How does Lyme disease manifest in the body. What are the early and late symptoms of Lyme disease. Can Lyme disease cause cognitive problems. How is Lyme disease diagnosed and treated.

Understanding Lyme Disease: A Prevalent Tick-Borne Illness

Lyme disease, caused by the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi, is the most common tick-borne illness in the United States. Transmitted through the bite of infected blacklegged ticks (also known as deer ticks), this condition affects an estimated 300,000 people annually, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). While particularly prevalent in the Northeast and upper Midwest regions of the country, Lyme disease has become a nationwide concern.

The diagnosis of Lyme disease can be challenging due to the diverse and often vague nature of its symptoms. Early detection and treatment are crucial for managing the condition effectively. Therefore, it’s essential to familiarize yourself with the signs and symptoms of Lyme disease to seek prompt medical attention if you suspect an infection.

Early Signs and Symptoms of Lyme Disease

The initial symptoms of Lyme disease typically appear within 3 to 30 days after a bite from an infected tick. These early signs can vary from person to person, but some common indicators include:

The Characteristic Lyme Disease Rash

One of the most recognizable signs of Lyme disease is the development of a red rash, medically known as erythema migrans. This rash occurs in up to 80% of infected individuals and usually appears at the site of the tick bite. Dr. Nikhil Bhayani, an infectious disease specialist, explains that the redness is essentially an allergic reaction to the tick’s saliva.

What does the Lyme disease rash look like? The rash often takes on a distinctive bullseye shape, with a central red spot surrounded by a clear area and an outer red ring. However, it’s important to note that the rash can also appear as a solid red blotch without the characteristic bullseye pattern. As the infection progresses, the rash typically expands, potentially reaching up to 12 inches in diameter.

While the rash may feel warm to the touch and might have a slightly crusty center where the tick bite occurred, it generally doesn’t cause itching or discomfort. It’s worth noting that not all individuals with Lyme disease develop this telltale rash, making awareness of other symptoms crucial for early detection.

Flu-Like Symptoms: A Common Early Indicator

Many individuals with early-stage Lyme disease experience flu-like symptoms, which can include:

• Fatigue
• Muscle and joint pain
• Headache
• Neck stiffness
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Fever
• Chills

Dr. Kalpana D. Shere-Wolfe, an infectious disease specialist at the University of Maryland Medical Center Midtown Campus, explains that these symptoms result from the immune system’s response to the bacterial infection. It’s important to distinguish Lyme disease from the actual flu, as Lyme typically doesn’t cause respiratory symptoms like coughing or congestion.

Late-Stage Lyme Disease: Recognizing Advanced Symptoms

If left untreated, Lyme disease can progress and cause more severe symptoms. These late-stage manifestations may appear weeks to months after the initial infection and can include:

Expanded and Additional Rashes

As the Lyme disease infection spreads throughout the body, the initial rash may continue to expand. Additionally, new, smaller rashes might develop in other areas. These secondary rashes can vary in appearance, sometimes maintaining the bullseye shape or appearing as splotchy, blob-like marks. In some cases, they may even take on a slightly bluish tint in the center.

Neurological and Cognitive Symptoms

Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacteria responsible for Lyme disease, is one of the few that can cross the blood-brain barrier and infect the central nervous system. Dr. Timothy J. Sellati, Chief Scientific Officer for the Global Lyme Alliance, explains that this can lead to inflammation of the brain, resulting in various neurological and cognitive symptoms.

How does Lyme disease affect cognitive function? Advanced Lyme disease can cause:

• Extreme fatigue (affecting up to 76% of patients)
• Difficulty concentrating
• Loss of coordination
• Short-term memory loss (occurring in up to 24% of cases)
• In severe cases, facial weakness and behavioral changes

Intense Headaches

The inflammation caused by Lyme disease can also lead to severe headaches, affecting up to 70% of patients. These headaches often resemble migraines in intensity and may be accompanied by hypersensitivity to noise or light. Dr. Bhayani notes that Lyme-related headaches typically feel more intense than common tension headaches.

Joint and Muscle Pain

Approximately 60% of patients with advanced Lyme disease develop joint pain or arthritis, according to a study from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. This pain often begins in the joints closest to the original tick bite site and can spread to other areas, particularly the knees.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Lyme Disease

Diagnosing Lyme disease can be challenging due to the varied and often non-specific nature of its symptoms. Healthcare providers typically consider a combination of factors, including:

• Patient history, including potential exposure to ticks
• Physical examination findings, such as the presence of a characteristic rash
• Blood tests to detect antibodies against the Lyme disease bacteria

How is Lyme disease treated? The standard treatment for Lyme disease involves antibiotics, with the specific regimen depending on the stage and severity of the infection. Early-stage Lyme disease is typically treated with oral antibiotics such as doxycycline, amoxicillin, or cefuroxime for 10 to 14 days. More advanced cases may require intravenous antibiotics.

Prevention: The Best Defense Against Lyme Disease

While effective treatments exist, preventing Lyme disease is always preferable. Some key preventive measures include:

1. Using insect repellents containing DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus
2. Wearing long sleeves and pants when in tick-prone areas
3. Checking for ticks after spending time outdoors
4. Removing any attached ticks promptly and properly
5. Treating pets with tick prevention products

Long-Term Outlook for Lyme Disease Patients

What is the prognosis for individuals treated for Lyme disease? Most patients who receive prompt and appropriate antibiotic treatment recover fully. However, a small percentage may experience persistent symptoms, a condition sometimes referred to as Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome (PTLDS).

