Alas, the statistics are inexorable - up to half a million citizens of our country are attacked by ticks every year. Literally at the beginning of the season of tick activity, the number of bitten begins to grow exponentially ...
Actually, our specialists are regularly asked the same questions, which every year, as scheduled, have to be answered over and over again. This page will contain all the information you are interested in on the issue: If bitten by a tick, what to do and where to go". Format: Q&A.
If bitten by a tick: answers to important questions
— I was bitten by a tick, What should I do now?
Answer: For starters, don't panic. A tick is not a poisonous snake and no one will kill you in 30 minutes. It is very important to get together and realize that further actions must obey certain rules. A) We remove the tick () or go to the hospital, where they will help you remove it; B) Find the nearest medical facility (use a search engine to find it in your city); we take the tick to the laboratory for analysis (again we use the search engine or a certificate at the nearest hospital); C) Regardless of the result, follow the direction of the doctor.
- How to find out if the tick that bit me is encephalitic?
Answer: looking at him - no way. We need a lab. You can find it by calling the city emergency department, where you will be prompted where to go. The laboratory will conduct a study of the tick that you previously removed and will tell you what to do next.
Important! Never rely on chance. Every year, encephalitic mites are only getting bigger.
- The tick only managed to stick, do I still need to go to the hospital?
Answer: Unfortunately, yes. The infection is transmitted through the tick's saliva, which it injects under the skin to start feeding. Even if he just bit you, it's still enough to get the necessary dose of pathogens. The most dangerous diseases transmitted by bite: tick-borne encephalitis, tick-borne borreliosis, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever and others. .
— I didn't go to the doctor and after a couple of weeks I felt unwell, what should I do?
Answer: not the fact that these are the direct consequences of a tick bite, but you really need to rush to the hospital.
- Removed the tick, and the bite turned red. Is it an infection?
Answer: No. Most likely a common allergic reaction to the bite. The body of each person reacts differently to intrusions from the outside. Most often, redness and the so-called occur around the tick bite. However, this does not mean that you should not go to the doctor and take the tick to the laboratory for analysis.
- The redness after the bite first disappeared, but then it reappeared and hurt more, what should I do?
Answer: Most likely, the bite is accompanied by the occurrence of migrating annular erythema at the site of penetration - this is a viral or, rather, bacterial dermatosis of unclear etiology. Treatment is with broad-spectrum antibiotics, but it's best to see a doctor first.
- I passed the tick for analysis, what now?
Answer: The deadlines at the end will be told directly where the tick was received. Usually it is no more than two days.
— I was told that the tick was infected🙁 H do something ?
Answer: Seek medical attention immediately. He will give all the necessary recommendations and prescribe the necessary medicines. The most commonly used iodantipyrin and immunoglobulin.
- We got the results of the analysis: the tick is infected. Should I go for a blood test?
Answer: You need to donate blood after only about 10 days, because. you haven't gotten sick yet. The virus needs time to get stronger and break down your body's defenses. You may not even get sick. Please check with your physician for information.
- Foolishly threw out a tick, what should I do?
Answer: Not earlier than after 10 days, you need to test the blood for tick-borne encephalitis using the PCR method. Two weeks later - for antibodies (IgM) to the tick-borne encephalitis virus. For exact information, contact the medical institutions of your city.
- I was bitten by a tick, but I was vaccinated against encephalitis, what should I do?
Answer: Nothing, you already have immunity. Get rid of the tick on the body and treat the bite.
- I was given an immunoglobulin of tick-borne encephalitis, but two weeks later I was again bitten by a tick in the country. All over again?
Answer: No. The measures taken are usually very effective for the first couple of months.
- I took iodantipyrin according to the prophylactic scheme and I was bitten by a tick, what should I do now?
Answer: Go to the Jodantipyrine regimen "After sucking a tick."
- There is no way to get to the doctor after a tick bite and take it for analysis, I live in a remote village. It seems to feel good. How to be?
Answer: Use jodantipyrine and immunoglobulin as directed in the instructions for use. If you find a deterioration in well-being - immediately see a doctor in the regional department.
- I go far from civilization in the season of tick activity. What should be done to be safe?
Answer: You just need vaccination. If there is no time, then you should take care of the timely purchase of special repellents and iodantipyrin.
If bitten by a tick, no need to panic. Not all ticks are carriers of infections. To find out if the insect was infected and, if so, to prevent the disease in time, you need to take it for analysis.
