A bite from a tick, a small creature that cannot fly and lives only in grass or low bushes, can cause a person a lot of health problems, including disability or death. We will look further into what the symptoms of a tick bite in a person and the consequences of this incident may be.
Ticks are blood-sucking organisms that belong to the arachnid family. This is the largest group in this class. Quite small arthropods, measuring a couple of millimeters in size; a large individual reaches only half a centimeter. Despite this, they can cause irreparable harm to a person. The bite of this creature is completely unnoticeable and painless. Symptoms of an encephalitis tick bite in humans appear later.
Statistics show that in the vast majority of cases, arachnids are not infected with infectious diseases and their bite, provided that the tick is noticed on the skin in time and correctly removed, will not have any unpleasant consequences, except for external visible manifestations at the site of suction.
Local symptoms of an uninfected tick bite in a person (photo below) are not dangerous in any way and appear as:
Some other general signs of an uninfected tick bite in a person may be observed, the most common of which are the following symptoms:
Let's look at what symptoms a person exhibits after being bitten by an infected tick. It is worth noting that an infected arachnid individual is no different in appearance from a non-ill one. The bite site on a person’s skin may not have any special signs; sometimes, if the tick is infected with Lyme disease (borraliosis), they may:
Other options for the development of events are also possible. A tick removed independently can be placed in a sealed container and delivered to the laboratory to determine the carriage of infections.
Or, if this is not possible, you can donate blood yourself, without waiting for a possible infection to gain momentum. Diseases carried by ticks are diagnosed in the laboratory at the earliest stages.
The most common disease carried by ticks is spring-summer tick-borne meningoencephalitis. Symptoms of an encephalitis tick bite in humans appear after an incubation period (1-2 weeks). This dangerous viral disease leads to extremely serious neurological consequences and death.
It is worth noting that out of a hundred ticks, only 6 individuals are carriers of the virus. About 2-6% of those who are bitten can get sick from them.
Symptoms after an encephalitis tick bite in a person correspond to the phases of the disease: the first stage, remission and the second stage.
|
Phases |
Manifestations |
| First | The duration of manifestations is usually 2-4 days. The following symptoms may appear:
Laboratory blood tests may reveal leukopenia and/or thrombocytopenia. |
| Remission | This period lasts 8 days. It is characterized by complete and rather abrupt disappearance of symptoms. |
| Second | Develops in 20-30% of infected people. It can go in two directions, or it is possible that both sets of symptoms may occur.
|
It is possible to detect the virus through a blood test at the first stage, but practice shows that the disease is diagnosed only in the second phase of its course. Usually carries out differential diagnosis of tick-borne encephalitis with such ailments as:
The only effective treatment here is early administration of immunoglobulin injections. In other cases, the developing disease leads to death (within a week after the development of the neurological clinical picture of the disease). The Far Eastern subtype of tick-borne encephalitis especially often develops this way.
Prevention of encephalitis is very effective. This is vaccination with a special drug according to certain schemes for different cases (local residents of endemic areas, visiting tourists, etc.).
Nonspecific prevention methods must be followed to avoid disastrous consequences:
Lyme disease is transmitted by a special type of arachnid - ixodid ticks. They live mainly in the forests of the northern hemisphere. Although, Borrelia is carried by migrating birds over long distances. An infected tick has Borrelia in its body for life and passes it on to its offspring.
These microorganisms are found in the stomach of arachnids and extremely rarely in saliva, so infection does not always occur with a bite. But the consequences of infection are quite dangerous, especially if proper treatment is not started on time.
Borraliosis, an infection that attacks almost all tissues and organs of the human body and can manifest itself in mass various symptoms. People who have been attacked by arachnids often wonder: how long after a tick bite do symptoms appear in a person? Infectious disease experts say that the disease can manifest itself either a few days after infection or a month later. The incubation period depends on the resistance of the infected organism and its immunity.
Symptoms of Borreliosis after a tick bite in a person are divided according to the stages of the disease. There are three such stages of the group of clinical manifestations:
|
Stages |
Manifestations |
| I. | The first stage can occur either with a very violent manifestation of symptoms or with a smooth course. Most often noted:
A rash on the face and conjunctivitis may appear (not often). If the infection reaches the meninges, the following symptoms may appear:
In some cases, a clinical picture of so-called “anicteric” hepatitis may occur:
Some infected people may only show skin signs of the disease, or there may be no symptoms at all. Sometimes the development of the disease stops at this stage, especially after competent and timely treatment. |
| II. | The disease does not always enter this stage; if this happens, it occurs after a couple of months. It is characterized by neurological manifestations in the form of the development of a clinical picture of the following diseases:
There are throbbing headaches, extremely high fatigue and tiredness. The innervation of the face is disrupted. Some cardiac abnormalities may occur:
Cases of benign lymphocytoma of the facial skin have been reported. |
| III. | This period can occur in only 10% of patients no earlier than six months or 2 years from the onset of infection.
This can result in extremely seriousconsequences of a tick bite in humans, symptoms may be as follows:
|
| Chronic stage | If left untreated, the disease becomes chronic. This period is characterized by alternating remissions and relapses. May lead to bone destruction (osteoporosis), chronic cutaneous lymphocytoma, skin atrophy. |
This pathology is dangerous because symptoms may not appear for a long time (up to six months). Meanwhile, the virus progresses in the human body, manifesting itself only when the disease has progressed far.
But the prognosis for this disease is not always difficult. Quite often the disease subsides at the first stage of development. Here a lot depends on the strength of the immune system. If the disease has progressed to the second and then to the third stage, not everything is so rosy. Long-term observation and treatment in a hospital setting are required.
Preventative measures are only barrier protection and a thorough examination after walks. It is important to detect the bloodsucker in time and remove it from the skin correctly. According to statistics, among those officially registered as bitten, the percentage of those infected with Lyme disease does not exceed 1.75%.
Consequences of the bite. How to minimize them?
The clinical picture in the first stages of infection with any of these infections will be similar. It is important that if alarming symptoms appear, consult a doctor. Manifestations begin after a few days. If the discovered bloodsucker is taken to the laboratory for analysis after removal, then its analysis will help determine a possible infection and take action immediately.
Most often, the bite passes without systemic consequences, since the vast majority of ticks are sterile, but in case of infection, the following consequences may occur:
The effects of infection can be aggravated by addiction to alcohol, pregnancy, weak immunity, fatigue and stress.