Ongoing research aims to better understand the long-term effects of Lyme disease and improve treatment options for those with persistent symptoms. As our knowledge of this complex illness continues to grow, early detection and treatment remain crucial for optimal outcomes.

Lyme Disease Research: Advancements and Future Directions

The field of Lyme disease research is dynamic and evolving. Scientists and medical professionals are continuously working to improve diagnostic techniques, develop more effective treatments, and explore potential vaccine options. Some areas of current research include:

• Developing more accurate and faster diagnostic tests
• Investigating the mechanisms behind persistent symptoms
• Exploring alternative treatment approaches for patients with PTLDS
• Studying the ecology of ticks and their habitats to improve prevention strategies

As research progresses, our understanding of Lyme disease continues to deepen, offering hope for improved management and prevention of this challenging condition in the future.

Global Impact of Lyme Disease

While Lyme disease is often associated with North America, it’s important to recognize its global presence. The illness has been reported in numerous countries across Europe, Asia, and even parts of Africa and South America. The global distribution of Lyme disease is closely tied to the presence of its primary vectors – ticks of the Ixodes genus.

How does Lyme disease prevalence vary around the world? In Europe, Lyme borreliosis (as it’s often called there) is most common in central and eastern countries, with particularly high rates in countries like Germany, Austria, and Slovenia. The causative agent in Europe is often a different species of Borrelia bacteria than that found in North America, which can lead to some variations in symptoms and disease progression.

In Asia, Lyme disease has been reported in countries including China, Japan, and South Korea, though prevalence rates are generally lower than in North America and Europe. The disease has also been documented in Australia, though its presence there remains a subject of ongoing research and debate within the scientific community.

Understanding the global distribution of Lyme disease is crucial for several reasons:

• It helps healthcare providers consider Lyme disease as a potential diagnosis in patients who have traveled to endemic areas
• It informs public health strategies and resource allocation for prevention and treatment
• It highlights the need for international collaboration in research and disease management

As climate change affects tick populations and habitats worldwide, monitoring the global spread of Lyme disease becomes increasingly important for public health efforts.

Lyme Disease in Special Populations

While Lyme disease can affect anyone, certain groups may face unique challenges or risks when it comes to this tick-borne illness. Understanding these special considerations is crucial for appropriate prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.

Lyme Disease in Children

Children are often at higher risk for tick bites due to their outdoor activities and play habits. How does Lyme disease manifest in children? The symptoms can be similar to those in adults, but there are some key differences:

• Children may be less able to articulate their symptoms, making diagnosis challenging
• The classic bullseye rash may be harder to spot on a child’s smaller body
• Lyme arthritis (joint inflammation) is more common in children than in adults

Parents and caregivers should be vigilant about tick checks and prompt removal, especially after children have been playing in wooded or grassy areas.

Lyme Disease During Pregnancy

Pregnant women with Lyme disease require special consideration. While rare, it is possible for Lyme disease to be transmitted from mother to fetus, potentially leading to complications. Prompt antibiotic treatment is generally safe and effective during pregnancy, but requires careful selection of medications that won’t harm the developing fetus.

Lyme Disease in Older Adults

Older adults may face increased risks from Lyme disease due to:

• A potentially weakened immune system, making it harder to fight off the infection
• Pre-existing conditions that could be exacerbated by Lyme disease
• Increased risk of cognitive symptoms being mistaken for age-related decline

Healthcare providers should consider Lyme disease as a potential diagnosis in older patients presenting with unexplained cognitive changes or joint pain, especially in endemic areas.

Lyme Disease in Immunocompromised Individuals

People with weakened immune systems, whether due to medical conditions or treatments, may be at higher risk for more severe Lyme disease symptoms and complications. These individuals may require more aggressive treatment and closer monitoring.

Understanding these unique considerations for different populations can help improve Lyme disease outcomes across diverse groups of patients.

Lyme Disease Symptoms – What Does a Lyme Disease Rash Look Like?

Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne illness in the United States, affecting up to 300,000 people a year, according to estimates from the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In certain parts of the country (particularly the Northeast or upper Midwest), checking for ticks is practically a summertime rite of passage.

Experts know that Lyme disease is caused by the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi, which is transmitted from the bite of an infected blacklegged tick (a.k.a. deer tick). But diagnosing the condition isn’t always so straightforward. Once inside your body, the bacteria can wreak havoc in a number of ways. Yes, that can include the classic bullseye-shaped rash. But many of the other symptoms of Lyme disease aren’t as well known, and they can be frustratingly vague.

That’s why it’s important to familiarize yourself with the signs and seek medical attention ASAP if you think you or a loved one may have Lyme. The disease is typically easy to treat as long as you know what to look for.

Early symptoms of Lyme disease

The first signs of Lyme can strike anywhere from 3 to 30 days after getting bitten by an infected tick, the CDC says.