How to store the extracted tick
The longer the tick feeds on blood, digging into the skin, the more infection enters the body. That is why, if a bite is found, you need to quickly consult a doctor to remove it or, if this is not possible, pull the tick yourself. But even if it is removed quickly, the risk of infection remains. In any case, you need to hand over the tick for analysis.
Sometimes the tick unhooks from the bitten place, in which case you should focus on the bite mark and well-being
Ticks are removed in emergency rooms at the place of residence around the clock.
Ticks are usually accepted for examination alive. Some laboratories carry out diagnostics by PCR, this is a very deep study based on the search for fragments of genetic information, so it can be used to find the causative agent of infection even in individual particles of a dead tick. But such diagnostics are not very common even in large cities. To make it easier for doctors, you should try to pull the tick alive.
To keep the tick alive until analysis, you need to store it in a cool place, in a well-closed jar with wet cotton wool or gauze.
A tick pulled out of the skin should be submitted for examination as soon as possible within a maximum of three days. Before that, it is stored in the refrigerator, in a clean glass container (jar, bottle), with a tightly closed lid. Together with the tick, put a piece of cotton wool slightly moistened with water there.
Where to bring a tick for analysis
- if you find a stuck tick or a bitten place, you need to contact the Ambulance for advice. They will advise you on how to properly remove the insect and tell you the address where you need to take it;
- you can go to the clinic, the registry must provide the necessary information;
- if the tick was removed independently and Internet access is possible, the address can be searched there. Basically, ticks are taken for analysis in infectious diseases hospitals.
If a person has a compulsory medical insurance policy, government agencies conduct research for free. Keep in mind that they only work on weekdays. On weekends or in the absence of a policy, you can take a tick for analysis to a private laboratory, the cost will depend on the specific organization and infections for which the tick is checked, the average price for a comprehensive study is about 1.5–2 thousand rubles. If there is little money and there is a question of choice, then first of all you need to do an analysis for tick-borne encephalitis.
Before the onset of heat, it is better to find out in advance the addresses and phone numbers of places where ticks are accepted and examined
Results are usually ready the next day, maximum one to two business days.
Even if no infectious agents were found in the tick, you need to monitor your well-being for a month or two, and if you have a temperature, malaise, persistent headache and other symptoms, immediately consult a doctor.
What additional tests are needed
There may be situations where it is not possible to determine the presence of infection using a tick test. For example, if only a bite site was found or the insect could not be pulled out alive. In this case, and also if the tick turned out to be infected, you need to donate blood for analysis. But there is no need to rush to the clinic to donate blood - to determine in this way whether there is an infection, it is possible only some time after the bite. It depends on the disease that the tick is infected with and on the method of blood testing:
- Analysis using the PCR method for the presence of pathogens of tick-borne encephalitis and borreliosis is best done 10 days after the bite;
- It is necessary to examine blood for antibodies (IgM) to tick-borne encephalitis after 14 days;
- It is necessary to examine blood for antibodies (IgM) to tick-borne borreliosis after 21 days.
If only a bite site without a tick is found, it is worth examining the blood for both infections.
These tests are not done in public hospitals because they are not often required and are not part of the public health insurance program. The price in private clinics depends on the specific organization, region, diagnostic method. On average, it ranges from 500 to 2 thousand rubles.
If you feel unwell after donating blood for analysis, you should consult a doctor without waiting for the results.
If the test results are positive, you must contact the infectious disease specialist within 3-4 days after receiving them. You should also see a doctor if:
- the bite site turned red;
- the temperature has risen;
- pain in the head or other parts of the body;
- there is vomiting, dizziness.
The site provides reference information for informational purposes only. Diagnosis and treatment of diseases should be carried out under the supervision of a specialist. All drugs have contraindications. Expert advice is required!
Ticks, which are found in the territories of Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, as well as the countries of Eastern and Western Europe, can stick to the skin of a person of any age and gender in order to obtain blood. Fresh human blood is necessary for ticks to start the breeding cycle, so these insects literally cannot do without people. In this sense, ticks are similar to mosquitoes, which also require human blood in order to reproduce.However tick bites, unlike most mosquitoes, is not harmless, since these insects are carriers of several dangerous infectious diseases. Therefore, after a bite, it is necessary to take a number of actions aimed at preventing the development of serious infectious diseases with which the tick could infect a person.
In Russia, Belarus, Moldova, Ukraine, Western and Eastern Europe and the USA, ticks are carriers and, accordingly, when bite can infect humans with the following infections:
- Tick-borne encephalitis;
- Borreliosis (Lyme disease);
- Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever;
- Omsk hemorrhagic fever;
- Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome.