Ticks are arachnid-like small predators that hunt in warm time of the year. They attack people and animals in the spring and first half of summer. This usually happens in a forest or park area. Symptoms after a tick bite in a person can manifest themselves in different ways, it all depends on the insect: whether it is infectious or not.
Many people mistakenly think that dangerous insects fall on them from trees. But that's not true. Ticks live in the soil. When it gets warm, they climb to the surface and rise to the top of the grass or bushes - no higher than 1.5 meters from the ground. Sitting on a branch, they lie in wait for their prey. A person who passes by touches a plant with his limbs or clothes - the insect safely migrates to his body. It is easier for insects to attack children and animals, since they are significantly shorter. On such small individuals, ticks can fall from above, spreading their legs wide. But insects cannot fly and jump like fleas.
Symptoms after a tick bite do not appear immediately in a person: he will walk for a long time, enjoying the good weather, until he notices the problem. Ticks are most active at a temperature of +20 °C; the ideal humidity for them is 90%. They like to attack in April-May, September-October, more often in cloudy weather, but during the heat they are inactive and lazy.
Insects love to “settle” in folded areas of the skin - in the neck, head, armpits, navel, and groin area. Before they bite, they can crawl around the body for an hour, looking for a secluded place. Having found it, the insect pierces the skin with its thin proboscis with teeth, finds the capillary and sticks to it. The male, having absorbed some blood, disappears. But the female can remain attached to your body for 10 days: when saturated, she greatly increases in size.
If you are allergic to insect saliva, the first symptoms after a tick bite in a person will be: severe headache, fever, red rash, swelling, muscle weakness and numbness of the limbs. It is difficult for the bitten person to walk, and even with little physical activity he experiences painful shortness of breath. The person does not want to eat, constantly feels tired, exhausted, and experiences lethargy and drowsiness. In severe cases, paralysis occurs. If the insect falls off on its own, you may feel a burning and itching sensation at the site of the bite, which goes away within a week. Sometimes severe local pain is observed - often from the bites of certain types of so-called soft ticks.
Ticks can sometimes transmit Lyme disease. The disease is also called borreliosis. Its incubation period ranges from one to two weeks, after which the disease quickly and acutely begins to manifest itself. Symptoms of borreliosis after a tick bite in a person are: chills, heat, severe intoxication, nausea, vomiting, swollen lymph nodes. A typical manifestation of Lyme disease is neck and muscle stiffness.
A ring-shaped redness forms at the site of the bite. This is the so-called migratory erythema, which rapidly grows in all directions from the epicenter. Its edges have a clearer contour and brighter color; they rise slightly and rise above the paler and depressed center. In this area of the body, a person feels itching and slight pain. He may develop other skin rashes, as well as conjunctivitis. Sometimes the patient exhibits signs of incipient meningitis.
Symptoms of borreliosis change. The only one constant sign disease is erythema. If the first stage of the disease is characterized by all of the above manifestations in the form of chills, fever, muscle spasms and increased intoxication, then in the second they worsen and lead to irreversible consequences. After 30 days initial stage the next phase of the disease begins: patients develop meningitis or encephalitis, stiff neck muscles, photophobia, memory impairment, insomnia, weakness, and emotional instability are observed. The facial nerve is often affected, which leads to facial asymmetry, hearing loss and increased tearing.
Symptoms after a tick bite in humans include damage to peripheral nerves. Children may experience severe complications in the functioning of the central nervous system. The causative agent of borreliosis spreads throughout the body and attacks not only the brain and nerves, but also the heart muscle. The patient may feel severe shortness of breath, chest pain, and constant arrhythmia. He is often diagnosed with pericarditis or myocarditis.
The insect that carries this disease is no less dangerous. Symptoms after an encephalitis tick bite in humans develop in two stages. The first signs can usually be noticed within a week after the incident. The person complains of fatigue, severe headaches, fever and muscle pain. He may be too irritable, even aggressive. Or vice versa, lethargic, inactive, indifferent to everything that happens.
This state lasts about 10 days, after which the second phase begins. The disease progresses only in a third of cases; in other people, the immune system independently neutralizes the pathogen that has entered the body, and they are completely restored. Those who are unlucky face other, more dangerous consequences of the bite and associated complications and problems. Typically, the patient experiences a malfunction of the central nervous system and develops diseases such as meningitis and encephalitis.
If the tick does not fall off, you need to carefully remove it and take it to the laboratory. There he will be checked for the possible presence of deadly viruses. These measures are very important, since after infection, within 72 hours, doctors will have time to administer the so-called serum against the disease - immunoglobulin. If the patient does not apply in time, he begins to develop symptoms of encephalitis. After being bitten by a tick that carries this disease, a person's temperature quickly rises, he complains of nausea and vomiting, and a severe headache. In some cases, he loses the ability to express his thoughts, his limbs are shaken by spasms, and disturbances in his mental state can be noticed.
Symptoms of encephalitis in humans after a tick bite can be quite unusual. Scientists have recently discovered that these patients sometimes have temporary allergies to red meat and dairy products. After conducting more than one study, they discovered: someone infected with encephalitis can safely eat any bird, but as soon as he touches beef or pork, his body immediately breaks out in hives and severe swelling develops. An allergic reaction becomes a consequence of an antigen that enters the body along with the insect’s saliva.
Ticks belong to the spider family and number more than 850 species. Ticks pose the greatest danger as carriers of various infectious and viral diseases.
Ticks do not use their mouthparts for breathing, but special spiracles located in the area of the hind legs; they look like tubes.
In saturated ticks, the body becomes light gray, as can be seen in the photo.
Ticks of this species are the most common bloodsuckers in our area; they can often be found in mixed forests, fields, bushes and grass; they can hide on the bark of trees or simply on the ground. Ixodid ticks are carriers of diseases such as tick-borne borreliosis (Lyme disease), encephalitis, typhus and other unpleasant diseases. Ticks prefer humid and warm climates, so they can often be found in shaded areas near rivers and lakes.
