Can you get cellulitis from an insect bite? Everything you need to know to avoid it

Written by Candina Jordan

• What Is Cellulitis?
• Insect Bites
• What Is Cellulitis From a Bug Bite?
• Symptoms of Cellulitis From an Insect Bite
• Treating Cellulitis From an Insect Bite
• How to Prevent Cellulitis From an Insect Bite
• Risks and Complications of Cellulitis From an Insect Bite
• More

Bites from mosquitoes, wasps, spiders, and other bugs can break your skin, leaving an opening for bacteria to enter. 

Insect bites don’t directly cause conditions like cellulitis. However, the broken skin and itchiness associated with insect bites increase your risk of developing cellulitis from a bug bite.

Cellulitis is a skin infection that can be caused by many different types of bacteria. It causes swelling, redness, and pain in the area that’s infected. If you don’t treat cellulitis, it can spread and cause serious problems affecting your joints, bones, blood, or heart. Cellulitis can be treated by your healthcare provider with antibiotics.

Although cellulitis can be caused by many different types of bacteria, the two most common types are Group A Streptococcus and Staphylococcus aureus. These bacteria live on your skin and underneath your fingernails. 

Most of the time, insect bites are mild and can be treated at home. However, insect bites cause a break in your skin that can allow bacteria to enter. If you scratch an insect bite, you can transfer bacteria from under your nails or surrounding skin into the wound. 

If you’re bitten by an insect, treat it immediately to avoid complications such as cellulitis.

• Move away from the area to avoid getting any more bites or stings. 
• If you see a stinger, remove it from your skin. 
• Wash the area of the insect bite with soap and water. 
• Reduce pain and swelling by applying a cold cloth to the area for 10 to 20 minutes. 
• If the bite or sting is on your arm or leg, elevate the limb to help reduce swelling.  
• Use calamine lotion, baking soda paste, or hydrocortisone cream on the area several times a day. 
• Take an antihistamine such as cetirizine, fexofenadine, or loratadine to help reduce itching. 
• Use an over-the-counter pain reliever if needed. 

An insect bite alone won’t give you cellulitis. Insects don’t transmit the bacteria that cause cellulitis through their bites or stings. However, the break in your skin caused by the bite or sting can give the bacteria a chance to get inside your body and cause an infection. These types of bacteria commonly live on your skin and in your nose and mouth, even if you’re healthy. 

Cellulitis symptoms from an insect bite may not develop in the first several days after an insect bite. They usually start with a small area of skin that’s red, swollen, tender, and warm. The skin may be pitted like an orange peel or develop blisters. You may have a fever and chills. Cellulitis is most common on the feet and legs, but it can appear on any part of your body.

Your doctor can diagnose cellulitis based on a physical exam. There’s no blood test that can determine if you have cellulitis, but a test can determine what type of bacteria is causing the infection. 

Common cellulitis bug bite treatment may involve: 

Antibiotics. Cellulitis may be treated with an antibiotic you take by mouth. The type of antibiotic you need will depend on what type of bacteria is causing your cellulitis. You may need to take antibiotics for 7 to 14 days or longer if you have a weakened immune system. 

Some people may need more than one type of antibiotic or may need an IV antibiotic. IV antibiotics may be administered in the hospital to treat severe cellulitis or cellulitis of the face. People who are hospitalized with cellulitis usually have to stay in the hospital for a little over a week.  

Wound care. Taking care of the wound is an important part of treating cellulitis. Keeping it covered may help it heal faster. Your healthcare provider will let you know if you need to use special dressings or medicines to take care of your wound. 

Rest and elevation. You may need to keep the site of cellulitis elevated to help relieve the swelling and help your body heal. 

Here are some steps you can take to prevent developing cellulitis from an insect bite: 

• Use soap and water to clean an insect bite. 
• Apply antibiotic ointment to the bug bite if the skin is broken. 
• Use a bandage to cover the bug bite to keep it clean and prevent scratching. 
• Reapply a fresh band-aid and ointment daily or whenever it gets dirty. 
• Try to prevent itching by taking an over-the-counter antihistamine.

You can also reduce your chances of developing cellulitis from an insect bite by reducing your chances of getting bitten: 

• Use an insect repellent approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). 
• Wear long sleeves and long pants when you’re outside.  
• Use an insecticide on your clothes. 

