What happens to a person when a tick bites them? - briefly
A tick insertion deposits saliva with anticoagulants, causing a tiny, often painless red papule at the bite site. If pathogens such as Borrelia or viruses are transmitted, symptoms may progress to rash, fever, or other systemic signs.
What happens to a person when a tick bites them? - in detail
A tick attaches by inserting its mouthparts into the skin and secreting saliva that contains anticoagulants, anti‑inflammatory agents and enzymes. This cocktail prevents clotting, reduces pain and creates a suitable environment for the parasite to feed for several days.
During the feeding period, the tick can transmit a range of pathogens. The most common agents include:
- Borrelia burgdorferi – the bacterium that causes Lyme disease; transmission usually requires ≥ 36 hours of attachment.
- Rickettsia rickettsii – responsible for Rocky Mountain spotted fever; transmission may occur within a few hours.
- Anaplasma phagocytophilum – causes anaplasmosis; risk rises after 24 hours of feeding.
- Babesia microti – a protozoan that leads to babesiosis; transmission time similar to Lyme disease.
- Powassan virus – a flavivirus; can be transmitted in less than an hour.
The host’s immediate response is a localized erythema at the bite site. A characteristic «bull’s‑eye» rash may develop in Lyme disease, appearing 3–30 days after the bite. Systemic symptoms can follow, such as fever, headache, muscle aches, fatigue and, in severe cases, neurological or cardiac involvement.
Allergic reactions range from mild itching to anaphylaxis, though the latter is rare. In some individuals, a hypersensitivity to tick saliva can produce a pronounced local swelling, known as a «tick‑bite granuloma».
Proper removal is critical. Using fine‑pointed tweezers, the tick should be grasped as close to the skin as possible and pulled upward with steady pressure, avoiding crushing the body. After removal, the bite area should be cleaned with antiseptic; the tick can be preserved for laboratory identification if disease symptoms develop.
Monitoring for signs of infection for up to four weeks after the bite enables early diagnosis and treatment. Antibiotic therapy, typically doxycycline, is effective for most bacterial infections if initiated promptly. Antiviral or antiparasitic treatments are applied according to the specific pathogen identified.