This type of tick differs from others in its soft black body with a brown rim. Argasid ticks attack their victims at night. These mites are found in caves, catacombs, burrows, and large cracks. Ticks of this species can live up to 14 years in the absence of food, and individual individuals can live up to 25 years, which significantly exceeds life cycle other types of ticks. For complete saturation, argasid ticks only need 30-50 minutes, and ixodid ticks can suck blood for up to 8 days. The size of these mites reaches up to 1 cm.
If you don’t have the necessary equipment at hand, you can use a thread tied in a loop. The loop is placed over the tick's head and pulled together with a gentle movement, after which the tick is gradually pulled and loosened until it comes out.
Some of these diseases are difficult to cure and can damage the body's nervous system, which can lead to death if not properly treated.
If the tick does stick, first of all, you need to go to medical institutions or trauma centers to remove it.
The faster the tick is removed, the less likely it is that the pathogen of a dangerous disease will enter the bloodstream.
You should not drop anything on the tick and wait for it to fall off on its own. The tick will not fall off, but will continue to introduce pathogens into the blood.
After the removal procedure, it is necessary to treat the bite site with antiseptics: iodine, alcohol, etc.
When bitten by uninfected ticks, a person may not experience any painful sensations other than redness, pain at the bite site and allergic reactions. There may be swelling, a burning sensation, and blisters.
If, when removing a tick, part of the proboscis or paw remains, you should not pick this place with a needle or pin. Lubricate this place with brilliant green and it will fall off on its own. For tick bites, which can lead to serious illness, the first symptoms may develop in the first weeks after the insect bite. These symptoms may include:
If these symptoms appear, you should consult a doctor immediately.
Bites from an infected tick can cause serious illness. If after a bite you notice one or more symptoms, you should immediately consult a doctor and tell him that you were bitten by a tick.
Ticks can be carriers of diseases such as:
These diseases can lead to very serious health consequences, disability and even death.
Your doctor should order a blood test to determine whether your illness is due to a tick bite. A blood test for the presence of antibodies can be done no earlier than 10 days after a tick bite.
What you really need to do is:
But it is not enough to simply “unhook” the animal from the bite site at any cost. It is very important to take special precautions when doing this. Namely:
In addition to the correct and correct ways to separate a tick from the bite site, there are, of course, several risky techniques, but very popular among the people. For example, it is generally accepted that if a tick is smeared with something “terribly unpleasant”, it will quickly leave the bite site.
The most popular “nasties” among the people: nail polish, or vice versa - nail polish remover, gasoline, animal and vegetable fat (which supposedly prevent the tick from breathing and thus “kick it out”), cleaning products, Vaseline and others “unpleasant” liquids and ointments. In fact, this strategy in itself is quite dangerous - the fact is that the tick, sensing a “threat” to life, will instinctively inject toxins into the victim’s blood (and along with them, pathogens of severe infections, too, if it contains them).
After you have torn the tick from the skin, there can be two developments:
The most dangerous substances that a tick can “reward” its victim are found in the animal’s body. Therefore, even if the head of the tick remains inside the bite site, this is not nearly as scary and dangerous as if the entire tick continued its “feast.” By and large, the severed head of a tick that has lodged itself in the skin is nothing more than just a splinter.
You can get it out in the same way as you get out a splinter - disinfect the needle (for example, with 5% iodine) and literally pick at the bite site, removing the head of the tick. But even if you don’t do anything, after a few days this “splinter” will most likely “pop” out on its own, pushed by the skin tissue.
In any case, be that as it may, after you have unhooked the insect, the bite site must be washed and treated:
First of all, the bite site needs to be thoroughly washed - it is best to do this with an ordinary soap solution. Then let the skin dry and lubricate the bite site with a 5% iodine solution. The “wound” does not require any further manipulation - soap and iodine are sufficient.
The extracted tick must be kept as intact as possible, preferably alive, then placed with a piece of damp cotton wool or a fresh blade of grass in a tightly closed container (for example, a glass bottle) and delivered to a virology laboratory for testing of causative agents of various types of diseases.
Tick activity begins to be observed in early April, and by mid-May their numbers increase millions of times. During reproduction, ticks are most active. During the mating season (at the end of May), having had enough of blood, female ticks begin to lay eggs, from which larvae emerge a month later and immediately begin to search for prey.
When walking in the forest, wear clothing that covers all exposed areas of your body. When walking in the forest, wear clothing that covers all exposed areas of your body.
The lifespan of an adult insect is 3-4 months, and by the end of July the mite population is reduced to a minimum, but individual representatives can be found in October.
The encephalitis tick is not a special species, but a tick infected with the encephalitis virus. The encephalitis tick is not a special species, but a tick infected with the encephalitis virus.
That is, the encephalitis tick is not a special species, but a tick infected with the encephalitis virus. It is impossible to tell by appearance whether it is an encephalitis tick or not. The virus can be contained in both females and males, nymphs and larvae. The tick becomes infected when feeding on an infected animal.
Ticks have their own “favorite” places for biting and suction. Moreover, they differ between children and adults - most likely due to the difference in height between the former and the latter. For example, in children, ticks are most often found on the head (and most likely behind the ears), and in adults, the most “popular” places for bites are the chest, arms and armpits. In addition to the head, ticks also attack children in the following areas of the body:
As a rule, the tick does not completely penetrate the bite site - its head is under the skin, and its body is outside. Gradually, as the tick becomes “saturated,” its abdomen swells and darkens. All the most dangerous substances (possible infectious agents and toxins) are located in the tick’s body. That is why there is always a possibility that even an infected animal will not harm the child’s health. But only on the condition that you, adults, clearly, quickly and extremely carefully “deal with” the tick.
Ticks most often live on grass, low bushes, love wet, deciduous places, but never crawl onto trees, fall or jump from them. As soon as a person is near a tick, it clings to the skin and clothing and crawls upward until it finds a secluded place under the clothing to attach itself to the body. This takes on average 30 minutes. Ticks always crawl upward, so they are found in the armpits, groin, back, neck and head. When in natural biotopes, it is necessary to conduct self- and mutual examinations every 15–20 minutes.
Separately, we will say that there are cases of infection in the Orenburg region.
During the period of tick activity, when going for a walk in the green area, you need to dress so that ticks cannot crawl from clothes to your body. The sleeves and legs of the trousers should fit snugly to the body, for example, with elastic bands or tucked into socks, etc. You need a hat on your head. The effectiveness of protection increases many times over when clothing is treated with special aerosols. chemicals– acaricidal (kills ticks), repellent (repels ticks) or acaricidal-repellent (repels and kills at the same time). These products should never be applied to the skin. Be sure to read the instructions for the product.