Cellulitis can cause serious complications if left untreated. You should see your doctor immediately if you have cellulitis along with any of the following symptoms: 

• A large area of skin that’s red and inflamed
• Fever 
• Numbness, tingling, or other changes in the affected area
• Skin that appears blackened
• A red and swollen area around your eyes or behind your ears
• Diabetes or a weakened immune system

Untreated cellulitis can cause: 

• Bacteremia, an infection of the blood
• Endocarditis, an infection of the inner linings of the heart’s valves and chambers
• Toxic shock syndrome, a life-threatening condition caused by bacterial toxins
• Sepsis, an extreme response to infection
• Necrotizing fasciitis, an infection that destroys tissue under the skin

Top Picks

Can you get cellulitis from an insect bite? Everything you need to know to avoid it

Written by Candina Jordan

• What Is Cellulitis?
• Insect Bites
• What Is Cellulitis From a Bug Bite?
• Symptoms of Cellulitis From an Insect Bite
• Treating Cellulitis From an Insect Bite
• How to Prevent Cellulitis From an Insect Bite
• Risks and Complications of Cellulitis From an Insect Bite
• More

Bites from mosquitoes, wasps, spiders, and other bugs can break your skin, leaving an opening for bacteria to enter.  

Insect bites don’t directly cause conditions like cellulitis. However, the broken skin and itchiness associated with insect bites increase your risk of developing cellulitis from a bug bite.

Cellulitis is a skin infection that can be caused by many different types of bacteria. It causes swelling, redness, and pain in the area that’s infected. If you don’t treat cellulitis, it can spread and cause serious problems affecting your joints, bones, blood, or heart. Cellulitis can be treated by your healthcare provider with antibiotics.

Although cellulitis can be caused by many different types of bacteria, the two most common types are Group A Streptococcus and Staphylococcus aureus. These bacteria live on your skin and underneath your fingernails. 

Most of the time, insect bites are mild and can be treated at home. However, insect bites cause a break in your skin that can allow bacteria to enter. If you scratch an insect bite, you can transfer bacteria from under your nails or surrounding skin into the wound.  

If you’re bitten by an insect, treat it immediately to avoid complications such as cellulitis.

• Move away from the area to avoid getting any more bites or stings. 
• If you see a stinger, remove it from your skin. 
• Wash the area of the insect bite with soap and water. 
• Reduce pain and swelling by applying a cold cloth to the area for 10 to 20 minutes. 
• If the bite or sting is on your arm or leg, elevate the limb to help reduce swelling. 
• Use calamine lotion, baking soda paste, or hydrocortisone cream on the area several times a day. 
• Take an antihistamine such as cetirizine, fexofenadine, or loratadine to help reduce itching. 
• Use an over-the-counter pain reliever if needed. 

An insect bite alone won’t give you cellulitis. Insects don’t transmit the bacteria that cause cellulitis through their bites or stings. However, the break in your skin caused by the bite or sting can give the bacteria a chance to get inside your body and cause an infection. These types of bacteria commonly live on your skin and in your nose and mouth, even if you’re healthy. 

Cellulitis symptoms from an insect bite may not develop in the first several days after an insect bite. They usually start with a small area of skin that’s red, swollen, tender, and warm. The skin may be pitted like an orange peel or develop blisters. You may have a fever and chills. Cellulitis is most common on the feet and legs, but it can appear on any part of your body.

Your doctor can diagnose cellulitis based on a physical exam. There’s no blood test that can determine if you have cellulitis, but a test can determine what type of bacteria is causing the infection. 

Common cellulitis bug bite treatment may involve: 

Antibiotics. Cellulitis may be treated with an antibiotic you take by mouth. The type of antibiotic you need will depend on what type of bacteria is causing your cellulitis. You may need to take antibiotics for 7 to 14 days or longer if you have a weakened immune system.  

Some people may need more than one type of antibiotic or may need an IV antibiotic. IV antibiotics may be administered in the hospital to treat severe cellulitis or cellulitis of the face. People who are hospitalized with cellulitis usually have to stay in the hospital for a little over a week.  

Wound care. Taking care of the wound is an important part of treating cellulitis. Keeping it covered may help it heal faster. Your healthcare provider will let you know if you need to use special dressings or medicines to take care of your wound. 

Rest and elevation. You may need to keep the site of cellulitis elevated to help relieve the swelling and help your body heal. 