The remaining infections (hemorrhagic fevers) are common only in certain regions, so you can get infected if a person is bitten by a tick that lives in the area. And since ticks do not leave their habitat, moreover, they practically do not budge throughout their lives, often spending it on the same bush, it is possible to become infected with hemorrhagic fevers only if they bite a tick located in a region with prevalence of these infections. Accordingly, the person himself must also be in a region where hemorrhagic fevers carried by local ticks are common.
So, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever distributed only in the Crimea, on the Taman Peninsula, in the Rostov Region, South Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Bulgaria. Omsk hemorrhagic fever distributed in the territories of Omsk, Novosibirsk, Kurgan, Tyumen and Orenburg regions. Also, sometimes ticks-carriers of Omsk hemorrhagic fever are found on the territory of Northern Kazakhstan, Altai and Krasnoyarsk regions. reservoir of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome is located in all countries of Europe and Asia, but the infection is recorded only in the form of episodic outbreaks and isolated cases of infection.
So, since ticks can infect a person with dangerous infections, let's consider the algorithms of actions that must be taken in various situations after the bite of this insect.
What should I do if bitten by a tick?
Algorithm of actions if bitten by a tick
Regardless of who was bitten by the tick (child, woman, man, elderly person), it is necessary to perform the following manipulations upon detection of this fact:1. Remove the tick by any means available (see sections below);
2. Treat the place where the tick is sucked with an antiseptic (iodine, alcohol, brilliant green, Chlorhexidine, hydrogen peroxide, etc.);
3. Place the tick in a closed container and, if possible, take it for analysis to determine whether it is a carrier of infections;
4. Take tests for borreliosis and tick-borne encephalitis to determine whether infection occurred after a tick bite;
5. Take prophylactic medications, the action of which is aimed at the rapid suppression of an infectious disease transmitted to a person by a tick;
6. Monitor your own condition for a month after a tick bite.
When bitten by a tick, be sure to remove the insect as soon as possible and treat the place of its suction to the skin. The remaining points of the algorithm can be omitted, with the exception of monitoring your own state for a month. If within 30 days after a tick bite, any signs of illness appear, you should consult a doctor, as this may be a symptom of the development of tick infections that need to be treated.
After removing the tick from the skin, it is advisable to place it in a closed container only if it can be transported to a specialized laboratory for research within a maximum of 24 hours. Such laboratories are usually located in infectious disease hospitals. However, since in many cities and countries of Europe, ticks, in principle, are not examined for whether they are carriers of infections, but rather they monitor the condition of people after a bite, and in most cases it makes no sense to pack an insect in a container.
In general, the identification of whether a tick is a carrier of infections is not necessary, but is necessary only for an early accurate determination of the subsequent tactics of the behavior of a bitten person. So, if the tick is "clean", that is, it is not a carrier of infections, then a person can forever forget about the bite, since it does not bear any consequences. If the tick is a carrier of infections, then this does not mean that it has necessarily infected a person and he needs to wait for the development of the disease. Indeed, in 80% of cases, the bite of an infected tick does not lead to human infection. Therefore, if a person has been bitten by an infected tick, it is necessary to monitor his condition for a month and, if possible, take blood tests to determine whether an infection has occurred. That is, the analysis of the tick allows the person himself to adhere to the correct tactics and be prepared for a possible disease, and not rely on "maybe".
A more rational (compared to taking a tick to the laboratory) tactic of behavior after a bite is to take blood tests to find out if the insect has infected a person with any infection. However, you do not need to immediately donate blood, since the tests will be uninformative. Not earlier than 10 days after the bite, you can donate blood for the detection of tick-borne encephalitis and borreliosis by PCR. If the analysis is carried out by ELISA or Western blotting (immunoblotting), then to detect tick-borne encephalitis, blood should be taken only two weeks after the bite, and borreliosis - after 4 to 5 weeks.
During PCR, the presence of the pathogen in the blood is detected, so this analysis is very accurate. And in the course of ELISA and Western blotting, antibodies of the IgM type against the tick-borne encephalitis virus and the causative agent of borreliosis are detected. The ELISA method is inaccurate because of the high percentage of false positive results. Western blotting is reliable and accurate, but is performed mainly only in private laboratories located in large cities, as a result of which it is not available to every person who has been bitten by a tick.