If the tick does stick, first of all, you need to go to the emergency room to remove it. The faster the tick is removed, the less likely it is that the pathogen of a dangerous disease will enter the bloodstream.
Ticks pose a certain risk to animal health. Firstly, there is direct physical damage to the skin from bites; secondly, it is possible to develop allergies and other systemic reactions to tick saliva and, thirdly, transmission infectious diseases, some of which can infect humans.
When a tick attaches itself, it damages the host’s skin and develops inflammatory infiltration. Tissue damage is usually quite painful and can lead to secondary bacterial infection. Ticks feed on the host's blood and in severe cases can cause anemia.
The systemic effects of a tick bite can be very serious. Many types of ticks can cause paralysis or even death in the host. In humans, cases of anaphylactic shock have been described, which develops as a result of a reaction to components of tick saliva.
Ticks are also carriers of infections for both domestic animals and people, which include bacterial diseases, rickettsial infections, spirochetosis, protozoal and viral diseases.
These diseases can be transmitted by larvae, nymphs and adults. Most infectious agents remain in the body of nymphs and ticks after molting, and some diseases are transmitted transovarially.
|
Exciter type |
Pathogen |
Vector |
Clinical syndrome comments |
|
Bacteria |
Ehrlichia spp. |
E. chaffeensis: Dermacentor, Amblyomma And Ixodes |
Ecanis:
Canine monocytic ehrlichiosis. Dogs are also susceptible to the disease caused by E chaffeensis And Ewingii. |
|
Francisella tularensis |
Dermacentor And Amblyomma |
Flu-like symptoms and lymphadenitis in humans. Cats can become infected with tularemia but show no clinical signs despite extensive lung lesions. |
|
|
Anaplasma phagocytophilum |
Dogs: fever and lethargy |
||
|
Haemobartonella canis |
Anemia in splenectomized dogs, as well as in immunodeficiency states |
||
|
Rickettsia |
Rickettsia rickettsii |
Rocky Mountain spotted fever (American tick-borne rickettsiosis) manifests as spots that progress to petechiae over a few days. Dogs may present with a variety of clinical signs. |
|
|
Coxiella burnetii |
Subclinical disease in many animal species. Q fever in humans |
||
|
Spirochetes |
Borrelia burgdorferi |
Ixodid ticks (Ixodes) |
Dogs: fever, lymphadenopathy, and intermittent lameness 2–5 months after infection |
|
Protozoa |
Babesia spp. |
B. canis And B. gibsoni: R. sanguineus |
Dogs: hemolytic anemia during invasion B canis or B gibsoni |
|
Hepatozoon americanum and H. canis |
Hepatozoon: Amblyomma |
Dogs: fever, weight loss, and hyperesthesia (increased sensitivity to sensory stimuli) |
|
|
Cytauxzoon felis |
Cats: fever, depression, jaundice, pale mucous membranes. May be fatal. |
There are three families of ticks: Argasidae, Ixodidae and Nuttalliellidae. Ixodid ticks have a hard, durable scute on their back, while argasid ticks, on the contrary, have a soft cuticle.
Under ideal conditions, the egg-to-egg cycle can take just over two months.
|
Types of ticks |
Master |
Vector infections and pathogens spreading transmissibly |
|
Larva: vole, mouse |
Cytauxzoon felis, Francisella tularensis (Antr), Rickettsia rickettsii Ehrlichia chaffeensis (Antr) F tularensis(Antr), R rickettsii(Antr), tick paralysis(Antr) |
|
|
Larva and nymph: partridge, quail, turkeys, sparrow, many mammals such as cats, deer, wolves, dogs, foxes, rabbits, squirrels, raccoons, humans |
Borrelia lonestari, E chaffeensis (Antr), Ehrlichia ewingii, F tularensis (Antr), Hepatozoon americanum, H canis, tick paralysis |
|
|
Rhipicephalus sanguineus |
Larva: dogs, rodents |
Anaplasma platys, Babesia canis, Babesia gibsoni, Ehrlichia canis, Haemobartonella canis |
|
Larva: various rodents such as mice, shrews, other small mammals, birds, lizards |
Anaplasma phagocytophilum (Antr), Babesia microti (Antr), Borrelia burgdorferi (Antr), tick paralysis (Antr), E. chaffeensis (Antr) |
Some ticks wait for their owner in ambush, and some actively hunt. Ticks using the ambush strategy climb onto plant stems and wait for a potential host to pass by (Figure 2). In addition to visual contact, ticks react to vibration, smell and heat. If for some reason ixodid ticks fail to attack the host, they can live in a hungry state for at least 3 years (maximum up to 14 years). Once a tick has found a suitable host, it looks for a suitable feeding site. Using chelicerae (part of the mouthparts), the tick bites through the skin and inserts a hypostome into the wound, which has anchor-shaped serrations. The salivary fluid of ticks has an anticoagulant and vasodilator effect.
The next stage is slow feeding, which lasts four to six days in most tick species, with minimal blood intake in the first 12 to 24 hours. During this phase, females can increase in size by up to 10 times. The third and final stage of the fast food phase lasts 1-2 days. During this period, the female can increase almost 100 times her body weight in a hungry state (Figure 3).
Unlike females, males do not suck as much blood.
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Not all ticks are contagious and pose a risk of infection. In any case, the earlier the tick was removed, the less chance of contracting any of these infections:
Tick-borne encephalitis - viral disease a person, characterized by fever, intoxication and frequent damage to the central nervous system.
Natural foci of tick-borne encephalitis exist thanks to ixodid ticks. Two types of ticks play the greatest role in the transmission of the virus - the dog tick in Europe and the taiga tick in Siberia and the Far East. Ticks become infected by feeding on animals infected with the tick-borne encephalitis virus. Most often, ticks become infected when feeding on rodents (mice, voles). An infected tick retains the virus for its entire life. The next time the tick feeds, it transmits the virus to another animal. And from this animal new ticks become infected. This is how the tick-borne encephalitis virus circulates in nature.
