What does an engorged tick on a person look like? - briefly
An engorged tick looks like a swollen, balloon‑shaped creature, typically gray‑brown to reddish, with its body expanded several times larger than when unfed and a visible, curved mouthpart protruding from the skin. It may appear glossy and feels firm to the touch.
What does an engorged tick on a person look like? - in detail
An engorged tick attached to human skin appears markedly larger than an unfed specimen, often reaching 5–10 mm in length and up to 12 mm in width. The body expands into a balloon‑like shape, with the abdomen stretched and rounded, while the head and legs remain relatively unchanged.
Color varies with species and feeding stage. Commonly, the abdomen becomes a deep reddish‑brown or grayish‑black hue, sometimes with a glossy sheen. The dorsal surface may show a slight translucency, allowing the underlying blood to be visible as a faint pinkish glow.
The surface texture turns smooth and glossy, contrasting with the rough, scaly exoskeleton of a flat tick. Legs remain short and tucked close to the body, making the parasite resemble a small, dark, oval bump rather than an insect.
Key visual indicators include:
- Sudden increase in size within hours to days after attachment
- Rounded, swollen abdomen dominating the silhouette
- Dark, uniform coloration with occasional lighter patches near the ventral side
- Lack of movement; the tick remains firmly embedded, often with a visible mouthpart (hypostome) protruding from the skin
Location on the host does not alter appearance, but areas with thin skin (scalp, armpits, groin) may make the engorged tick more conspicuous. Removal should be performed with fine‑pointed tweezers, grasping the tick as close to the skin as possible to avoid leaving mouthparts embedded.