What will happen if a tick remains inside the body? - briefly
An engorged tick can introduce pathogens such as «Lyme disease», Rocky Mountain spotted fever, or other infections, causing fever, rash, or joint pain. Prompt removal lowers risk, but established infection may require antibiotic treatment.
What will happen if a tick remains inside the body? - in detail
A tick that stays attached after feeding can cause several medical problems.
During the feeding period, the parasite inserts its mouthparts into the skin and secretes saliva that contains anticoagulants, immunomodulatory proteins and, in some species, pathogens. If the tick remains in place for several days, the following complications may arise:
- Transmission of bacterial, viral or protozoan agents such as Borrelia burgdorferi (Lyme disease), Anaplasma phagocytophilum (anaplasmosis), Rickettsia spp. (spotted fever) and tick‑borne encephalitis virus. Pathogen transfer typically occurs after the tick has been attached for 24–48 hours.
- Local tissue irritation and inflammation, leading to erythema, swelling and itching at the bite site. Secondary bacterial infection can develop if the skin barrier is breached.
- Development of an allergic reaction to tick saliva, which may manifest as urticaria, angioedema or systemic hypersensitivity.
- Induction of tick‑borne paralysis in susceptible individuals. Certain tick species secrete neurotoxins that interfere with neuromuscular transmission; symptoms progress from mild weakness to respiratory failure if the tick is not removed promptly.
- Formation of a granulomatous nodule around the embedded mouthparts when the tick detaches incompletely, resulting in a persistent, sometimes painful, subcutaneous mass.
Early removal of the arthropod reduces the risk of disease transmission. Mechanical extraction with fine forceps, grasping the tick as close to the skin as possible and pulling steadily downward, is the recommended method. After removal, the bite area should be cleaned with antiseptic, and the patient monitored for fever, rash, joint pain, neurological signs or any other abnormal symptoms for at least two weeks. If any of these manifestations appear, medical evaluation and appropriate laboratory testing are indicated.