Here are some steps you can take to prevent developing cellulitis from an insect bite: 

• Use soap and water to clean an insect bite. 
• Apply antibiotic ointment to the bug bite if the skin is broken. 
• Use a bandage to cover the bug bite to keep it clean and prevent scratching.  
• Reapply a fresh band-aid and ointment daily or whenever it gets dirty. 
• Try to prevent itching by taking an over-the-counter antihistamine.

You can also reduce your chances of developing cellulitis from an insect bite by reducing your chances of getting bitten: 

• Use an insect repellent approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). 
• Wear long sleeves and long pants when you’re outside. 
• Use an insecticide on your clothes. 

Cellulitis can cause serious complications if left untreated. You should see your doctor immediately if you have cellulitis along with any of the following symptoms: 

• A large area of skin that’s red and inflamed
• Fever 
• Numbness, tingling, or other changes in the affected area
• Skin that appears blackened
• A red and swollen area around your eyes or behind your ears
• Diabetes or a weakened immune system

Untreated cellulitis can cause: 

• Bacteremia, an infection of the blood
• Endocarditis, an infection of the inner linings of the heart’s valves and chambers
• Toxic shock syndrome, a life-threatening condition caused by bacterial toxins
• Sepsis, an extreme response to infection
• Necrotizing fasciitis, an infection that destroys tissue under the skin

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Infectious cellulitis – causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment

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Cellulite: causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment.

Definition

Infectious cellulitis, or, as it is also called, streptococcal cellulitis, acute indurative cellulitis, bacterial cellulitis, is a deep inflammatory lesion of the skin and subcutaneous tissue, accompanied by induration, redness, swelling, and pain.

Cosmetologists understand cellulite not as an inflammatory process, but as a lobular structure of subcutaneous fatty tissue, uneven deposition of subcutaneous fat, which manifests itself outwardly as uneven skin. It is necessary to clearly separate the dermatological nosology “cellulite” and the cosmetic problem “false cellulite”, or gynoid lipodystrophy.

Cellulite disease has nothing to do with an aesthetic defect, which is commonly referred to as “orange peel”.

Causes of cellulite

Cellulitis is usually caused by bacterial flora – group A streptococci, Staphylococcus aureus, pneumococcus. The process is associated with an open wound surface or skin abscess. In some cases (with diabetic ulcers of the lower extremities, severe tissue ischemia, after animal bites), other microorganisms, mainly aerobic gram-negative bacteria, can become the cause of cellulite. Yeast-like fungi of the genus 9 are considered rare causative agents of cellulite.0036 Candida , pathogenic fungi, parasites, viruses. There is an allergic variant of cellulitis – eosinophilic cellulitis (Wells syndrome).

Cellulite on intact skin is called “erysipelas”. Erysipelas is an acute form of cellulitis that occurs with the involvement of the lymphatic tissue in the inflammatory process, where the pathogen multiplies. Erysipelas affects the upper layers of the skin, while cellulite extends to deeper tissues. However, it is often quite difficult to draw a clear line between them, so they use the single term “cellulite”.

About half of patients with cellulite experience its recurrence. The recurrent course of the disease is often associated with pathologies of the venous and lymphatic systems. As a rule, traumatic or surgical interventions cause the first manifestations of cellulite. Cellulitis of the lower extremities usually occurs in older patients against the background of hypostatic phenomena (varicose veins, lymphostasis, etc.), as well as fungal diseases of the feet due to a violation of the barrier function of the skin.

Cellulite develops in places of skin damage as a result of microtraumas, cracks, cuts, burns, punctures, animal and insect bites, trophic ulcers, and edema of any etiology. The most susceptible to recurrent infection are patients with diabetes mellitus, obesity, liver cirrhosis, renal failure, as well as cancer patients and people who have foci of chronic infection or have reduced immunity.

Most often, cellulite is localized on the legs, face, auricles, although it can also affect other parts of the body.

Disease classification

The following clinical variants of cellulite are distinguished:

• erythematous,
• erythematous hemorrhagic,
• erythematous-vesicular,
• erythematous-vesicular-hemorrhagic,
• erythematous-bullous-hemorrhagic.