A red rash

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Up to 80% of people will develop a red rash (known as erythema migrans) in the days or weeks after contracting Lyme disease. It usually forms at the site of the tick bite, and the redness is basically an allergic reaction to the tick’s saliva, says Nikhil Bhayani, M.D., an infectious disease specialist at Texas Health Hurst-Euless-Bedford.

Lyme disease rashes will often be bullseye-shaped, but they can also just be a red blotch. The rash will usually expand with time and can get as big as 12 inches. It might feel warm to the touch or look a little crusty in the center where you were bitten, but it won’t be itchy or uncomfortable. While common, it’s still worth noting that some people with Lyme may never develop a rash.

Flu-like symptoms

Not everyone experiences a full laundry list of flu-like symptoms. But there’s a good chance you’ll notice at least a few, Dr. Bhayani says. This potentially includes:

• Fatigue
• Muscle and joint pain
• Headache
• Neck stiffness
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Fever
• Chills

The flu-like symptoms are a result of your immune system’s attempt to fight off the bacterial infection and help you get better, says Kalpana D. Shere-Wolfe, M.D., an infectious disease specialist the University of Maryland Medical Center Midtown Campus.

Of course, these kinds of symptoms could indicate many different illnesses. One clue that a tick bite caused them? With Lyme disease, you won’t experience the coughing or congestion that often comes with the actual flu, Dr. Shere-Wolfe says.

Later Lyme disease symptoms

After a month or so, people infected with Lyme disease may start showing additional symptoms. These can include:

Larger or additional rashes

As the Lyme disease infection spreads throughout the body, your rash might start to expand even more. You might also develop new, smaller rashes nearby. Like the early rash, these might be bullseye-shaped. But they can also just look splotchy or blob-like, according to the CDC. They might even take on a slightly bluish tint in the middle.

Exhaustion, fuzzy thinking, and other cognitive problems

Borrelia burgdorferi is one of the few bacteria that can cross the blood-brain barrier and infect the central nervous system, explains Timothy J. Sellati, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer for the Global Lyme Alliance. That can lead to inflammation of the brain, which can affect your central nervous system function in a few different ways.

One of those is extreme fatigue, which affects as many as 76% of people with advanced Lyme disease, according to research. Trouble concentrating, loss of coordination, and short-term memory loss are other possible problems, occurring in up to 24% of people. In extreme cases where the disease is left untreated for extended periods, you might even develop facial weakness and behavioral changes, Sellati says.

Intense headaches

The same inflammation that causes fatigue and fuzzy thinking can also lead to headaches, which findings suggest could strike in up to 70% of people with Lyme disease.

Usually, these feel intense and more similar to a migraine than your run of the mill tension headache, Dr. Bhayani says. In addition to throbbing pain, you might also experience hypersensitivity to noise or light.

Severe pain, numbness, or tingling in your joints and muscles

Around 60% of patients will develop joint pain or even arthritis as their Lyme disease progresses, according to a Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine study. Usually, it starts in the joints closest to where you were bitten and can spread from there, especially to areas like the knees. The pain isn’t usually constant, though. Experts don’t fully understand why, but “the symptoms can wax and wane over a period of weeks or months,” Sellati says.

Over time, the disease can attack the cartilage in the joints and lead to tissue damage, says Linda Yancey, M.D., an infectious disease specialist with Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital in Katy, TX.

Like many of the other problems caused by Lyme disease, this one is also triggered by inflammation. “The damage to tissues, bone, and cartilage is caused by the production of pro-inflammatory proteins, the same protein responsible for damage caused by rheumatoid arthritis,” Sellati says.

Heart palpitations, dizziness, or shortness of breath

In addition to invading the central nervous system, Borrelia burgdorferi can make its way into heart tissue. That can cause the tissue to become inflamed, leading to heart palpitations, Sellati explains. It might feel like your heart is pounding, fluttering, or beating faster than usual.

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Usually, it becomes more noticeable with vigorous exercise or stress. The problem isn’t all that common, affecting only around 11% of patients. Still, it can be serious. “If [palpitations] occur frequently, seem to get worse, or are accompanied by chest pain, fainting, severe shortness of breath, or dizziness, you should seek immediate medical attention,” Sellati says.

One thing to note: Generally, shortness of breath is most likely to strike when you’re exerting yourself, but with Lyme that isn’t always the case. “A Lyme disease patient can experience shortness of breath during normal activity that in the past might not have resulted in this response,” Sellati explains.

When to see your doctor about Lyme disease symptoms

It’s best to seek medical attention sooner rather than later. The longer Lyme disease goes untreated, the more likely you are to develop severe complications like intense joint pain, heart problems, or cognitive issues.

Lyme disease treatment: Your doctor should refer you to an infectious disease specialist, who can evaluate your symptoms and decide whether you need testing, Dr. Yancey says. If you test positive, you’ll be given antibiotics to fight the infection.

False-negatives: If your test comes back clean, but you’re convinced that Lyme disease is the culprit, ask to be retested. False negatives are common early on since it takes a few weeks for your immune system to build up antibodies to the bacteria.

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Marygrace Taylor

Marygrace Taylor is a health and wellness writer for Prevention, Parade, Women’s Health, Redbook, and others. She’s also the co-author of Prevention’s Eat Clean, Stay Lean: The Diet and Prevention’s Mediterranean Kitchen. Visit her at marygracetaylor.com.

