Odds Of Catching Lyme Disease From A Tick Bite
The chance of catching Lyme disease from an individual tick ranges from roughly zero to 50 percent. Risk of contracting Lyme disease from a tick bite depends on three factors: the tick species, where the tick came from, and how long it was biting you. Thats why the sooner you can remove the entire tick, the lower your chances of contracting a tick-borne disease.
Where we live makes a difference in these odds, too. We live in the upper Midwest, and unfortunately for us, a recent study found that up to 50 percent of blacklegged ticks are infected with Lyme disease. The Centers for Disease Control, however, state that it takes a tick 36 to 48 hours attached to the skin to transmit symptoms from tick bites and tick-borne disease.
Whether or not that timeframe is true, I cant say for sure. But I can say that Lyme disease is preventable, and taking a proactive approach to avoiding tick bites can save you a lot of aggravation. If you do spot a tick on yourself or your child, take them to the doctor or Firelands Regional Medical Center QuickCare, where they may be prescribed antibiotics. You can even opt to have the tick tested for Lyme disease.
Most of the time tick bites are harmless and symptoms from tick bites are rare. However general symptoms from tick bites include:
Dr. Mark Schmiedl
- Pain or swelling on the bite site
- Burning sensation on the bite site
- Blisters
- Red spot or rash near the bite site
- Full body rash
- Muscle or joint pain or achiness
- Fever
Which Ticks Should I Worry About
Nymphal ticks cause most cases of Lyme disease. Because nymphs are as small as poppy seeds and their bite is painless, people often dont realize they have been bitten. Adult ticks can also infect humans, but are easier to spot and remove.
Not all ticks are infected. Because tick studies have only been done in a relatively few places, in most of the US, tick infection rates are unknown. Even in places where ticks generally do not carry Lyme, there may be hotspots of infection depending on local conditions. The tick infection rate may also change from year to year, even in one location.
To get a better idea of which tick-borne diseases have been found in your area, check this site.
How Long Does It Take The Tick To Transmit Lyme
Experts disagree about how long it takes a tick to transmit Lyme disease. The CDC says that in most cases, the tick must be attached more than 24 hours.
We think that gives people a false sense of security. In some research studies, 5-7% of nymphs transmitted the Lyme bacteria in less than 24 hours. One paper reported on a case of Lyme disease transmitted after six hours of tick attachment. The risk may be low the first day, but its not zero.
Furthermore, some studies show that only 30% of patients with Lyme disease recall a tick bite. If people dont even realize that they were bitten, how could they know how long the tick was attached?
The longer a tick stays on you, the more likely it will transmit disease. Its important to find and remove any tick as soon as possible.
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Diseases Transmitted By Ticks
In the United States, some ticks carry pathogens that can cause human disease, including:
This list shows the most common tickborne diseases outside the United States, but does not list every disease.
Note: Anaplasmosis, babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, tularemia, tickborne relapsing fever, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and Powassan disease can also be acquired internationally.
What Are The Complications Of Lyme Disease
Lyme disease affects people differently. Relapse and incomplete treatment responses happen. Relapse and incomplete treatment responses happen. Complications of untreated early-stage disease include:
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Joint disease
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Frequent hospitalizations to manage the disease
Some of these complications result in chronic, debilitating conditions.
Some people may develop post-Lyme disease syndrome . A condition also known as chronic Lyme disease includes PLDS, but also other syndromes. Usually, these are characterized by persistent musculoskeletal and peripheral nerve pain, fatigue, and memory impairment.
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Deer Tick Lyme Disease Pictures
Of the over 80 types of ticks active in North America, there are only seven species that can transmit disease to humans through its bite. The deer tick, or blacklegged tick can transmit Lyme disease and other illnesses to its hosts.Ticks are most easily identified in their adult stage, but disease can be transmitted in the nymph stage as well.
Do All Ticks Cause Lyme Disease
Do all ticks cause lyme diseaseDISCLAIMER: The Lyme Disease Association, Inc. provides referrals to health care providers who treat Lyme disease, and often other TBD, as a courtesy to those seeking Lyme Literate Physicians . However, some of the providers included do not specifically treat Lyme and TBD but see patients who have symptoms associated with Lyme and TBD to.
DISCLAIMER: The Lyme Disease Association, Inc. provides referrals to health care providers who treat Lyme disease, and often other TBD, as a courtesy to those seeking Lyme Literate Physicians . However, some of the providers included do not specifically treat Lyme and TBD but see patients who have symptoms associated with Lyme and TBD to address those.
Not all ticks carry the Lyme disease bacteria. Depending on the location, anywhere from less than 1% to more than 50% of the ticks are infected with it. While most tick bites are harmless, several species can cause life-threatening diseases.