Symptoms of cellulite

The disease begins acutely, usually within 1-3 days after exposure to a provoking factor. The clinical picture of cellulite is characterized by diffuse redness with blurry edges, the area of ​​inflammation is hot and painful on palpation. The lesions quickly increase in size, becoming plaque-like and edematous. Sometimes red stripes are noted – this is due to the transition of the infection to the lymphatic vessels, which become inflamed, causing hyperemia along the vessels. Slower and less acute cellulitis develops around ulcers.

A feeling of fullness, burning, pain appears in the area of ​​inflammation. Redness in a few hours turns into a bright erythema with clear uneven contours, swelling and infiltration of the skin are observed. Blisters often appear with hemorrhagic contents.

In severe cases (less than a third of patients), fever up to 38-40 ° C, chills, tachycardia, lowering blood pressure, headache, general malaise are possible.

Cellulite Diagnostics

The diagnosis of cellulite is based on a visual assessment of the clinical manifestations and laboratory confirmation. The main diagnostic measures include:

• complete blood count;

Clinical blood test: general analysis, leukogram, ESR (with microscopy of a blood smear in the presence of pathological changes)

Synonyms: Complete blood count, UAC. Full blood count, FBC, Complete blood count (CBC) with differential white blood cell count (CBC with diff), Hemogram.
Brief description of the study CBC: general a. ..

Up to 1 business day

Available with home visit

RUB 810

Add to cart

General urinalysis (Urine analysis with sediment microscopy)

Method of determination

Determination of physical and chemical parameters is carried out on an automatic analyzer using the “dry chemistry” method.

Hardware microscope…

Up to 1 business day

Available with home visit

410 RUB

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C-reactive protein (CRP, CRP)

C-reactive protein is an acute phase protein, a sensitive indicator of tissue damage during inflammation, necrosis, trauma.
Synonyms: Blood test for CRP; C-jet …

Up to 1 business day

Available with home visit

665 RUB

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Anaerobic culture, Routine. Bacteria Identification and Susceptibility

Detection of anaerobic flora in purulent-inflammatory processes.

Anaerobic microorganisms constitute the vast majority of normal human microflora…

Up to 9 working days

Available with home visit

RUB 1,945

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Gram Stain. Bacterioscopic examination of different smears.

Synonyms: Analysis of a Gram-stained smear.

Microscopic (bacterioscopic) examination of Gram-stained smear.

Brief description of the study Microscopic examination of a smear stained …

Up to 3 working days

Available with home visit

RUB 685

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Culture of wound exudates and tissues for microflora and determination of sensitivity to an extended spectrum of antimicrobials

Synonyms:
Wound/tissue Culture. Aerobic Bacteria Identification and Antibiotic Susceptibility extended testing.
Brief description of the study “Sowing wound discharge and tissues for microflora and determination …

Up to 7 business days

Available with house call

2 520 RUB

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Culture of wound exudates and tissues for microflora, determination of sensitivity to antimicrobials and bacteriophages

Synonyms:
Wound/tissue Culture. Aerobic Bacteria Identification. Antibiotic Susceptibility and Bacteriophage Efficiency testing.
Brief description of the study “Sowing of wound discharge and tissues for microflora, determined …

Up to 7 business days

Available with home visit

RUB 1,525

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Culture of wound discharge and tissues for microflora and determination of sensitivity to antimicrobial drugs

Synonyms:
Wound/tissue Culture. Aerobic Bacteria Identification and Antibiotic Susceptibility testing.
Brief description of the study “Sowing of wound discharge and tissues for microflora and determination of sensi…

Up to 7 business days

Available with home visit

RUB 1,460

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Glucose (in the blood) (Glucose)

Research material

Serum or blood plasma. If it is not possible to centrifuge the sample 30 minutes after collection for serum/plasma separation…

Up to 1 business day

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335 RUB

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Which doctors to contact

It is possible to prevent the development of cellulite at an early stage, so when the first symptoms appear, you should consult a dermatologist, a general practitioner (family doctor). It is recommended to consult a surgeon for patients with ulcerative skin defects, if necessary, surgical treatment of the ulcerative surface. Consultation

general practitioner

and

endocrinologist

is needed for chronic cellulite to exclude concomitant pathology and determine the required amount of diagnostic and therapeutic measures.