Pictures, Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

The initial contact of a bite may be painful. It’s often followed by an allergic reaction to venom deposited into your skin through the animal’s mouth or stinger. The appearance can vary.

Whether you’re in the water, on a mountain trail, or in your backyard, wildlife you encounter have ways of protecting themselves and their territory.

Insects, such as bees, ants, fleas, flies, mosquitoes, and wasps, and arachnids, such as spiders, ticks, and scorpions, may bite or sting if you get close. Most of these animals won’t bother you if you don’t bother them, but knowing what to look for is key.

Most bites and stings trigger nothing more than minor discomfort, but some encounters can be deadly, especially if you have severe allergies to the animal’s venom.

A severe allergic reaction can happen with any bug bite or sting, depending on the person. Venom allergies may cause a dangerous, severe allergic reaction in some people, resulting in swelling, generalized itching, and difficulty breathing.

Signs of an emergency

Anaphylaxis can be a life threatening emergency. If someone experiences signs of a severe allergic reaction, call 911 or your local emergency services. Anaphylaxis can cause symptoms, including rash, low pulse, and anaphylactic shock. This can be fatal if it isn’t treated immediately.

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Prevention is the best medicine, so knowing how to recognize and avoid biting and stinging insects or arachnids is the best way to stay safe.

The animals you should recognize and understand depend very much on where you live or where you’re visiting. Different regions of the United States are home to many of these creatures.

The season also matters. For example, mosquitoes, stinging bees, and wasps tend to come out in full force during the summer.

The form a bite takes depends on what type of animal bit you. Take a look at the photos below to help identify which animal may have caused your bug bite.

Warning: Graphic images ahead.

Mosquito bites

• A mosquito bite is a small, round, puffy bump that appears soon after you’ve been bitten.
• The bump will become red, hard, swollen, and itchy.
• You may have multiple bites in the same area.

Read full article on mosquito bites.

Fire ant stings

• Fire ants are small, aggressive, red or black venomous ants that bite and then deliver painful stings.
• Stings appear as swollen red spots that develop a blister on top.
• Stings burn, itch, and last up to a week.

Read full article on fire ant stings.

Flea bites

• Flea bites are usually located in clusters on the lower legs and feet.
• The itchy, red bumps are surrounded by a red halo.
• Symptoms begin immediately after you’re bitten.

Read full article on flea bites.

Bedbug bites

• The itchy rash is caused by an allergic reaction to the bedbug bite.
• The small rashes have red, swollen areas and dark red centers.
• Bites may appear in a line or grouped together, usually on areas of the body not covered by clothing, such as the hands, neck, or feet.
• There may be very itchy blisters or hives at the bite site.

Read full article on bedbug bites.

Fly bites

• Painful, itchy rashes are caused by an inflammatory reaction at the site of the fly bite.
• Though usually harmless, they may lead to severe allergic reactions or spread insect-borne diseases.
• Take precautions when traveling to endemic countries by wearing long-sleeve shirts and pants and by using bug spray.

Read full article on fly bites.

Lice bites

• Head lice, pubic lice (“crabs”), and body lice are different species of parasitic lice that affect humans.
• They feed on blood and cause an itchy immune reaction at the site of their bites.
• Adult lice are gray/tan six-legged insects about the size of a tiny sesame seed.
• Nits (eggs) and nymphs (baby lice) can only be seen as very tiny specks that may look like dandruff.

Read full article on lice.

Chigger bites

• Painful, itchy rashes may be caused by an immune response to the bites of tiny mite larvae.
• Bites appear as welts, blisters, pimples, or hives.
• Bites will generally appear in groups and are extremely itchy.
• Chigger bites may be grouped in skin folds or near areas where clothing fits tightly.
• Chiggers tend to jump from grass, so bites are usually on legs near the tops of socks.

Read full article on chigger bites.

Tick bites

• Bites can cause pain or swelling at the bite area.
• They may also lead to a rash, a burning sensation, blisters, or difficulty breathing.
• The tick often remains attached to the skin for a long time.
• Bites rarely appear in groups.
• Ticks can transfer diseases, including Lyme disease, babesiosis, and anaplasmosis.

Read full article on tick bites.

Scabies

• Symptoms caused by scabies mites may take 4 to 6 weeks to appear.
• The extremely itchy rash may be pimply, made up of tiny blisters, or scaly.
• They may cause raised, white, or flesh-toned lines.

Read full article on scabies.

Spider bites

Share on PinterestEzytyper and added inset by B Kimmel/GFDL or CC-BY-SA-3.0 from Wikimedia Commons

This condition is considered a medical emergency, and 911 or local emergency services should be contacted. Urgent care may be required.

• Most spiders don’t pose a threat to humans, and in such cases, their bites are harmless or mildly irritating like a bee sting.
• Dangerous spiders include the brown recluse, black widow, funnel web spider (Australia), and wandering spider (South America).
• A single raised papule, pustule, or wheal may appear at the site of the bite followed by redness and tenderness.
• The bite will appear as two small puncture marks.
• Severe allergic reactions to a spider bite may require medical attention.

Read full article on spider bites.

