What happens to a person after a tick bite? - briefly
A tick attachment may introduce infectious agents, most commonly causing a red, expanding rash (erythema migrans) accompanied by fever, headache, and fatigue; without prompt treatment, the infection can advance to joint, cardiac, or neurological complications.
What happens to a person after a tick bite? - in detail
A tick attaches to the skin, inserts its mouthparts, and begins to feed on blood. The bite site may appear as a small, painless papule; a tiny round scar (eschar) can develop if the tick’s salivary secretions cause local necrosis. Immediate symptoms are often limited to mild itching or a faint redness that expands as the tick remains attached.
If the tick stays attached for 24–48 hours, pathogens present in its saliva can be transmitted. The most common agents include:
- Borrelia burgdorferi – causes Lyme disease; early signs are an expanding erythema migrans rash, fever, fatigue, headache, and arthralgia. Without treatment, infection can spread to joints, heart, and nervous system.
- Rickettsia rickettsii – responsible for Rocky Mountain spotted fever; presents with sudden fever, headache, rash that begins on wrists and ankles and spreads centrally, and potential vascular damage.
- Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Ehrlichia chaffeensis – produce anaplasmosis and ehrlichiosis; symptoms include fever, chills, myalgia, and leukopenia.
- Babesia microti – leads to babesiosis; manifests as hemolytic anemia, fever, and chills, especially severe in immunocompromised patients.
- Tick‑borne encephalitis virus – induces flu‑like illness followed by meningitis or encephalitis in a minority of cases.
The incubation period varies by pathogen, ranging from 3 days (Rickettsia) to 2 weeks (Borrelia). Laboratory confirmation may involve serology, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), or blood smear, depending on the suspected disease.
Treatment protocols differ:
- Lyme disease: doxycycline 100 mg twice daily for 10–21 days; alternative agents include amoxicillin or cefuroxime.
- Rocky Mountain spotted fever: doxycycline 100 mg twice daily for at least 7 days, regardless of patient age.
- Anaplasmosis and ehrlichiosis: doxycycline 100 mg twice daily for 10 days.
- Babesiosis: combination of atovaquone and azithromycin for 7–10 days; severe cases may require clindamycin plus quinine.
- Tick‑borne encephalitis: supportive care; no specific antiviral therapy.
If symptoms appear, prompt medical evaluation is essential. Early antibiotic administration reduces the risk of chronic complications, particularly for Lyme disease and rickettsial infections.
Prevention strategies focus on avoiding tick exposure and rapid removal. Wear long sleeves, use EPA‑registered repellents containing DEET or picaridin, and perform thorough body checks after outdoor activities. Tick extraction with fine‑pointed tweezers, grasping the head as close to the skin as possible, and pulling upward with steady pressure minimizes pathogen transmission.