Treatment of cellulite

The basis of the treatment of infectious cellulite is antibacterial therapy, taking into account the sensitivity of the pathogen to certain drugs. Broad-spectrum antibiotics are used, which is associated with difficulties in laboratory verification of the pathogen. Antimicrobial treatment of cellulite involves the use of antibacterial agents active against streptococci and staphylococci for 5 to 10 days in the case of uncomplicated cellulitis. In severe forms of cellulitis, antibacterial therapy is carried out with the use of drugs that are effective against both strepto- and staphylococci, and gram-negative aerobic microorganisms, until negative culture results are obtained. If the inflammation is autoimmune, then antibiotics are not required. Corticosteroids are often prescribed to relieve inflammation.

Localized erysipelas and cellulite care includes bed rest and elevation of affected areas to reduce local swelling. Cool, sterile saline dressings relieve pain and are especially indicated in the presence of bullous lesions. Application of moist heat may help localize an abscess associated with cellulitis.

Note that local therapy is indicated only for bullous, hemorrhagic manifestations of the disease.

In most cases of typical cellulite, there is no need to prescribe local agents – systemic antibacterial drugs are sufficient.
In complex and severe cases, surgery may be required to remove gangrene, tissue necrosis.

Among physiotherapeutic methods, the use of ultraviolet irradiation, laser therapy and photodynamic therapy is recommended. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is used in patients with progressive cellulitis, when surgical excision of pathological tissues may be crippling.

Complications

Cellulite treatment should be started as soon as the doctor prescribes it, and all recommendations must be fully followed. The patient should not stop treatment as soon as he feels better, otherwise the disease may spread, causing serious complications.

Complications of cellulitis can be abscesses, osteomyelitis, septic arthritis, thrombophlebitis, bacteremia, necrotizing fasciitis, as well as lymphangitis and glomerulonephritis.

Recurrent infection of the lower extremities may be complicated by the development of dermal fibrosis and thickening of the epidermis. In older people, cellulitis of the lower third of the lower leg may be complicated by thrombophlebitis. In addition, inflammation of the subcutaneous tissue can trigger the development of meningitis.
In severe cases, cellulitis turns into gangrene. In turn, gangrene is often complicated by necrosis, in which the affected skin and subcutaneous fat die off. And this can lead to sepsis and death.

Prevention of cellulite

In order to prevent the recurrence of cellulite, it is effective to use bicillin administered intramuscularly. The duration of bicillin prophylaxis is 3 years, one preventive course per year.

The success of preventive treatment of cellulite also depends on the effectiveness of therapy for diseases that predispose to the appearance and recurrence of cellulite – diabetes, foot mycosis, microcirculation disorders, carbohydrate metabolism.

To prevent cellulite, you need to observe personal hygiene, monitor the condition of the skin – it should always be clean, do not allow it to peel or crack.

You should not get carried away with local antibacterial agents, as this can lead to a violation of the natural microflora of the skin and a weakening of its barrier function.

For the prevention of cellulite and erysipelas, it is necessary to follow the general recommendations:

• be careful when handling raw fish, poultry or meat;
• when working with the ground, it is recommended to wear rubber gloves;
• treat fungal infections in a timely manner; skin wounds must be thoroughly washed so that the infection does not enter the underlying tissues;
• at the first symptoms of inflammation, you should consult a doctor.

Sources:

1. Plieva L.R. Cellulitis versus cellulite. Russian journal of skin and venereal diseases. 2015; 18(6). pp. 42-49.
2. Federal clinical guidelines for the management of patients with pyoderma. Russian Society of Dermatovenerologists and Cosmetologists. Moscow, 2015.
3. Plavunov N.F., Kadyshev V.A., Chernobrovkina T.Ya., Proskurina L.N. Features of the clinic and differential diagnosis of erysipelas. Review. Archive of internal medicine. 2017; 7(5). pp. 327-339. DOI: 10.20514/2226-6704-2017-7-5-327-339

IMPORTANT!

The information in this section should not be used for self-diagnosis or self-treatment. In case of pain or other exacerbation of the disease, only the attending physician should prescribe diagnostic tests. For diagnosis and proper treatment, you should contact your doctor.
For a correct assessment of the results of your analyzes in dynamics, it is preferable to do studies in the same laboratory, since different laboratories may use different research methods and units of measurement to perform the same analyzes.

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Tick bite: signs, symptoms and consequences

11. 04.2019

830987

The season of tick activity begins in the spring, it is during this period that humans and animals are most at risk of picking up the parasite. What are ticks, how to protect yourself from their bite and what to do if it does happen?