Brown recluse spider bite

• This is a shy, brown- or tan-colored spider with a violin-shaped patch and six paired eyes, two in the front and two sets of two on either side of the head.
• It likes to hide in quiet, dark places like closets and bookshelves and is native to the South and South Central regions of the United States.
• Nonaggressive, it will only bite humans if it’s being crushed between skin and a hard surface.
• Redness appears with a central, white blister at the site of the bite.
• Moderate to severe pain and itching at the site of the bite occurs 2 to 8 hours after the spider has injected its venom.
• Rare complications include fever, body aches, nausea, vomiting, hemolytic anemia, rhabdomyolysis, and kidney failure.

Read full article on brown recluse spider bites.

Black widow spider bite

Share on Pinterest© The Author(s) 2020. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology/NCBI

This condition is considered a medical emergency, and 911 or local emergency services should be contacted. Urgent care may be required.

• This spider is plump, black, and shiny, with an hourglass-shaped red mark on its abdomen.
• It’s nonaggressive and will only bite if it’s being crushed.
• Bites cause muscle pain and spasms in the arms, legs, abdomen, and back.
• Tremor, sweating, weakness, chills, nausea, vomiting, and headache are other symptoms.
• The bite area is red with a white center.

Read full article on black widow spider bites.

Hobo spider bite

• The venom of this common household spider isn’t considered toxic to humans.
• Bites are generally harmless and cause only minor pain, swelling, and sometimes muscle twitches.
• A single red area appears with a tender central nodule.
• Itching, burning, or stinging may occur at the site of the bite.

Read full article on hobo spider bites.

Wolf spider bite

• This large (up to 2 inches long), fuzzy, gray/brown spider is native to many parts of the United States.
• Nonaggressive, it will bite if it feels threatened.
• A tender, itchy red bump appears that heals in 7 to 10 days.

Read full article on wolf spider bites.

Horsefly bites

• These large (1-inch long) blood-sucking flies are most active in the daylight hours.
• An instant, sharp burning sensation occurs when a horsefly bites.
• Itchiness, redness, swelling, and bruising may also occur at the bite location.

Read full article on horsefly bites.

Bee stings

• Pain, redness, swelling, or itching occurs at the site of the sting.
• A white spot appears where the stinger punctured the skin.
• Unlike bumblebees and carpenter bees, honeybees can only sting once due to their barbed stinger that can remain in the skin.

Read full article on bee sting allergy.

Yellow jacket stings

• These thin wasps have black and yellow stripes and long dark wings.
• Aggressive, a yellow jacket may sting multiple times.
• Swelling, tenderness, itchiness, or redness may occur near the area that’s been stung.

Read full article on yellow jacket stings.

Wasp stings

• Sharp pain, redness, swelling, and itching or burning occurs at the sting site.
• A raised welt appears around the sting site.
• Wasps can be aggressive and are capable of stinging multiple times.

Read full article on wasp stings.

Scorpion stings

• Scorpions are eight-legged arachnids with large pincers and long, segmented, stinger-tipped tails carried in a forward curve over their backs.
• Many species with variable levels of toxicity can be found all over the world.
• Intense pain, tingling, numbness, and swelling occur around the sting.
• Rare symptoms include breathing difficulties, muscle twitching, drooling, sweating, nausea, vomiting, an increased heart rate, restlessness, and excitability.
• Severe symptoms are more likely in infants and children than adults.

Read full article on scorpion stings.

Puss caterpillar stings

• Puss caterpillars may also be known as asp caterpillars, fire caterpillars, woolly slugs, or opossum bugs, and are the larvae of the flannel moth.
• They have venomous barbs on their bodies.
• They typically reside in the Southeast United States but have been found as far west as Florida and Texas.
• A string can cause skin irritation and itchiness, severe pain, and headache.

Kissing bug bites

Share on PinterestHorizons WWP / Alamy Stock Photo & Curtis-Robles et al., CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

• Triatomine bugs, also called kissing bugs, tend to bite people on the face or near the mouth.
• These bugs tend to reside in Mexico, Central America, South America, and parts of the United States.
• They carry a parasite called Trypanosoma cruzi and can T. cruzi infection and Chagas disease.
• While there are different varieties of kissing bugs, they typically have a cone-shaped head and a long, oval-shaped body with antennae and six legs. They can be light brown to black in color and may have yellow, red, or tan markings.
• Bite reactions may include mild itching, redness, and swelling. With a T. cruzi infection, a small hard area may form at the bite site.

Read full article on kissing bug bites.

Deer fly bites

Share on PinterestBruce Marlin, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons & juhat/Istock

• Deer flies have small, round heads, brownish-black bands on their wings, and gold or green eyes.
• Their bites can be painful and cause bumps or welts.
• Their bites can sometimes cause a rare bacterial disease known as rabbit fever (tularemia) that may cause skin ulcers, fever, and headache.

Read full article on fly bites.

Here are some bugs that can be more dangerous than others.

Biting insects, arachnids, and other bugs

Many bugs bite, but only a few do so intentionally. Most bites are relatively harmless, leaving just an itchy patch of skin behind. But some bites can carry disease. Deer ticks, for example, typically carry Lyme disease.

Intentional biters include:

• ticks
• chigger mites
• scabies mites
• bedbugs
• fleas
• head lice
• pubic lice
• horseflies
• black flies
• mosquitoes
• pus caterpillars
• kissing bugs
• deer flies

Many larger insects and other bugs won’t seek you out but will bite if handled.

