What happens to the body after a tick bite? - briefly
The bite injects saliva with anticoagulants and possible pathogens, causing immediate redness, itching, and a small swelling at the attachment site. If an infection is transmitted, systemic signs such as fever, fatigue, joint pain, or neurological symptoms may develop, depending on the specific tick‑borne disease.
What happens to the body after a tick bite? - in detail
A tick attaches to the skin by inserting its hypostome, a barbed feeding organ, and secretes saliva that contains anticoagulants, anesthetics and immunomodulatory proteins. The anesthetic component often prevents the host from feeling the bite, allowing the parasite to feed for several days.
Within minutes, the immune system recognizes foreign proteins in the saliva. Mast cells release histamine, producing a localized erythema and mild swelling. In many cases the lesion evolves into a circular red macule, commonly called a “bull’s‑eye” rash, which may appear 3–30 days after attachment if Borrelia burgdorferi infection occurs.
Pathogens transmitted by ticks can be divided into bacterial, viral and protozoan agents. The most frequent are:
- «Borrelia burgdorferi» – causes Lyme disease; early symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue and the characteristic expanding rash.
- «Anaplasma phagocytophilum» – leads to anaplasmosis; presents with fever, chills, myalgia and leukopenia.
- «Ehrlichia chaffeensis» – responsible for ehrlichiosis; produces similar systemic signs plus elevated liver enzymes.
- «Babesia microti» – a protozoan that triggers babesiosis; hemolytic anemia and thrombocytopenia may develop.
- «Rickettsia rickettsii» – causes Rocky Mountain spotted fever; manifests as high fever, rash on wrists and ankles, and potential vascular injury.
Systemic involvement follows dissemination of the pathogen from the bite site via the bloodstream. Cytokine release generates fever, malaise and muscle aches. In severe cases, immune complexes deposit in tissues, leading to arthritis, neurologic deficits or cardiac conduction abnormalities.
Diagnostic evaluation typically includes:
- Serologic testing for specific antibodies (IgM, IgG) against the suspected agent.
- Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on blood or tissue samples to detect microbial DNA.
- Complete blood count to identify leukopenia, thrombocytopenia or anemia.
- Liver function tests when hepatic involvement is suspected.
Treatment depends on the identified organism. Doxycycline is first‑line for most bacterial tick‑borne infections, administered for 10–21 days. Severe manifestations may require intravenous ceftriaxone or alternative agents. Antiparasitic therapy with atovaquone‑azithromycin is indicated for babesiosis, often combined with supportive care for hemolysis.
Prevention focuses on rapid removal of the attached tick using fine‑pointed tweezers, grasping the mouthparts close to the skin and pulling upward with steady pressure. Prompt extraction reduces the likelihood of pathogen transmission, which typically requires 24–48 hours of feeding.
Overall, a tick bite initiates a cascade of local inflammatory reactions, potential pathogen entry, systemic immune activation and, if untreated, organ‑specific complications. Early recognition and appropriate antimicrobial therapy mitigate long‑term sequelae.