If the results of any analysis (PCR, ELISA, Western blotting) are positive, then this means that the tick has infected the person with the infection. In this case, you must immediately undergo a course of treatment that will allow you to cure the disease at an early stage.
You can not take tests, but immediately after the bite, carry out preventive treatment against tick-borne encephalitis and borreliosis by taking medications. Such treatment in most cases prevents the development of infection, and the person does not get sick, even if the tick has infected him.
Despite the temptation to carry out prophylactic treatment immediately after the bite in order to protect yourself from the development of infection, if an infection has occurred, you should not do this. Doctors and scientists consider the following tactics of behavior after a tick bite to be the most optimal and justified:
1.
Pull the tick out of the skin.
2.
On the 11th day after the bite, donate blood for the detection of tick-borne encephalitis and borreliosis by PCR.
If the PCR result is positive for any one or both infections, then drugs should be started to prevent the full development of the disease and cure it at the stage of the incubation period. To prevent borreliosis, antibiotics are taken Doxycycline + Ceftriaxone, and encephalitis - Yodantipyrin or Anaferon. If the result is positive for both infections, then antibiotics and Jodantipyrin are taken simultaneously for prophylactic treatment.
If the PCR result is negative, then 2 weeks after the tick bite, blood should be donated to detect tick-borne encephalitis by ELISA or Western blotting. Then, after 4 weeks, re-donate blood for the detection of borreliosis by ELISA or Western blotting. Accordingly, upon receipt of a positive test result, antibiotics or Yodantipyrin should be taken, depending on which infection was detected (encephalitis or borreliosis).
Taking antibiotics and Jodantipyrin immediately after a tick bite without testing is justified only in cases where the incident occurred far from civilization (for example, a hike, bike ride, etc.) and it is impossible to get to medical laboratories. In this case, to prevent infection with encephalitis and borreliosis, it is necessary to take both antibiotics and Yodantipyrin, since it is not known which infection the tick is the carrier of.
General rules for tick removal
If a person of any age and gender is bitten by a tick, then first of all it is necessary to remove the insect as soon as possible, since the longer it is on the skin, the higher the likelihood of infection with infectious diseases. It is necessary to remove the tick from any place on the body, and observing a certain technique, since the insect sticks very tightly to the skin with the help of a proboscis with peculiar processes. These appendages make the tick's proboscis look like a harpoon, so simply pulling the insect out of the skin will not work (see Figure 1).
Picture 1- Proboscis of a tick in the skin.
In order to remove it, you can not drip oil, glue, milk on the tick, close it with a jar and perform any other actions aimed at clogging the insect's spiracles located on the back of its body. The fact is that when closing the spiracles, the tick cannot breathe normally, and this makes it aggressive, as a result of which it splashes its saliva into the blood very intensively and in large quantities. Namely, saliva contains infectious agents that the tick carries. Thus, blockage of the tick's spiracles increases the risk of human infection with encephalitis or borreliosis.
You can remove a tick with your hands, tweezers, a dense thread, or special devices of domestic or foreign production (Tick Twister, The Tick Key, Ticked-Off, Antiklesh), which are sold in pharmacies or in Medtekhnika stores. These devices have different shapes and methods of application, so it is recommended to choose the optimal variety in Medtekhnika and use it as needed. Such devices for removing ticks should be bought in advance and carried with you on various trips to nature. If there are no devices, then you need to remove the tick with the usual improvised means, such as tweezers, thread, or your own fingers.
Regardless of how the tick is removed, you should not touch the insect with your bare hands. This is due to the fact that when removed, the tick can be damaged and then the contents of its intestinal tract will fall on the skin, from which it can enter the systemic circulation if there are any small, invisible wounds on it. That is, by removing a tick with bare hands, a person increases the risk of contracting various infections. That is why, before removing the insect, it is necessary to put rubber gloves on your hands. If there are no gloves, then you can simply wrap your hands with a regular bandage or a clean cloth. Only by protecting your hands in this way, you can begin to remove the tick from the skin.
After removing the tick, it is necessary to disinfect the wound by treating it with any available antiseptic, for example, iodine, Chlorhexidine, hydrogen peroxide, calendula tincture or alcohol. It is optimal to treat the wound left by the tick with alcohol or iodine. After treatment, the skin is left without a bandage. If a person wants to take a tick for analysis to determine whether it is a carrier of any infection, then the insect must be placed in a jar along with a piece of cotton wool moistened with water, close the container and store in the refrigerator. If a person does not want to give the tick for analysis, then the removed insect can simply be burned in the flame of a match, lighter or fire, or crushed with shoes.