Deer do not harbor the bacteria that cause Lyme disease, but certain other hosts such as white-footed mice do, and ticks pick up the bacteria by feeding on these infected hosts. Studies provide evidence that climate change has contributed to the expanded range of ticks, 4 increasing the potential risk of Lyme disease, such as in areas of Canada .
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Lyme Disease Signs And Symptoms
Most symptoms of Lyme disease in humans usually appear between three and 30 days after a bite from an infected blacklegged tick.
You should contact your local public health unit or speak to a health care professional right away if you have been somewhere that ticks might live and experience any of the following symptoms:
- rash
- a bulls-eye rash (a red patch on the skin that is usually round or oval and more than 5 cm that spreads outwards and is getting bigger
- a bruise-like rash
- another type of unusual rash
- muscle aches and joint pains
- fatigue
- swollen lymph nodes
- spasms, numbness or tingling
- facial paralysis
If not treated, Lyme disease can make you feel tired and weak and, if it gets really bad, it can even harm your heart, nerves, liver and joints. Symptoms from untreated Lyme disease can last years and include recurring arthritis and neurological problems, numbness, paralysis and, in very rare cases, death.
Should I Have The Tick Tested For Lyme Disease
No, testing a tick for Lyme disease is not helpful. It is usually not the tick you find, but the tick that you dont find that gives you Lyme. A tick that tests negative for Lyme may only give you false assurance. If you live somewhere with Lyme disease, it is best to assume that the deer tick that bit you is infected and can spread the infection.
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What Does Lyme Disease Do To You
Though the signs and symptoms of Lyme disease vary, there is one common thread among them: these symptoms usually come in stages. They usually start with either the identification and removal of a tick or from a small, red bump, similar to a mosquito bite. Note that, according to the Mayo Clinic, these tick bite bumps dont always indicate the presence of Lyme disease, just of a previous tick.
About a month later, youre likely to experience other symptoms such as an expanding red area coming out from the bite that often clears in the center, forming a bulls eye pattern. This skin rash can expand to 12 inches in diameter. You can also develop a fever or chills, body aches, headaches, or neck stiffness and swollen lymph nodes.
You should see a doctor if you experience any of these symptoms. If Lyme disease goes untreated, you could develop debilitating joint pain, swelling, and even neurological problems, such as Bells palsy or impaired muscle movement. Remember: the earlier you begin treatment, the less severe your bought with this tough disease will likely be.
What Happens At Your Appointment
The GP will ask about your symptoms and consider any rash or recent tick bites you know about.
Lyme disease can be difficult to diagnose. It has similar symptoms to other conditions and there’s not always an obvious rash.
2 types of blood test are available to help confirm or rule out Lyme disease. But these tests are not always accurate in the early stages of the disease.
You may need to be retested if you still have Lyme disease symptoms after a negative result.
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Is There A Vaccine That Will Protect My Dog From Lyme Disease
A safe and generally effective vaccine is available for protecting dogs against Lyme disease. This vaccine is initially given twice, at two- to four-week intervals.
“Annual revaccination is necessary to maintain immunity.”
Annual revaccination is necessary to maintain immunity. Vaccination against Lyme disease will be determined by your pet’s lifestyle and individual risk assessment. Be sure to discuss any questions you may have regarding the type and frequency of vaccination with your veterinarian.
What Should You Do If You Find A Tick
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Don’t touch the tick with your bare hand.
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Use a pair of tweezers to remove the tick. Grab the tick firmly by its mouth or head as close to your skin as possible.
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Pull up slowly and steadily without twisting until it lets go. Don’t squeeze the tick, and don’t use petroleum jelly, solvents, knives, or a lit match to kill the tick.
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Save the tick. Place it in a plastic container or bag so it can be tested for disease, if needed.
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Wash the bite area well with soap and water and put an antiseptic lotion or cream on the site.
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How Do I Remove A Tick
You should know how to remove a tick just in case one lands on you or a friend. To be safe, remove the tick as soon as possible.
If you find a tick:
- Use tweezers to grasp the tick firmly at its head or mouth, next to your skin.
- Pull firmly and steadily on the tick until it lets go of the skin. If part of the tick stays in your skin, don’t worry. It will eventually come out. But call your doctor if you notice any irritation in the area or symptoms of Lyme disease.
- Swab the bite site with alcohol.
Note: Don’t use petroleum jelly or a lit match to kill a tick. They won’t get the tick off your skin quickly enough, and may just cause it to burrow deeper into your skin.
Do All Ticks Carry Lyme Disease
The warm weather is here! Time for fresh air fun with hiking, camping and trips to the beach. But warmer weather also brings some things that are not so welcome: ticks and the germs they spread.
If you find a tick attached to you or to your child, what do you do? Do you need to worry about Lyme disease? Not always, says Aryeh Baer, M.D., a pediatric infectious diseases specialist at Joseph M. Sanzari Childrens Hospital. And even if Lyme disease is a concern, theres no need to panic, says Dr. Baer. Like so many other infections, Lyme disease is perfectly treatable.