Tick-borne encephalitis is transmitted by the bite of an infected tick. The virus is contained in saliva, so transmission of the virus can occur at the time of the bite. And if the tick is removed immediately after the bite, the risk of tick-borne encephalitis remains. Infection is also possible when it is crushed on the skin (the virus can penetrate through wounds). The virus is not contained in all ticks. The number of infected ticks differs in different areas, ranging from 0 to several tens of percent of the entire tick population. Therefore, the risk of contracting tick-borne encephalitis after a bite differs in different regions. There are more infected ticks in Siberia and the Far East. You can become infected with tick-borne encephalitis not only from a tick bite, but also from consuming raw goat or sheep milk. Familial outbreaks of tick-borne encephalitis are associated with infection through milk. Once boiled, milk is safe.
After being bitten by an infected tick, the tick-borne encephalitis virus multiplies at the site of the bite. However, there are no changes at the site of the bite. Then the virus penetrates the lymph nodes and blood and begins to multiply in the cells lining blood vessels. When the virus multiplies massively, flu-like symptoms appear. The virus can only enter the brain through the blood-brain barrier. If the virus fails to overcome this barrier, then tick-borne encephalitis occurs quite easily. In some patients, the virus crosses the blood-brain barrier. Then symptoms of central nervous system damage appear. Clinical manifestations of tick-borne encephalitis depend on the virulence of the virus and the state of the body's defenses. In most patients, symptoms of tick-borne encephalitis appear within the second week after the tick bite. But the incubation period can last from 2 to 21 days. After infection, the disease does not necessarily develop. The infection may be asymptomatic. In such cases, tick-borne encephalitis can only be determined through tests. The state of health does not change, the person feels healthy. Antibodies to the tick-borne encephalitis virus appear in the blood, indicating that there has been contact with the virus. At the same time, immunity to tick-borne encephalitis is developed. Many people (not vaccinated) living in endemic regions and who have not had tick-borne encephalitis develop antibodies, which indicates contact with the infection. There are several forms of tick-borne encephalitis:
All forms begin acutely with chills, an increase in temperature to 38-40˚ and body aches. There is no prodromal period or it is short, lasting 1-2 days and manifested by general malaise.
In the febrile form of tick-borne encephalitis, the virus does not penetrate the central nervous system. Symptoms of the febrile form of tick-borne encephalitis: high temperature, severe weakness, body aches, loss of appetite, nausea, headache. Fever lasts from several to 10 days. There are no obvious symptoms of damage to the nervous system. Cerebrospinal fluid is unchanged. The febrile form of tick-borne encephalitis is most favorable.
Tick-borne encephalitis quite often has a staged course. The first stage corresponds to the multiplication of the virus in the blood. The most common symptoms are fever and intoxication. If the disease ends in the first stage, then it is a febrile form of tick-borne encephalitis. After the first stage, the temperature may drop for several days. The virus then crosses the blood-brain barrier and enters the brain. Then the temperature rises again to high numbers, and symptoms of central nervous system damage appear.
The severity of the CNS lesion determines the clinical picture. If only the meninges are affected, then tick-borne encephalitis occurs in the meningeal form. When neurons are damaged, focal forms of tick-borne encephalitis develop.
With the development of the meningeal form, severe headache, vomiting, photophobia, stiff neck and other symptoms of irritation of the meninges appear against the background of fever. Lumbar puncture reveals inflammatory changes in the cerebrospinal fluid.
In meningoencephalitic and poliomyelitis forms of tick-borne encephalitis, damage to brain cells occurs. These are the so-called focal forms. Symptoms depend on where in the brain the lesions are located and how large they are. It is these forms that can leave neurological complications or lead to death. In focal forms of tick-borne encephalitis, in addition to fever, intoxication and meningeal symptoms, symptoms of damage to the brain matter appear.
The meningoencephalitic form of tick-borne encephalitis is characterized by meningeal syndrome and signs of brain damage - impaired consciousness, mental disorders, convulsions, paresis and paralysis.
In the polio form of tick-borne encephalitis, neurons in the motor nuclei of the cervical region are affected spinal cord(as with polio). Persistent flaccid paralysis of the muscles of the neck and arms occurs, leading to disability.
Tick-borne encephalitis can be suspected on the basis of: epidemic data (visiting forests, tick bites), clinical data (high fever, meningeal syndrome, focal symptoms). A diagnosis of tick-borne encephalitis cannot be made based on clinical symptoms alone. Fever and/or neurological disorders after a tick bite can be caused by other reasons. Moreover, these causes may be either related (tick-borne borreliosis) or not related to a tick bite (herpetic encephalitis, purulent meningitis). It is important to exclude purulent meningitis or herpetic encephalitis, since these diseases require urgent special treatment.
Lumbar puncture and subsequent examination of the cerebrospinal fluid can determine the presence and nature of central nervous system damage. With its help, you can immediately diagnose purulent meningitis or subarachnoid hemorrhage - diseases that require emergency special treatment. But based on a lumbar puncture, a diagnosis of tick-borne encephalitis cannot be made, since changes in the cerebrospinal fluid with tick-borne encephalitis correspond to the picture of serous meningitis or encephalitis, which can be caused by other causes. Therefore, tick-borne encephalitis requires mandatory laboratory confirmation. The following analyzes are used for this:
All patients with tick-borne encephalitis must be examined for tick-borne borreliosis, because It is possible to become infected with both infections at the same time.
There is no effective antiviral treatment. Symptomatic therapy is carried out to combat complications. Strict bed rest is required. Antipyretic drugs and infusion therapy (droppers) are used. During the rehabilitation period, physiotherapy and massage are prescribed.
The administration of anti-tick immunoglobulin is not always effective and justified. Immunoglobulin is a drug containing immunoglobulins G to the tick-borne encephalitis virus. By the time the disease develops, the body begins to produce its own immunoglobulin. Data on the effectiveness of immunoglobulin are contradictory. At the same time, there are studies that show an increase in the number of severe forms after the introduction of immunoglobulin.
Tick-borne encephalitis is not transmitted from person to person. A patient with tick-borne encephalitis is not dangerous to others.
With febrile and meningeal forms of tick-borne encephalitis, complete recovery usually occurs. Focal forms of tick-borne encephalitis (meningoencephalitic and poliomyelitis) forms can result in the death of the patient; if recovery occurs, then neurological disorders often remain to varying degrees expressiveness. The consequences of tick-borne encephalitis can be decreased memory, headaches, and paralysis. In the treatment of neurological disorders, physiotherapy and massage play an important role. Nootropic drugs and B vitamins are used. Immunity after tick-borne encephalitis is resistant to all types of virus, there are no recurrent cases of the disease.