The tick season lasts from spring to autumn. The tick resembles a tiny bug, its body length is only 4 mm, it has 4 pairs of legs, and is covered with a shell on top. Since the arthropod is very small, it is very difficult for a person to see its head and blood-sucking proboscis without special devices. Although the tick has no eyes, it can smell its prey at a distance of 10 meters, thanks to its well-developed sense of smell. The body of the male is smaller than the female. The female, having drunk blood, can reach up to 2 cm in size, she is able to drink blood 10 times her own weight.

Many people are afraid that a tick can fall from a tree and bite into the scalp or neck, where it is very difficult to detect it instantly. It is a myth. The tick does not rise above 50 cm from the ground, so this possibility is excluded. Often he waits for a warm-blooded creature in the grass or bushes, and when it comes closer, it grabs with its front paws and climbs rather quickly. The parasite travels through the body of the victim, choosing for itself the most tasty areas (most often it is the stomach, neck, ears, armpits). Having found such a place, the parasite digs into the skin, cutting it with its proboscis, and begins to suck out blood. The trace of a tick bite on the human body remains in the form of a small red spot 1 cm in size, if the person did not have a strong allergic reaction.

What are the consequences of a tick bite in humans?

The condition of the victim depends on the number of bites and physique. They are more difficult to tolerate by the elderly, children and people with severe and allergic diseases. Possible bite signs in humans:

• redness of the skin area;
• itching;
• fever;
• occurrence of headache;
• lowering blood pressure;
• rapid heartbeat;
• appearance of rashes on the skin;
• swollen lymph nodes;
• constant feeling of weakness.

The consequences of an attack depend on whether the parasite is infected or not. The bite of the encephalitic tick is considered the most dangerous for humans. The consequences of such a bite are extremely severe (in case of infection and refusal of treatment):

• paralysis of the body;
• breathing problems;
• impairment of brain activity;
• deaths.

If a person has suffered from a sterile tick, then the complications may not be so dangerous:

• putrefaction of affected area;
• the occurrence of an allergic reaction;
• the appearance of edema (up to Quincke’s edema).

It is impossible to independently determine whether an infectious tick has stuck or not. The appearance and color of the tick does not depend on whether it is infected or not. If bitten by an infected tick, timely treatment can save the victim’s life.

How long does it take for a person to show symptoms of a tick bite?

The first symptoms appear after 2-3 hours in the form of reddening of the skin. A week or later, the symptoms described above may appear.

How is a tick bite different from other insect bites? How to find out which insect has bitten and left characteristic marks on the skin? There will be one spot, there will not be the same in the neighborhood, the redness will increase every hour, an allergic reaction may occur. Can a tick just bite a person without sticking its head under the skin?

The answer to all these questions is no. The tick bites only for the purpose of satiation, and for this it needs to cling well, inject an anesthetic and immerse its proboscis along with its head under the skin of the victim. Males need less blood to saturate, so they can fall off in an hour, but females need a lot of blood, so they can parasitize for up to 6 days and increase in size many times over. Ticks drink blood in order to get enough and leave offspring. Females will not be able to lay eggs in a hungry state – they definitely need blood.

How long can a tick suck blood?

From several minutes to several hours, and females, as a rule, stay longer on the victim’s body. It should be noted that most of the time the tick is on the skin of a person or animal in search of a place for suction, so if the tick has not yet stuck, it should be brushed off as soon as possible (no need to press it on yourself like a mosquito – you can bring an infection under the skin).

On average, an adult sucks blood for 1-2 hours, after which it disappears.

How much blood can a tick drink at a time?

Hungry ixodid ticks weigh from 2 to 15 mg, and satiated ones from 200 to 1200 mg, which is many times their own weight. In one bite, a tick can pump out up to 1,000 mg of human blood. The size of a hungry tick does not exceed 4 mm, and a full one can reach 3 cm, becoming similar in size to a corn seed.

Does a tick die after being bitten?

Some people seriously think that a tick dies after it bites a person, but this is not at all the case. On the contrary, the tick only benefits from the bite – this is its nutrition, which contributes to further development and reproduction. A hungry tick will not be able to leave offspring, so biting people and animals is a vital necessity for it.

How dangerous is a tick bite for a person?