Spiders

Some spiders have venomous fangs. Venomous spiders found in the United States include:

• brown recluse spiders
• black widow spiders
• mouse spiders
• black house spiders

Stinging insects

Insects will sting humans only to defend against a perceived threat. Typically, a sting from a bee or stinging ant will be accompanied by a small amount of venom.

When injected into your skin, the venom causes most of the itching and pain associated with the sting. It can also cause an allergic reaction.

Common stinging insects in the United States include:

• bees
• paper wasps (hornets)
• yellow jackets
• wasps
• fire ants

Scorpions

Scorpions have a reputation for stinging. Many species have barbed tails equipped with venom, some strong enough to kill a human.

The most venomous species of scorpion native to the United States is the Arizona bark scorpion.

The venom injected into your body from the bite or sting of an insect or arachnid will cause your immune system to respond. Often, your body’s immediate response will include redness and swelling at the bite or sting site.

Minor delayed reactions include itching and soreness.

If you’re very sensitive to an animal’s venom, bites and stings can cause a potentially fatal condition called anaphylactic shock. This can cause the throat to tighten and make breathing difficult or cause low blood pressure.

Anaphylactic shock is considered an emergency, and 911 or local emergency services should be contacted.

Some bites and stings may cause illnesses when venom contains infectious agents.

Anyone can be bitten or stung by an insect or arachnid, and bites and stings are very common. You’re at greater risk if you spend a lot of time outdoors, especially in rural or wooded locations.

Children and older adults may have more severe reactions to bites and stings.

If you’re bitten or stung, you may see or feel the animal on your skin during the attack. Some people don’t notice the animal and may not be aware of a bite or sting until one or more of the following symptoms emerge:

• swelling
• redness or rash
• pain in the affected area or in the muscles
• itching
• heat on and around the site of the bite or sting
• numbness or tingling in the affected area

Symptoms of a severe reaction requiring immediate medical treatment include:

• fever
• difficulty breathing
• nausea or vomiting
• muscle spasms
• rapid heart rate
• swelling of the lips and throat
• confusion
• loss of consciousness

If you feel ill or experience flu-like symptoms in the days following an insect or arachnid bite, see a doctor for tests to rule out infections or diseases you may have contracted from the animal.

While not every insect bite or sting can cause an infection or disease, some insects can transmit diseases this way.

These insects and the diseases they may transmit can include:

• Mosquitos: insect-borne diseases such as malaria, West Nile virus, dengue fever, yellow fever, and several viruses that cause encephalitis
• Fleas: bacterial infection, rarely
• Flies: insect-borne diseases
• Sand flies: leishmaniasis, a parasitic disease, though cases occur tropical and subtropical environments
• Lice: epidemic typhus, Bartonella quintana infection, and epidemic relapsing fever
• Chiggers: scrub typhus, though most cases occur in Southeast Asia, Indonesia, China, Japan, India, and northern Australia
• Ticks: tick-borne diseases such as Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Colorado tick fever, tularemia, ehrlichiosis
• Kissing bugs: Chagas disease
• Deer flies: tularemia

Many people are aware they’ve been bitten or stung because they see the insect or arachnid shortly after the attack.

Although you shouldn’t further provoke an attacking insect or arachnid, try to preserve the animal if it dies following the bite or sting. Its identity may help a doctor properly diagnose your symptoms.

This is especially important for a spider bite, as some species have dangerously potent venom.

The majority of bites and stings can be treated at home, especially if your reaction is mild.

To treat a bite or sting:

• Remove the stinger if it’s lodged in your skin.
• Wash the affected area.
• Apply an ice pack to reduce pain and swelling.

Topical anti-itch creams, oral pain relievers, and antihistamines may be used to combat uncomfortable symptoms.

You may also want to consider applying a thin paste of baking soda and water to the sting to calm the itching.

Call 911 or your local emergency services number immediately if symptoms of a severe reaction are present.

First aid instructions while waiting for paramedics to arrive include:

• loosening the victim’s clothing
• laying them on their side
• performing CPR if breathing or the heartbeat stops

If you believe a spider of the black widow or brown recluse variety has bitten you, contact 911 or local emergency services immediately even if symptoms seem minor or haven’t emerged.

Scorpion bites also should be treated as an emergency, and 911 or local emergency services should be contacted, regardless of symptoms.

Most bites and stings heal by themselves after several days of mild discomfort.

Monitor the affected site for signs of infection. Contact a doctor if the wound appears to be getting worse or hasn’t healed after several weeks.

Bites and stings that cause severe reactions can be fatal if they aren’t treated immediately.

Once you’ve experienced a severe allergic reaction, a doctor will likely prescribe an epinephrine auto-injector. Epinephrine is a hormone that can prevent anaphylactic shock.

Carry the auto-injector with you at all times to reverse the reaction immediately following a bite or sting.

If you need help finding a primary care doctor, then check out our FindCare tool here.

Use caution when near nests or hives containing aggressive insects. Hire professionals who have the proper safety equipment to remove a nest or hive.

