borne diseases:

Personal Protection:

  • Wear clothing: Long-sleeved shirts, long pants and socks, and closed shoes. Ticks are readily visible when dressed in light-colored garments.
  • Apply repellents: Spray EPA-registered insect repellents with DEET (20-30%), picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus. Treating clothes with permethrin.
  • Stay on the trail: Walk in the center of the path, not in grass and brush where ticks are waiting to surprise you.
  • Avoid holiday weekends: Ticks are active from April to September, most active during spring.

Post-Outdoor Activity:

  • Do body tick checks: Check all of your body, particularly scalp, behind ears, armpit, groin, and behind knees.
  • Check pets: Check animals in very good detail, particularly tick bites on the dog.
  • Shower on time: Shower within two hours to kill loose ticks.
  • Drying clothes tumbling: Dry clothes on hot dryer for 10 minutes to kill other ticks.

Environmental Control:

  • Mowing yards and leaf litter removal
  • Building barriers on yards and woods
  • Woodpiles stacked in open, sunny areas away from the home

When to see a doctor for tick bites:

  • Any rash following a tick bite
  • Fever several weeks after a tick bite
  • Flu-like syndrome after woods or other infesting tick areas
  • Headache or arthralgia that is persistent
  • The tick was worn for more than 24 hours
  • Infection signs at the bite site
Your doctor will also administer preventive antibiotics in treating tick bite treatment if you're already within a high-risk area and the tick was worn for a few hours.

Conclusion

Ticks are danger to your health in the form of disease transmission, but knowledge of tick bite signs, tick removal, and prevention minimizes your risk. Tick checking from time to time, prevention, and early removal of tick bites are your best defense measures. Take care when outside, look for tick-borne disease warning signs, and seek immediate medical help in the event of a sign of suspicion. Through all these acquired precautions, you can step outside without self-injury and avoid tick bite complications.

Please book an appointment with the best Dermatologist in Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad, and all major cities of Pakistan through Instacare, or call our helpline at 03171777509 to find a verified doctor for your disease.