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Lyme disease is a disease that primarily affects the skin, nervous and cardiovascular systems, and the musculoskeletal system, and is prone to long-term progression.
The disease can occur at any age, but most often in children under 15 years of age and adults aged 25-44 years.
Pathogens: Borrelia.
The reservoir and source of Lyme disease are many species of wild and domestic vertebrates and birds (mainly various types of wild rodents, white-tailed deer, elk, etc.). In natural foci, pathogens circulate between ticks and wild animals. More than 200 species of wild animals act as hosts for ticks.
The mechanism of transmission of Lyme disease is through blood, rarely through consumption of raw milk (primarily goat milk), through tick bites with its saliva, feces (when rubbed at the site of the bite when scratching)
Immunity after Lyme disease is unstable - several years after recovery, re-infection is possible.
Risk factors for infection: staying in a mixed forest (tick habitat), especially from May to September.
The incubation period for Lyme disease varies from 1 to 50 days, averaging 10-12 days.
Stage I (local infection)
Develops in 40-50% of infected people during the first month after a tick bite.
Characterized by a flu-like course with fever, headaches, weakness, malaise, pain in muscles and joints, sometimes with severe chills. Body temperature can be high, up to 39-40°C; fever can last up to 10-12 days. Nausea and vomiting are sometimes noted.
Dry cough, runny nose, sore throat are rarely observed. The main symptom specific to Lyme disease is migratory ring-shaped redness. In approximately 20% of patients it may be the only manifestation of the first stage of the disease.
First, a spot appears at the site of the tick bite - an area of uniform redness, gradually (over several days) expanding in all directions to tens of centimeters in diameter. The edges of the spot become clear, bright, red, raised above the level of healthy skin. In some patients, the center of the spot gradually turns pale, turns ring-shaped, and acquires a bluish tint. Itching and moderate pain are possible in the area of the spot.
When treated with antibiotics, redness persists for several days, without treatment - up to 2 months or more. After its disappearance, weak pigmentation and peeling are possible.
Stage II
Develops in 10-15% of infected people after several weeks or months (usually in the absence of adequate treatment). It is expressed in damage to the nervous and cardiovascular systems (pain in the heart, palpitations), skin damage in the form of ring-shaped elements, and urticaria.
Other changes: liver damage, eye damage, sore throat, bronchitis, kidney damage.
Stage III
Forms 1-3 months after the end of the first two phases (sometimes 6-12 months or more). The disease takes on a long-term relapsing course with weakness, increased fatigue, headache, increased excitability or depression, sleep disturbances, and damage to various organs and systems.
Treatment of Lyme disease occurs on an inpatient basis in an infectious diseases hospital.
At stage I:
Antibacterial therapy for 2-3 weeks:
Against the background of antibacterial therapy, the development of the Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction (fever, intoxication against the background of mass death of Borrelia) is possible. In this case, antibiotics a short time canceled and then resumed at a lower dose.
For stage II Lyme disease:
Antibacterial therapy for 3-4 weeks
At stage III:
Early initiation of antibacterial therapy can reduce the duration of the course and prevent the development of later stages of the disease.
At a late stage, treatment of Lyme disease is not always successful - if the nervous system is damaged, the prognosis is unfavorable.
Doxycycline should not be used during pregnancy.
Hemorrhagic fevers are a group of infectious diseases of a viral nature that cause toxic damage to the vascular walls, contributing to the development of hemorrhagic syndrome. They occur against the background of general intoxication and provoke multiple organ pathologies. Hemorrhagic fevers are common in certain regions of the planet, in the habitats of disease carriers.
Hemorrhagic fevers are caused by viruses of the following families: Togaviridae, Bunyaviridae, Arenaviridae and Filoviridae. Characteristic feature What these viruses have in common is their affinity for human vascular endothelial cells.
The reservoir and source of these viruses is humans and animals (various types of rodents, monkeys, squirrels, bats, etc.), and the carrier is mosquitoes and ticks. Some hemorrhagic fevers can be transmitted through household contact, food, water and other routes. According to the method of infection, these infections are divided into groups: tick-borne infections (Omsk, Crimean-Congo and Kyasanur Forest fever), mosquito infections (yellow fever, dengue fever, Chukungunya, Rift Valley) and contagious (Laotian, Argentine, Bolivian, Ebola, Marburg fevers, etc. .).
Human susceptibility to hemorrhagic fevers is quite high; people who professional activity associated with wildlife. The incidence in cities is more often observed among citizens who do not have a permanent place of residence and employees household services in contact with rodents.
Hemorrhagic fevers in most cases have a characteristic course with a successive change of periods: incubation (usually 1-3 weeks), initial (2-7 days), peak (1-2 weeks) and convalescence (several weeks).
The initial period is manifested by general intoxication symptoms, usually very intense. In severe cases, fever can reach critical levels, and intoxication can contribute to a disorder of consciousness, delirium, and hallucinations. Against the background of general intoxication, toxic hemorrhage (capillary toxicosis) is noted already in the initial period: the face and neck, conjunctiva of patients are usually hyperemic, the sclera is injected, elements of a hemorrhagic rash can be detected on the mucous membrane of the soft palate, endothelial symptoms (“tourniquet” and “pinch”) are positive . Toxic disturbances of the heart rhythm (tachycardia turning into bradycardia), and a decrease in blood pressure are noted. During this period, a general blood test shows leukopenia (lasts 3-4 days) and increasing thrombocytopenia. The blood count shows neutrophilia with a shift to the left.
Before the onset of the peak period, there is often a short-term normalization of temperature and an improvement in general condition, after which toxicosis increases, the intensity of the general clinic increases, multiple organ pathologies and hemodynamic disorders develop. During the period of convalescence, there is a gradual regression of clinical manifestations and restoration of the functional state of organs and systems.