Consider how to properly remove a tick in various ways.
Removing a tick with the Tick Twister
This device is the best for removing ticks for two main reasons. Firstly, Tick Twister allows in 98% of cases to completely remove the tick without tearing it and leaving, thus, the head of the insect in the skin. This is a very important advantage, since the head remaining in the skin will have to be removed with a needle, like a splinter, which is quite painful and unpleasant. In addition, the head of the tick remaining in the skin is a source of pathogenic microbes that the insect carries. And, accordingly, the head of the tick located in the skin continues to be a source of infection for humans.Secondly, the use of Tick Twister avoids pressure on the tick's digestive tract, as a result of which there is no risk of expelling a large amount of insect saliva containing infectious agents. When using tweezers, thread or fingers, there is often strong pressure on the digestive tract of the tick, as a result of which it sprays a large amount of saliva into the skin, which contains pathogens of tick infections. Accordingly, such salivation increases the risk of contracting an infection, if this has not already happened.
In addition, the Tick Twister is very comfortable to use and does not cause any pain during the removal of the tick.
Using the Tick Twister is very simple: you need to grab the tick between the teeth of the device, then turn it around its axis counterclockwise 3-5 times and gently pull it towards you (see Figure 2). After several turns counterclockwise, the tick is easily pulled out of the skin. After removing the tick, the place of its suction is treated with iodine or alcohol.
Figure 2– Rules for using the Tick Twister Tick Extractor.
Rules for removing a tick with The Tick Key
This device allows in most cases to successfully remove the tick without tearing it apart, and also without putting pressure on its digestive tract, preventing the release of saliva into the blood. However, The Tick Key is somewhat worse in its characteristics than Tick Twister, since it is inconvenient to use on some hard-to-reach areas of the body, such as inguinal and axillary folds, the area under the breasts in women, etc.Using The Tick Key to remove a tick follows three steps (see Figure 3):
1.
Put the device on the skin so that the tick is inside the large hole;
2.
Move The Tick Key without lifting it from the surface of the skin, so that the tick gets into a small hole;
3.
Turn The Tick Key counterclockwise 3-5 times, then pull the tick towards you.
After removing the tick, the place of its suction is treated with iodine or alcohol.
Figure 3– Rules for using The Tick Key to remove a tick.
Removing a Tick with the Ticked-Off Tool
The Ticked-Off device is as convenient and practical as the Tick Twister, however, unfortunately, in most cases it can only be bought in the CIS countries through online stores.Ticked-Off to remove a tick should be used as follows: place the spoon vertically against the skin, then push the protruding part of the tick into the hollow. Having fixed the tick in this way, you should turn the device 3-5 times around its axis counterclockwise, after which it is easy to pull it towards you (see Figure 4). After removing the tick, the place of its suction is treated with iodine or alcohol.
Figure 4– Rules for using Ticked-Off to remove a tick.
Rules for removing a tick using the Anti-tick device
The anti-mite is a special wire tweezers (see Figure 5), which allows you to securely grab the tick and, at the same time, not put pressure on its digestive tract, which ensures quick, efficient and safe removal of the insect from the skin.
Figure 5- Adaptation Antiklesch.
To remove a tick with the Anti-tick device, it is necessary to capture the insect as close to the surface of the skin as possible. To do this, you need to press the thumb and forefinger on the middle of the tweezers to spread its tips to the sides and place them in such a way that the head of the tick is between them. Then you should stop the pressure on the middle of the tweezers, allowing its tips to close around the tick. After that, it is necessary to turn the device 3 - 5 times counterclockwise around its axis and easily pull it towards you.
After removing the tick, it is necessary to treat the place of its suction with iodine or alcohol.
Rules for removing a tick with tweezers
In order to remove a tick with tweezers, you need to grab it by closing the tips of the tool as close to the surface of the skin as possible. Then, holding the tick in the grip, it is necessary to turn it around its axis counterclockwise 3-5 times. After that, you need to easily pull the insect towards you, which should easily come out of the wound. If the tick cannot be pulled out, then you should turn it counterclockwise a few more times and pull it again. After removing the tick, the place of its suction must be treated with iodine or alcohol.Rules for removing a tick with a thread
First, you should slightly press your fingers on the skin in the area of \u200b\u200bthe sucked tick, as if trying to squeeze out a pimple. After that, take a strong thread 15 - 30 cm long and make a loop in the middle with a diameter of 2 - 3 cm. Then put the loop on the skin so that the tick gets into it. Tighten the loop firmly, connect both ends of the thread into one and start twisting your fingers counterclockwise. When the thread is tightly twisted, you should pull it towards you, and the tick will easily be removed from the wound (Figure 6). Treat the wound remaining in place of the tick with iodine or alcohol.
