Tick-borne diseases are spreading rapidly throughout the country, making it more important than ever that people know what to do in the unfortunate event that they’re bitten by a tick. If you or your child have been bitten by a tick, it’s crucial that you follow the steps below:
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- Remove the tick
- Have the tick identified
- Save the tick for testing
- Monitor symptoms of tick-borne illnesses and keep track of your symptoms
- Important: Under no circumstance should you delay treatment. This includes seeing a specialist in tick-borne illness, or using the IgXSpot test from IGeneX to detect certain tick-borne diseases in their early stages.
While a tick bite does not guarantee you’ll be infected with a tick-borne illness, it can still be a scary experience, as the risks of contracting Lyme Disease, Tick-Borne Relapsing Fever (TBRF), or other illnesses are very real. But with the right post-bite practices, you increase your chances of discovering a disease early and getting the right treatment.
Below, learn about each step you should take if you or a family member has been bitten by a tick, including how to get a tick out, where and how to get it tested, and how to recognize symptoms of tick-borne diseases.
This wood tick is engorged, meaning it has fed on blood after attaching to a host and could have transmitted a disease. (Photo by Jared Belson)
- Remove the tick
Tick-borne illnesses are more likely to be transmitted the longer a disease-bearing tick stays attached to the body, so it’s important that you remove the tick as soon as you notice it – ideally within 24 hours of attachment. However, soft ticks, known to carry Tick-borne Relapsing Fever, can transmit the disease within 15 minutes of being attached to the body.
The CDC recommends removing ticks with a pair of fine-tipped tweezers. Don’t use “folk remedies” like petroleum jelly, nail polish, or burning the tick with a match, as these can make removal more difficult and cause the tick to stay attached for longer. Focus on removing the tick as quickly as possible through the following process provided by the CDC:
How to Get a Tick Out
- Using fine-tipped tweezers, grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible.
- Pull upward with steady, even pressure. Try not to twist or jerk the tick, as this can cause the mouth-parts to break off and remain attached to the skin. You should also be careful not to crush the tick’s body, as this can cause more pathogens to be released into the bloodstream.
- After removing the tick, thoroughly clean the bite area (and your hands) with rubbing alcohol, iodine scrub, or soap and water.
- Have the tick identified.
There are many different varieties of ticks, and different kinds show up in different regions and carry different diseases. One very important step you can take after removing a tick is saving it to be identified by local authorities.
First, you can use LivLyme’s TickTracker App to get a head start on what kind of tick might have bitten you. Inspired by an event in which the app creator discovered ticks all over her dog’s paw, TickTracker lets you plug in your location information and instantly find information about different ticks in your area. This can be immensely useful in narrowing down the tick-borne diseases you may be at risk for.
You can also explore IGeneX’s guide to identifying different types of ticks. You’ll learn the difference between “hard ticks” like the black-legged tick, which is known to spread Lyme disease, and “soft ticks,” which more commonly spread Tick-Borne Relapsing Fever (though at least one type of hard tick that spreads TBRF has been found in the U.S.). You can also explore specific species of tick, from American dog ticks to Rocky Mountain wood ticks, and which illnesses they commonly carry.
To get your tick identified, search for local vector control authorities, the CDC Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, or even university extension offices.
- Have the tick tested.
Whether or not you have been able to get the tick identified, consider saving the tick and sending it to be tested for the pathogens that lead to tick-borne illnesses like Lyme Disease, Tick-borne Relapsing Fever (TBRF), Babesiosis, Bartonellosis, Ehrlichiosis, or Rickettsiosis. This can save you considerable time and money, helping you rule out or illuminate the risk of specific illnesses before your body is able to develop antibodies in response to a possible infection.
All you have to do is place the tick (dead or alive) in a small plastic tube or sealed bag, enclose it in an envelope, fill out the Tick Test Request Form, and mail the tick to IGeneX.
- Monitor and track your symptoms.
One of the trickiest parts of detecting a tick-borne illness is knowing how to recognize symptoms that can often be confusing, nonspecific, or reminiscent of other illnesses. There are a few major signs you should watch out for, however.
Bull’s Eye Rash for Lyme Disease
One of the signature symptoms of Lyme disease is the bull’s eye, or erythema migrans (EM), rash – a red, circular rash that develops at the site of the bite anywhere from 3 to 30 days after the bite. However, some reports find that fewer than 50 percent of patients diagnosed with Lyme disease remember any kind of rash. Other types of rashes are also associated with other tick-borne diseases besides Lyme, such as red dots around the ankles and wrists associated with Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.
Because the rash doesn’t show up in all patients, it’s important to pay close attention to other possible symptoms of Lyme and other tick-borne diseases.
Fever, Head and Body Aches, and Fatigue
Flu-like symptoms such as fever and chills, as well as head and body aches and fatigue, can all be associated with several tick-borne illnesses, including Lyme disease, TBRF, Babesiosis (a malaria-like disease that can be fatal), Ehrlichiosis, Bartonellosis, and Rickettsiosis (or Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever).
Nausea, Vomiting, Diarrhea, Abdominal Pain, and Cough
TBRF, Ehrlichiosis, Anaplasmosis, and Rickettsiosis can all cause flu-like digestive symptoms or cough, in addition to other symptoms depending on the person and stage of development.
Noticing Cat Scratch Disease and Trench Fever
Two of the main diseases caused by Bartonella, Cat Scratch Disease and Trench Fever, can lead to enlarged lymph nodes and pus at the site of infection. In addition, Trench Fever can cause bouts of fever that last anywhere from two to six weeks.
Symptoms can change or worsen as a disease develops untreated. To learn more about which symptoms to look out for and the illnesses they may indicate, read IGeneX’s overview of the most common tick-borne diseases.
What to Do If You Notice Symptoms
Seek medical advice from the proper specialists. That includes getting tested for tick-borne diseases at a reputable testing center that uses only the latest technology in diagnostic testing. IGeneX is a proud provider of diagnostic testing that is more sensitive and more comprehensive than average testing. Also, if you’re experiencing any of the above symptoms after being bitten by a tick, it’s imperative that you keep careful track of them. The IGeneX Symptom Tracker chart can make this easier.
Without prompt testing with highly sensitive technology, you’ll be missing a crucial piece of the diagnostic puzzle, giving a possible infection the chance to develop into chronic health problems, including chronic Lyme. To learn more about the risks of a missed diagnosis, read The Importance of Getting the Right Diagnosis.
Tick-borne illnesses like Lyme disease can be treated effectively with antibiotics, but only if you receive prompt, accurate medical care using good diagnostic testing and a careful analysis of your symptoms.
How to Prevent Tick Bites
Even if you’ve already been bitten by a tick, it’s never too late to learn about proper prevention. The best way to avoid tick-borne illnesses is to avoid being bitten by a tick. So how do you prevent tick bites?
- Avoid ticks. Know common tick habitats, such as grassy or wooded areas, wood piles or stone walls that can retain moisture, leaf piles and litter, or overgrown shrubs. Also be aware that ticks can be active any time of year and can even be found indoors, and climate change and other current trends are affecting tick endemicity, causing illnesses to spread outside typical areas such as the Northeast United States.
- Wear protective clothing, such as long sleeves, hats, and pants tucked into socks. The less bare skin you expose, the harder it is for ticks to attach. You can also wear tick-repellant.
- Check for ticks and know how to remove them.
Click here to learn more about how to prevent tick bites and tick-borne illnesses.
Tick-borne illnesses are treatable with the right care. IGeneX is committed to providing the most accurate diagnostic testing for Lyme Disease, TBRF, and more. Read about the IGeneX advantage today.