When spending time outside, take preventive measures, such as:

• wearing hats and clothing that provide full coverage
• wearing neutral colors and avoiding floral patterns
• avoiding perfume and scented lotion
• keeping food and drinks covered
• using citronella or insect repellent
• using permethrin on clothing to prevent black-legged tick bites

Article Resources

• Ellwanger JH, et al. (2021). Variability in human attractiveness to mosquitoes. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667114X21000522
• Bites and stings: Insects. (n.d.). https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/bites-and-stings-insects
• Body lice: Disease. (2022). https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/lice/body/disease.html
• Goldman BS, et al. (2022). Caterpillar and moth bites. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK539851/
• McKeown N, et al. (2014). Verified spider bites in Oregon (USA) with the intent to assess hobo spider venom toxicity. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0041010114000920
• Parasites – American trypanosomiasis (also known as Chagas disease). (2022). https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/chagas/
• Powers J, et al. (2022). Insect bites. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537235/
• Preventing tick bites. (2020). https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/avoid/on_people.html
• Typhus fevers. (2020). https://www.cdc.gov/typhus/index.html

bites, what they look like, where they hide

Bed bugs are dangerous and tenacious insects. It is very important to order professional bed bug extermination services as soon as possible and not to delay the solution of the problem. The faster and better the treatment is carried out, the less risks for health and comfort.

How can you tell if there are bed bugs?

To find out if bed bugs are infested, you need to do a number of simple manipulations, but it is important to do this carefully and without haste:

1. Check skin : Bed bug bite marks appear as redness with swelling and are most commonly located on the neck, shoulders, back, ribs and legs. Examine all family members and pets.
2. Examine bed linen : blood stains from bites, black dots and dead specimens will definitely indicate the presence of a parasite and the need for treatment.
3. Sniff : bugs, with rare exceptions, exude an unpleasant odor similar to the smell of cilantro, coriander, spoiled fruits and berries, bad cognac. It will not be strong, but it can be felt next to pest clusters.
4. Ask your neighbors : bedbugs rarely start in only one apartment, it is highly likely that neighbors have similar problems.

Where do bed bugs come from

It is commonly believed that bed bugs appear due to dirt, uncleanliness and the accumulation of old and dirty things, but this is not entirely true. The most common reason for the appearance of parasites in the house will be their migration from really dirty rooms: basements, from infected apartments, both from neighbors and animal hair brought on clothes.

One contaminated room can be a source of problems for countless people. And not always the presence of bedbugs in you indicates that you are doing the housework incorrectly.

What do bed bugs look like? Well-fed bugs acquire volume and become darker, almost black, while hungry bugs become flat, brown or red. Outwardly, bugs can resemble an apple seed if they are full or a rusty coin if they are still hungry.

Body structure

The body of an insect consists of three conditional parts:

1. Head . On it are two bulging eyes, antennae and proboscis.
2. Chest . Three pairs of legs and a pair of miniature elytra are attached to it, despite the fact that the bugs do not have wings and cannot fly.
3. Abdomen . Consists of 10 segments and contains odorous glands, spiracles, reproductive and digestive systems.

Size

The size of an adult bed bug is 4 to 8 mm. The body of an insect is capable of almost doubling after saturation, which justifies the difference in average size. The larvae barely reach 1 mm after hatching from the egg and grow rapidly. The size of the egg laid by the female bed bug is about 1 mm, one individual hatches from one egg.

Males and females

The number of males and females in populations is approximately the same, but there are differences in appearance. Females are slightly larger than males and have a much more rounded body in the back. Whereas males are slightly smaller than females, and their body is pointed towards the end.

Eggs and larvae

Bed bug eggs look like small grains of rice. In some cases, they have small dents along the long side. The size is about 1 mm. The color is white, sometimes with a pearly sheen. On one side they have a hole through which the insect subsequently hatches.

With the help of a secret, they are perfectly attached to vertical surfaces. The egg also contains a special component, which, coupled with a strong shell, makes the larva almost invulnerable to mechanical damage, poisons and temperature. That is why it is very important to process the masonry with a specialized composition and with special care.

Small bugs

Recently hatched individuals are much lighter than adults – they are light, almost yellow. Their size increases by 1 mm after each meal – 1 time in 1-2 weeks. Then the shedding occurs. The discarded chitin remains in the nests; it is not transferred anywhere by insects and is not used.

Differences from other species

Domestic bed bugs, in comparison with others, are quite small (from 4 to 8 mm) and not so diverse in their coloration (adults – from brown to black, young ones – from yellow to light brown). They are easier to confuse with a small cockroach than with a wild relative.

Bed bug bites

What they look like

Bed bug bites look like small redness with swelling and swelling, with a pronounced center – a bump. Arranged “paths” – one after the other. Most often on the human body, bites can be found on the neck, shoulders, back, ribs and legs. Animal bodies are best examined in their entirety.

Biting process

The insect spreads its proboscis, which is usually pressed against the abdomen, and punctures the skin with piercing bristles. During the bite, the insect injects the victim with a substance that temporarily numbs the area of ​​​​the bite so as not to be detected. In the process of feeding, the bug moves along the body and makes 5-7 bites every 3-5 cm, each time sucking out an insignificant part of the blood. The duration of one feeding of the bug is from 3 to 10 minutes, if nothing disturbs it.

Do bedbugs bite?

No. The bug “takes care” of itself and its victim by injecting an anesthetic compound during the bite.

How fast do they go?

