How is a tick bite treated in humans? - briefly
Remove the attached tick using fine‑point tweezers, grasping close to the skin and pulling upward with steady pressure, then disinfect the bite site and watch for rash, fever, or other signs of infection, seeking medical evaluation if any develop.
How is a tick bite treated in humans? - in detail
When a tick attaches to the skin, immediate removal is the first therapeutic step. Grasp the tick as close to the mouthparts as possible with fine‑point tweezers, pull straight upward with steady pressure, and avoid crushing the body. After extraction, clean the site with an antiseptic solution such as povidone‑iodine or chlorhexidine and cover with a sterile bandage.
Observation of the bite area continues for at least 30 days. If a red expanding rash (erythema migrans) or flu‑like symptoms appear, prompt medical evaluation is required, because these signs may indicate transmission of Borrelia burgdorferi or other pathogens.
Pharmacologic treatment depends on the identified or suspected infection:
- Lyme disease – oral doxycycline 100 mg twice daily for 10–21 days (children ≥8 years and adults). Alternative regimens: amoxicillin or cefuroxime axetil for patients unable to tolerate doxycycline.
- Anaplasmosis – doxycycline 100 mg twice daily for 7–14 days.
- Babesiosis – combination of atovaquone 750 mg daily plus azithromycin 500 mg daily for 7–10 days; severe cases require clindamycin plus quinine.
- Rocky Mountain spotted fever – doxycycline 100 mg twice daily for 7–10 days, regardless of patient age.
- Tularemia – streptomycin 1 g intramuscularly daily for 7–10 days or gentamicin 5 mg/kg daily; doxycycline is an alternative for milder disease.
If the bite occurred in an area endemic for tick‑borne encephalitis, passive immunization with specific immunoglobulin may be considered within 48 hours, followed by active vaccination according to local protocols.
Supportive care includes analgesics for pain, antihistamines for itching, and monitoring for secondary bacterial infection. Should cellulitis develop, empiric antibiotics such as cephalexin or clindamycin are administered, adjusted based on culture results.
Patients with compromised immune systems, pregnant women, or infants require individualized regimens and closer follow‑up. Documentation of the tick species, removal date, and any systemic manifestations facilitates accurate diagnosis and treatment planning.