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How Do You Prevent A Tick Bite In The First Place
Ticks can get onto humans when they brush up against tall grasses, bushes, trees, or leaves. One way to avoid them is to walk in the center of trails when outside.
You can also treat your clothing with a tick-repelling chemical called permethrin. There are several products on the market, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggest using something with a 0.5% concentration of permethrin or building pre-treated clothing and gear.
There are also insect repellents that protect against ticks, such as those containing DEET, picaridin, and other compounds. The Environmental Protection Agency has a search tool that helps users identify what product is best for their needs.
Once you go back indoors, a thorough check of your body, clothing, gear, and pets is a key part of catching ticks before they have a chance to latch on and pass on any bacteria. The CDC recommends taking a shower within two hours of going indoors and checking your entire body for the creepy crawlies, particularly in the crevices, folds, and where hair grows on your body.
If you find a tick attached to yourself, carefully remove it with fine-tipped tweezers. You want to grasp the tick as close to your skin as possible, gently pulling with steady, even pressure so that you take the entire tickincluding its mouthpartsoff your body. You can dispose of the tick by putting it in alcohol, wrapping it in tape, or putting it in some otherwise completely sealed bag or container.
What You Should Know About Dog Ticks And Lyme Disease
I found a dog tick on my ankle. Do they cause Lyme disease?
I found a dog tick on my ankle. Do they cause Lyme disease?
Not Lyme, thankfully, but dog ticks can give you Rocky Mountain spotted fever, which can be just as serious, and even fatal. Despite the name, this infection happens throughout the country, though most cases occur in five states: North Carolina, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee and Missouri. Symptoms include fever, headache, vomiting and a red, spotty rash.
There are several species of ticks, each one associated with different diseases. For example, lone star ticks are more common in the Southeast and South Central U.S. and can cause ehrlichiosis, which leads to head and muscle aches, while deer ticks are mainly in the Northeast.
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Ick, I know. But keep in mind that a bite doesnt guarantee that youll get an infection. Not every tick is diseased, and removing the bug within 24 hours can reduce the likelihood of illness. Also, you dont have to run to the doctor right away.
First remove the tick and snap a picture of it. Then, over the next few weeks, keep a close eye out for symptoms, either a red bullseye rash or a fever . If you do develop symptoms, take the photo of the tick with you to the doctor. Knowing the type of tick that bit you can help her prescribe the right antibiotics, which are effective when started early.
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If You Never Go Into The Wilderness Can You Still Encounter Ticks That Carry Lyme Disease
Yes. Suburbia creates an ideal environment to foster these ticks.
Its actually about a growing population of mice, Lewis says. In the suburbs, mice dont have a lot of predators and so their population has ballooned. And, he says, the white-footed mouse is the main carrier of ticks.
Going out into the wilderness is absolutely a risk factor, Lewis says. Ticks live in grassy, brushy, or wooded areas. Its whatever environment where mice live. Just keep in mind that Lyme comes from a little town in Connecticut, the town of Lyme. The regular people living in the town of Lyme were exposed to their backyards and parks. Thats where they picked it up.
Talk To Your Healthcare Provider
If you answer yes to the following questions, discuss the possibilities of taking antibiotics with your healthcare provider or healthcare provider:
- Were you in an area where Lyme disease is common when you acquired the tick bite?
- Was the tick attached for at least one full day?
- Has it been less than three days since you removed the tick or since it fell off of you?
Although taking antibiotics after a tick bite is not routinely recommended, it may be beneficial for some people in areas where Lyme disease is common. Your healthcare provider must determine whether the advantages of prescribing antibiotics after a tick bite outweigh the disadvantages.
For deer tick bites in which the tick was on the skin for over 24 hours, a single dose of doxycycline can decrease the chance of Lyme disease.
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Symptoms Of Lyme Disease
A circular or oval shape rash around a tick bite can be an early symptom of Lyme disease in some people.
The rash can appear up to 3 months after being bitten by an infected tick, but usually appears within 1 to 4 weeks. It can last for several weeks.
The rash can have a darker or lighter area in the centre and might gradually spread. It’s not usually hot or itchy.
The rash may be flat, or slightly raised, and look pink, red, or purple when it appears on white skin. It can be harder to see the rash on brown and black skin and it may look like a bruise.
Some people also get flu-like symptoms a few days or weeks after they were bitten by an infected tick, such as:
- a high temperature, or feeling hot and shivery
- headache
- tiredness and loss of energy
Some people with Lyme disease develop more severe symptoms months or years later.
This is more likely if treatment is delayed.
These more severe symptoms may include:
- pain and swelling in joints
- nerve problems such as pain or numbness
- heart problems
- trouble with memory or concentration