The tick can serve as a carrier of a rather extensive list of diseases, therefore, after pulling out the tick, it is better to save it for testing for infections (encephalitis, borreliosis, called Lyme disease). This is done in the laboratory at the infectious diseases hospital. Scientists have proven that the chance of getting infected from a tick is unlikely, since 90% of ticks, according to research, are not infected. Although minimal, but the chance of infection exists.

First aid for a bite.

If a tick is crawling on you, shake it off immediately, and if it has already stuck, remove it as soon as possible and store it in a jar with moistened cotton wool or blades of grass to bring it alive to the laboratory for the study and diagnosis of infections. Treat the wound with an antiseptic. If signs of allergy are observed – severe redness and swelling of the bite site, immediately give the victim an antiallergic agent.

How to remove a tick?

An arthropod attaches itself very strongly to the human body, since the saliva of the parasite acts as a hardener. The proboscis digs deep under the skin, so you need to remove the tick very carefully. Step-by-step recommendations for extracting the tick: Using counterclockwise movements in a circle, as if unscrewing a screw, pull it out of the skin with tweezers. Be careful not to break off the head of the tick. If you had to extract the bloodsucker in nature, and there were no tweezers nearby, an ordinary thread will help. With its help, the proboscis is tied near the very surface of the skin and is pulled out with light jerks. After removal, you need to make sure that the tick is intact, put it in an airtight container and deliver it to the sanitary and epidemiological station for analysis as soon as possible. Lubricate the surface near the bite with any antiseptic. People often advise treating the affected area with oil, kerosene, gasoline and other liquids so that the tick crawls out on its own. This action is erroneous – the tick will try to dive even deeper under the skin. But if the insect then crawls out, its body will not be able to be examined in the laboratory.

What should I do if the head of a tick remains under the skin?

The head of the tick may remain under the skin if it is removed with careless, excessive force. It looks like a small splinter, so some are negligent about removing it, saying “the tick died, it no longer sucks out blood – it will fall off by itself” or simply do not notice. But it is not recommended to do so. Left under the skin, the proboscis of the tick will provoke inflammation and suppuration of the wound. Therefore, do not leave the head or proboscis of the tick under the skin, waiting for them to fall off on their own. Take a sharp needle disinfected in alcohol, pick the remaining proboscis and remove it. After a bite, a small wound will remain on the skin, which will heal quickly if the tick was not contagious. Treat the bite site with peroxide, then brilliant green or iodine. If the tick bite is very itchy, use Fenistil-gel or a similar remedy that relieves itching. Try not to scratch the inflamed area so that the healing process goes faster. To prevent the head of the tick from remaining under the skin, cling to it as close as possible to the suction site.

What disease can be contracted from a tick bite?

After a tick bite, a person develops various ailments – from simple irritation to severe or fatal illness.

Encephalitis : At first, the illness resembles the common cold. The incubation period can last up to a week. No analysis will give one hundred percent information about the infection if 10 days have not passed since the attack. For an accurate diagnosis, you need to bring a live and unharmed parasite for examination.

Borreliosis (Lyme disease) : this disease can be transmitted to humans if the tick contains Borrelia bacteria. Symptoms do not appear immediately, after a while the lymph nodes increase, the body aches, a red ring appears on the skin.

What to do if you are bitten by a tick?

There is no need to panic, often elevated body temperature and muscle pain can be a manifestation of a protective psychological response of the body after fright and anxiety. The onset of the disease goes through certain stages: Causeless and short chills, fever up to 40 degrees. According to the clinical signs of the formation of encephalitis, this period is more like infection with the flu. After some time, the patient may experience symptoms: nausea and vomiting, bouts of severe headache. At this stage, all symptoms indicate a gastrointestinal disorder. After a few days, the patient will suddenly show symptoms of arthritis or arthrosis. Pain in the head passes, they are replaced by aches of the whole body. The patient’s movements are very difficult, there are problems with breathing. The skin on the face and body turns red and becomes edematous, purulent abscesses appear at the site of the bite. Further, the symptoms only worsen, because the infection enters the patient’s circulatory system and begins its destructive work. Remember that delay can lead to death!

If a tick is found on the body, it should be removed immediately. This procedure can be carried out independently or go to the hospital. Health workers can easily pull it out and run a series of tests. Only in laboratory conditions can you accurately determine whether this tick is dangerous. If treatment is necessary, it is necessary to unconditionally follow the recommendations and prescriptions of the attending physician so that the effectiveness of the treatment is maximum.