What should you do if a tick bites you and what are the symptoms in people? - briefly
If a tick attaches, use fine‑tipped tweezers to grasp it as close to the skin as possible, pull upward with steady pressure, then clean the bite area and wash your hands. Monitor for fever, headache, fatigue, muscle aches, or an expanding red rash (often bullseye‑shaped) in the following weeks and seek medical attention promptly if any symptoms develop.
What should you do if a tick bites you and what are the symptoms in people? - in detail
If a tick attaches to the skin, grasp it with fine‑point tweezers as close to the mouthparts as possible. Pull upward with steady pressure, avoiding twisting or squeezing the body. After removal, clean the area with antiseptic and wash hands thoroughly. Preserve the specimen in a sealed container if identification or testing may be required later.
Observe the bite site for several days. Typical early signs include a small, red bump that may expand to a target‑shaped rash (often called a “bull’s‑eye”). Fever, headache, fatigue, muscle aches, and joint pain can appear within a week of the bite. These symptoms may indicate infection with Borrelia burgdorferi (Lyme disease) or other tick‑borne pathogens.
Later manifestations can develop weeks to months after exposure. Possible developments are:
- Persistent or migrating erythema migrans lesions
- Neurological complaints such as facial palsy, meningitis‑like headache, or peripheral neuropathy
- Cardiac involvement presenting as irregular heartbeat or heart block
- Joint swelling, particularly in the knees, resembling arthritis
If any of these signs emerge, seek medical evaluation promptly. Laboratory testing may include serology for Lyme disease, PCR for other agents, or complete blood count to assess inflammation. Early antibiotic therapy, typically doxycycline or amoxicillin, reduces the risk of long‑term complications.