What will happen if a tick is not removed? - briefly
Leaving an attached tick raises the chance of pathogen transmission—including Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and anaplasmosis—and can cause local inflammation or secondary infection. Prompt removal within 24 hours sharply lowers these risks.
What will happen if a tick is not removed? - in detail
Leaving a tick attached to the skin can lead to several medical complications. The most immediate concern is the transmission of pathogens. Many disease‑causing organisms require the tick to remain attached for a minimum period—typically 24 to 48 hours—before they are transferred to the host. If the parasite is not removed within this window, the risk of infection rises sharply.
Potential outcomes include:
- Lyme disease – caused by Borrelia burgdorferi; symptoms may appear weeks after the bite and can progress to joint, cardiac, or neurological involvement if untreated.
- Rocky Mountain spotted fever – transmitted by Rickettsia rickettsii; early signs are fever and rash, with possible severe vasculitis if therapy is delayed.
- Anaplasmosis and ehrlichiosis – bacterial infections producing fever, muscle pain, and leukopenia; can become life‑threatening without prompt antibiotics.
- Babesiosis – protozoan infection leading to hemolytic anemia; high‑risk patients may develop severe complications.
- Tick‑borne encephalitis – viral disease affecting the central nervous system; may result in meningitis or encephalitis.
- Tick paralysis – neurotoxic proteins released by some species cause ascending weakness; removal of the tick usually reverses symptoms, but prolonged attachment can lead to respiratory failure.
- Localized skin reactions – erythema, swelling, or ulceration at the bite site; secondary bacterial infection can develop if the area is scratched or contaminated.
The likelihood of severe disease correlates with the duration of attachment, the tick species, and the geographic prevalence of specific pathogens. Prompt extraction—ideally within the first 24 hours—substantially reduces the probability of transmission. Failure to remove the arthropod also increases the chance of secondary bacterial infection due to skin breakdown and chronic inflammation.
In summary, an unattended tick poses a multi‑faceted health risk: infectious disease, neurotoxic effects, and local tissue damage. Immediate removal and medical evaluation are essential to mitigate these threats.