Hemorrhagic Far Eastern nephrosonephritis is often called hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome, since this disease is characterized by predominant damage to the vessels of the kidneys. Incubation of hemorrhagic Far Eastern nephrosonephritis is 2 weeks, but can be shortened to 11 and extended to 23 days. During the first days of illness, prodromal phenomena (weakness, malaise) are possible. Then severe intoxication develops, body temperature rises to 39.5 degrees or more and persists for 2-6 days. After 2-4 days from the onset of fever, hemorrhagic symptoms appear against the background of progressive intoxication. Sometimes meningeal symptoms (Kernig, Brudzinski, stiff neck) may be observed. Due to toxic damage to the brain, consciousness is often confused, hallucinations and delusions appear. General hemorrhagic syndrome is accompanied by symptoms from the kidneys: lower back pain, positive Pasternatsky's sign, a general urine test reveals red blood cells, casts, and protein. As the disease progresses, renal syndrome worsens, as does hemorrhagic syndrome. At the height of the disease, bleeding from the nose, gums, and hemorrhagic rash on the body (mainly in the shoulder girdle and lateral surfaces of the chest) are noted.
When examining the mucous membrane of the mouth and oropharynx, pinpoint hemorrhages are revealed on the palate and lower lip, and oliguria develops (in severe cases, up to complete anuria). Gross hematuria is noted (urine takes on the color of “meat slop”).
The fever usually lasts 8-9 days, after which a decrease in body temperature occurs within 2-3 days, however, after its normalization, the patient’s condition does not improve, vomiting may occur, and renal syndrome progresses. Improvement in the condition and regression of clinical symptoms occurs 4-5 days after the fever subsides. The disease enters the convalescence phase. At this time, polyuria is characteristic.
Crimean hemorrhagic fever is characterized by an acute onset: vomiting, abdominal pain on an empty stomach, and chills. Body temperature rises sharply. The appearance of patients is characteristic of hemorrhagic fevers: a hyperemic, swollen face and injected conjunctiva, eyelids, and sclera.
Hemorrhagic symptoms are pronounced: petechial rashes, bleeding gums, nosebleeds, blood in stool and vomit, uterine bleeding in women. The spleen most often remains of normal size, but in some patients it may be enlarged. Severe disease is manifested by intense abdominal pain, frequent vomiting, and melena. The pulse is labile, blood pressure is reduced, heart sounds are muffled.
Omsk hemorrhagic fever is more mild and benign, the hemorrhagic syndrome is less pronounced (although mortality also occurs with this infection). In the first days, the fever reaches a little over 39 degrees; in half of the cases, the febrile period proceeds in waves, with periods of increase and normalization of body temperature. The duration of fever is 3-10 days.
Dengue hemorrhagic fever is characterized by an incubation period of 5 to 15 days, a benign course, symptoms of general intoxication, intensifying by the 3-4 day, and a maculopapular rash of hemorrhagic origin, passing 2-3 days after appearance (usually occurs at the height of the disease) and not leaving behind pigmentation or peeling. The temperature curve can be two-wave: fever is interrupted by a 2-3-day period normal temperature, after which a second wave occurs. This form is typical for Europeans; among residents of Southeast Asia, Dengue fever develops in the hemorrhagic variant and has a more severe course.
Hemorrhagic fevers can contribute to the development of severe, life-threatening conditions: infectious-toxic shock, acute renal failure, coma.
Diagnosis of hemorrhagic fevers is made on the basis of the clinical picture and epidemiological history data, confirming the preliminary diagnosis in the laboratory.
Specific diagnostics are carried out using serological tests (RSC, RNIF, etc.), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), detection of viral antigens (PCR), and virological method.
Hemorrhagic fevers are usually characterized by thrombocytopenia in a general blood test and the detection of red blood cells in urine and feces. With severe hemorrhage, symptoms of anemia appear. A positive stool occult blood test indicates bleeding along the gastrointestinal tract.
Fever with renal syndrome also manifests itself in laboratory diagnostics in the form of leukopenia, aneosinophilia, and an increase in the number of band neutrophils. Pathological changes in the general analysis of urine are significant - the specific gravity is reduced, protein is noted (often the increase reaches 20-40%), cylinders. There is increased residual nitrogen in the blood.
Crimean fever is characterized by lymphocytosis against the background of general normocytosis, a shift of the leukocyte formula to the left and a normal ESR.
Patients with any hemorrhagic fever are subject to hospitalization. Bed rest, a semi-liquid high-calorie, easily digestible diet, maximally rich in vitamins (especially C and B) - vegetable decoctions, fruit and berry juices, rosehip infusion, fruit drinks) are prescribed. In addition, vitamin therapy is prescribed: vitamins C, P. Vicasol (vitamin K) is taken daily for four days.
A glucose solution is prescribed intravenously; during fever, blood transfusions can be performed in small portions, as well as the administration of iron supplements, antianemin and campolone. Complex therapy includes antihistamines. Discharge from the hospital is made after complete clinical recovery. Upon discharge, patients are observed on an outpatient basis for some time.
The prognosis depends on the severity of the disease. Hemorrhagic fevers can vary in course over a very wide range, in some cases causing the development of terminal conditions and ending in death, but in most cases with timely medical care The prognosis is favorable - the infection ends in recovery.
Prevention of hemorrhagic fevers primarily involves measures aimed at eliminating infection carriers and preventing bites. In the area where the infection is spreading, areas prepared for settlement are thoroughly cleaned of blood-sucking insects(mosquitoes, ticks), in epidemically dangerous regions it is recommended to wear thick clothing, boots, gloves, special mosquito overalls and masks, and use repellents in forested areas.
For Omsk hemorrhagic fever, there is a specific prevention method, routine vaccination of the population using a killed virus vaccine
Blood-sucking ticks are potential carriers of several pathogens that cause life-threatening diseases. The most serious pathologies recorded in post-Soviet countries are tick-borne encephalitis, Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis and spotted fever.
External examination of damaged skin
Ticks are representatives of the order of arachnids, measuring up to three millimeters (standard sizes are 0.1-0.5 mm). According to the method of obtaining vital energy, small creatures are divided into saprophages that feed on organic debris (for example, dust mites, barn mites, scabies, spider mites and linen mites) and blood-sucking predators.
A tick bite can be fatal to humans. The infectious agent in the saliva gets under the skin during a bite, which can lead to subsequent infection.
The tick attaches to the outer shell of its prey using a special organ, the hypostome, located under the mouthparts of the predator (hypostoma: hypo - under, stoma - mouth). Most often, the bite occurs on delicate and thin skin, under which there are many capillary vessels.