Usually the bites of these insects disappear within 5-7 days. If irritation and swelling does not go away for a longer time, there is a danger of an allergy and you should seek medical help.

Why bites are dangerous

For adults

Usually, for adults, bed bug bites are more dangerous from an aesthetic and psychological point of view, if there is no predisposition to allergies. Despite the fact that bedbugs are carriers of diseases, they cannot transmit them during a bite.

Biting irritation in adults can contribute to insomnia and irritability, but nothing more.

For children

A feature of the harmful effects of bedbug bites on newborns and young children is the possibility of developing anemia, in addition to the problems that bites cause in adults.

Allergy

Allergy to bedbug bites can be life-threatening for the bitten. If you have even the slightest suspicion of developing an allergy to the resulting bite or are predisposed to it, seek medical help immediately.

Signs of allergy to bed bug bites:

1. Bite spot more than 1 cm in diameter
2. Trail lasts more than seven days
3. Rash develops
4. Itching and irritation became unbearable

Treatment of bed bug bites

Bites can be treated with folk remedies, as well as with the help of medicines purchased at a pharmacy. All of them will be aimed at reducing itching, swelling and restoring the skin.

Medical supplies

1. Rescuer balm
2. “Bepanthen”
3. Gektor Gel
4. Psilo Balm
5. Epidel
6. Erythromycin ointment
7. “Fenistil-gel”
8. “Cycaderma”

Traditional medicine

1. Ice application
2. Rubbing with rubbing alcohol
3. Attaching a cut half of an onion
4. Lotions from decoction of chamomile and St. John’s wort, crushed fresh mint leaves

Please note that folk remedies are a great way to temporarily solve the problem if medicines are out of reach, but they are not able to replace them.

Life cycle of bed bugs

The process of development and life span of a bed bug consists of three stages:

1. Egg – 4-5 days
2. Larva – up to 30-35 days
3. Adult insect – up to 400 days

In the absence of food and the ambient temperature drops below +5°C, adults are able to fall into a state of suspended animation and live without food for up to 1 year or more. At an ambient temperature of more than + 50 ° C, adults, larvae and eggs die. Under adverse conditions, the development process can slow down and be up to 100 days before becoming an adult. This provides the insects with their extreme survivability.

Reproduction

Bed bugs reproduce in the adult stage. A female is capable of laying up to 5 eggs per day; for the entire life cycle, one female lays from 250 to 500 eggs.

Where can bed bugs hide?

Bed bug habitats are easy to find. All waste products and accumulations of the insects themselves are clearly visible upon close examination. You can find bedbugs where it is dark, dry and warm:

• In furniture: in slots and grooves, folds of linen and upholstery, mattresses, on bookshelves
• In walls and floors: under skirting boards, wallpaper, wooden window sills, paintings

Summing up, we can conclude that household bed bugs are moderately dangerous insects (don’t forget about allergies and small children!), With an extremely high survival rate and ability to reproduce.

Dezraptor offers a wide range of sanitation services for premises, vehicles and equipment. Our arsenal includes modern equipment and strict adherence to processing technologies. Turning to us, you can always be sure of the high quality of the disinfestation, disinfection, deratization, site protection, ozonation, removal of mold, unpleasant odors and demercurization.

Symptoms of bed bug bites, photo how to get rid of bed bugs

What will you encounter in the process of exterminating bed bugs?

What should you know before you start fighting bed bugs?

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9 0010 How to understand that bed bugs appeared at home?

In recent years, a sharp increase in the population of bed bugs has been observed in the city of Almaty.

First of all, this is due to the secretive way of life of this species of parasites and the rapid rate of reproduction. Often, when bedbugs appear in a house or apartment, we cannot immediately understand that “uninvited neighbors” have appeared in our home.

How to get rid of bed bugs?

It all starts with the fact that one day you find “incomprehensible bites”, red dots, swelling, redness causing itching on your body. The first thing that comes to mind is: “Is it probably mosquitoes or allergies? It’s okay, everything will pass! But over time, the number of bites increases, and the itching intensifies. What to do? First we need to try to determine who bites us.

Bug bite, symptoms:

It is almost impossible to accurately describe bed bug bites, because in each individual case they manifest themselves in different ways. In most cases, bites manifest themselves as follows: Severe itching Redness Many bites all over the body, located at a short distance from each other in a chaotic manner Bites arranged in the form of a “path” To determine that the symptoms described above are bedbug bites, you can see a photo with their image, but it is better to resort to the help of a qualified dermatologist.

Bedbug bites photo

Bedbugs are insects that lead a secretive, nocturnal lifestyle and feed exclusively on the blood of humans or warm-blooded animals. Bed bugs come out to feed at night and prefer to spend most of their time near their “food source”, but if the room is heavily infested with bed bugs, they manifest themselves even during the day. Sometimes it happens that not all family members feel bedbug bites, this is due to the individual susceptibility of each household member.

In order to more accurately “diagnose the presence of bed bugs”, you need:

1. Carefully inspect your bed. You should pay attention to the places of compaction of mattresses, cracks in the wooden structures of beds, seams of pillows, feather beds, inspect the cracks in the walls, wallpaper, wooden floors, examine other upholstered furniture located in the apartment or house.

2. Examine bedding for dark spots or small blood stains.