As tick populations continue to grow and new tick diseases emerge, tick awareness and tick bite prevention are increasingly important. Understanding tick bite symptoms also enables people to proactively seek medical attention and reduce the risks of more severe symptoms. The following guide overviews tick bite symptoms, as well as the importance of preventative tick treatments.
Basic Tick Bite Symptoms
Even seeing a tick nearby causes some people to fear that they’ve been bitten. Fortunately, finding a tick on a pet, your picnic blanket or even crawling on your arm doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ve been bitten by a tick. If you find a tick attached to you, this CDC overview explains what to do. However, whether you know you’ve been bitten by a tick or have just seen one, being vigilant about tick bite symptoms serves an important role in ensuring your continued health.
Although not all tick bites pose health risks or are accompanied by symptoms, tick bites on humans may result in allergic reactions to the bite itself as well as from disease transmission. Below, find some of the general symptoms to watch out for, as well as newer symptoms associated with current diseases:
Tick bite symptoms – allergic reactions: According to Healthline, individuals who are allergic to tick bites may have symptoms including rashes or blisters, pain or burning where the tick attached or respiratory issues, especially in cases of severe allergy.
Tick bite symptoms – general: While rashes may stem from an allergic response, they can also indicate the transmission of a tick-borne illness, especially if the bite site is red or an otherwise unusual color, looks like a bull’s-eye or seems to be spreading. Tick bite symptoms may also be similar to those of the flu, including fever, chills, nausea and head or whole body aches.
Other unique symptoms linked to specific tick-borne illnesses: In addition to many of the general symptoms listed above, conditions like Lyme Disease, Powassan virus, Babesiosis may cause additional complications, such as severe abdominal pain, cognitive impairment and seizures.
While the bump from a tick bite often goes away after a few days, pest control is the best way to avoid these bug bites and those from other insects. If one or more tick bite symptoms does result from tick bite exposure, they typically emerge within 30 days of the event, often within about a week. For peace of mind or proactive care, checking with your healthcare provider is always advisable in the event of a medical concern such as a tick bite. In addition to the flu, many of these symptoms are associated with a number of other health conditions or general skin irritation, such as mild itching. Consequently, awareness and identification of possible tick bite exposure help medical professionals in accurately diagnosing a current health concern.
Other Frequently Asked Questions about Tick Bite Symptoms
Where do tick bite symptoms appear?
Tick bite symptoms may occur at the site or throughout the body, as with body aches, rashes and muscle soreness. While ticks prefer warm locations like the head, armpits and backs of knees, they will attach anywhere in order to feed. Consequently, it is best to check the whole body for ticks and tick bites after being in locations where ticks reside.
Do I have to go to the doctor for a tick bite?
Consulting with your primary care physician or other healthcare provider is always the best choice if you have any medical concerns. In the event that you are unable to extract the tick from its attachment point or that you do experience tick bite symptoms, be sure to contact your doctor immediately.
How can I reduce the risk of tick bite symptoms?
Proactive care is the best way to reduce tick bites and the symptoms caused by allergic reactions to them or related to tick-borne illnesses. Professional tick exterminators can determine solutions for existing infestations and recommend strategies for prevention. Even though not all tick bites result in symptoms or in the transmission of disease, minimizing exposure to ticks remains the best way to reduce the risk of tick bites and their complications. In addition to personal care practices like the use of repellent sprays and body checks after being outdoors, exclusion and sealing as well as other preventative services from the reliable pest control provider near you further minimizes the potential for indoor infestations and outdoor exposure.
Whether you need professional tick care, other pest extermination services or wildlife control, Eliminate ‘Em is here to provide you with the necessary prevention and infestation solutions. Proactive measures help reduce the likelihood that you or a loved one will experience an initial tick bite or related disease. If you are looking for comprehensive tick control or other pest services, contact us today!