At first, the patient may not even notice that a tick has burrowed into his skin, since the bite itself is almost painless. Over time, focal inflammation and manifestations of allergies appear. This is a standard response of the human body to a tick bite.
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Tick bite photo and symptoms in humans
The detection of an attached tick on the skin is a reliable and first sign of a bite. In appearance, it resembles a small convex mole. The patient’s well-being may sharply deteriorate, resulting in complaints of drowsiness, photophobia, headache and lethargy.
When a tick bite occurs, a person’s symptoms are not always severe, so the patient may simply not attach importance to the negative changes. It should also be taken into account that the degree of deterioration in well-being depends on the number of tick bites and the tendency of the human body to allergic manifestations.
The next day (if infected) aggravating symptoms appear. The victim's temperature rises to 38 degrees, the number of heart beats increases, and blood pressure decreases.
Sometimes signs of a tick bite appear in the form of allergic reactions, expressed by skin rashes and irritation. When palpating the lymph nodes, their enlargement is noted (especially those closest to the site of the bite).
At the site of skin microtrauma, small hyperemic blisters form, causing itching. After a few hours, the burning sensation decreases, and after a few days complete healing occurs.
Options for the development of events can lead to a favorable and unfavorable outcome. A tick bite in a person can lead to a serious illness, the severity of which depends on the speed of diagnosis and the correctness of the prescribed treatment.
It should also be taken into account that such associated factors, as pregnancy, alcohol, drug use, persistent stress and psycho-emotional stress worsen the severity of symptoms. Sometimes a simple bite from a small tick leads to serious problems and irreversible damage.
Table. Disability after a tick.
| Health group | a brief description of |
| 1 group | Severe disorders of the nervous and musculoskeletal system, cortical epilepsy (frequent clonic or clonic-tonic muscle cramps in a certain muscle group), cerebral movement disorders, acquired dementia, failure of basic self-care. |
| 2nd group | Frequent epileptic attacks, combined with severe paresis, hemiparesis, changes in mental perception and thinking, muscle weakness, partial loss of control over one’s behavior. |
| 3 group | Unexpressed decrease in muscle strength, work ability and mental analysis, mild attacks of epilepsy. |
characteristic “red bagels”
The most characteristic external sign that you should pay attention to is the appearance of a specific circular erythema observed with. A red spot forms in the center, surrounded every few centimeters by a red ring.
In appearance, it resembles a donut (the symptom appears the very next day), then a crust and a scar forms at the site of the erythema, disappearing without a trace after a few weeks.
Table. The main signs of infectious pathology.
| Disease (pathogen) | Description |
| Tick-borne encephalitis (disease caused by an acrobovirus) | The duration of the incubation period (latent course of the disease without external signs) after an encephalitis tick bite occurs is up to three weeks. The disease begins acutely, with a persistent increase in temperature, severe headache and muscle pain. Encephalitis after a tick bite can occur in the following forms:
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| (causative agent – Borrelia, spirochete family) | Once in the bloodstream, pathogenic microbes are spread throughout the body, settling in various vital organs and tissues, such as the brain, heart, kidneys, joints, muscles, eyeballs, and liver. The lesion can occur in a latent, acute or chronic form, with progression or self-elimination.
Characteristic erythema is the main sign by which the acute degree of the disease is determined. The diameter of the rings is about 10-15 cm. A month after the bite, negative changes in the heart, nervous tissue and joints appear. Severe complications can cause death. |
| Ehrlichiosis (caused by E. Chaffeensis or E. Phagocytophila) | Mortality occurs in approximately 5% of cases. The incubation period lasts 1-2 weeks. At first, the victim feels chills and muscle pain, then the body temperature rises (37-38 degrees). If we look at a general blood test, we can see thrombocytopenia and leukopenia. Complications occur rarely, with severe forms. As a rule, the consequences are renal failure and neurological disorders. |
| Tick-borne spotted fever (caused by Rickettsia sibirica, R. conorii) | A painless papule with a dark crust forms at the site of the tick bite. The incubation period is several weeks. The elevated temperature lasts from two to fifteen days. Headaches and muscle pains, sleep disturbances, redness of the face and neck are also noted, and on the third or fourth day the appearance of a profuse rash. As a rule, the disease is reversible and does not affect organs and tissues. |
Upon arriving home, it is important to carefully examine your body for the presence of a “spider”. Ticks are cautious creatures and, before they attach themselves, they can search for a long time (about three hours) for their favorite area. If you find a black predator on your body that has not yet burrowed into your skin, you should shake it off with your hand.
It should be remembered that the tick is studied only in a living state. In this regard, it is not recommended to remove it yourself using improvised means, since the predator may die due to incorrect actions.
It is not yet worth killing the tick because, upon realizing the danger, it can secrete copious amounts of saliva and, if it was infected, a huge number of infectious agents will enter the victim’s body.
In addition, if a large amount of secretion penetrates the bloodstream, there is a risk of getting a serious allergic reaction in the form of Quincke's edema, which leads to breathing problems that may even stop.
First aid for tick bites when aggravating allergic symptoms appear:
If the analysis of the tick shows that it is infected, then the victim should undergo mandatory therapy. Depending on the pathogen identified, certain antibiotics and antihistamines are prescribed.
In the first three days, immunoglobulin against tick-borne encephalitis is administered. If the victim's body temperature has increased, antipyretics are prescribed. Ten days later, it is recommended to take a blood test for antibodies to the identified pathogen.
Today, vaccination is the most effective method of preventing encephalitis. It is necessary for those who live in disadvantaged areas where diseases from ticks are often recorded.
The first vaccination can be carried out at the age of 12 months. The protection period for the drug is one year. After this, it is recommended to carry out revaccination (after a year), the effect of which is 36 months. There is also such a thing as “emergency vaccination”. It is carried out immediately before leaving for nature or a tourist trip. Its protection period is one month.
Vaccination against tick-borne encephalitis has a number of contraindications. It is not done for symptoms of a cold or acute respiratory viral infection, fever, or allergic reactions. A medical examination is required before performing it!
It is important not to self-medicate if you are bitten by a tick. Remember that your own life is at stake. Contacting a specialist (infectious disease specialist) is recommended for diagnosis and subsequent treatment regimen. You must completely trust your doctor and follow his recommendations.