Figure 6- Removing a tick with a thread.
Rules for removing a tick with your fingers
Put gloves on your hands, or cover your fingers with several layers of bandage or a clean cloth. Then, with protected fingers, grab the tick and turn it around its axis counterclockwise 3-5 times. After that, pull the tick towards you, and it will easily be removed from the wound. Treat the place of tick suction with iodine or alcohol.Rules for removing tick residue from the wound
If it was not possible to completely remove the tick, and any parts of its body remained in the skin (most often the head with a proboscis), then they must be pulled out. If the remnants of the tick are not pulled out, then an abscess may form on the skin or there will be a long-term inflammation that does not go away until the body parts of the insect come out on their own.Removing the remnants of the tick from the wound is done in the same way as a splinter is removed, that is, with a needle. The needle is pre-sterilized by treating it with hydrogen peroxide, alcohol or holding it in a flame for 1 to 2 minutes. Then, with a sterilized needle, the remnants of the tick are taken out of the wound and treated with iodine or alcohol.
How and how to treat the site of a tick bite?
After the tick has been removed from the skin, it is necessary to treat this place with any antiseptic. Alcohol and iodine are best suited for this purpose, but you can use hydrogen peroxide, Chlorhexidine, and brilliant green, etc. Any available antiseptic is poured onto a piece of clean cotton wool and generously lubricated with it on the wound left after the tick was removed. After this treatment, the skin is left open and no bandage is applied.At the site of a tick bite, redness, swelling and itching may persist for 3 weeks. In this case, it is recommended to lubricate the inflamed area daily with iodine and calendula tincture, and take any antihistamine drug inside (for example, Erius, Telfast, Suprastin, Fenistil, Tsetrin, etc.).
How to transport the tick to the laboratory for analysis?
To transport a tick to the laboratory, it is necessary to place the live insect in a container that can be sealed tightly, such as a jar with a lid, etc. In a container with a tick, be sure to put a small piece of cotton wool moistened with water. Until the moment of transportation, the container with the tick must be kept in the refrigerator. Remember that only a live tick is suitable for analysis, so if the insect died during removal from the skin, then it does not make sense to transport it to the laboratory.How and what tests to take after a tick bite to detect tick-borne encephalitis and borreliosis at the stage of the incubation period?
Currently, to determine whether a tick has infected a person with encephalitis or borreliosis, the following blood tests are performed:- Venous blood to determine the presence of tick-borne encephalitis virus and Borrelia by PCR (the analysis is taken no earlier than 11 days from the moment of the bite, since before that it is not informative).
- Venous blood for the determination of antibodies to the tick-borne encephalitis virus type IgM by ELISA (the analysis is taken at least 2 weeks after the bite).
- Venous blood for the determination of antibodies to the IgM type borreliosis virus by ELISA (the analysis is taken at least 4 weeks after the bite).
- Venous blood for the determination of various variants of antibodies (VisE, p83, p39, p31, p30, p25, p21, p19, p17) to tick-borne encephalitis virus type IgM by Western blotting (analysis is taken at least 2 weeks after the bite).
- Venous blood for the determination of various variants of antibodies (VisE, p83, p39, p31, p30, p25, p21, p19, p17) to the IgM type borreliosis virus by Western blotting (the analysis is taken at least 4 weeks after the bite).
To detect latent tick-borne infections, it is recommended to take tests twice after a tick bite. The first time at the time indicated for each method (after 11 days for PCR, after 2 or 4 weeks for ELISA and Western blotting), and the second - a month after the first test. Both times you should donate blood for analysis by the same method. For example, if the first analysis was submitted for PCR, then the second should also be performed by the same PCR method. Moreover, the second time the analysis is given only if the results of the first were negative.
If the first and second tests for both infections are negative, then the tick has not infected the person. In this case, you can simply forget about this unpleasant episode of your life. If the second analysis turns out to be positive, then a course of preventive treatment should be taken, which will suppress the disease at the stage of the incubation period.
If the first analysis showed a negative result for one of the infections and a positive result for the second, then the tactics change somewhat. To prevent a detected infection, the analysis of which turned out to be positive, they drink the necessary medications (Jodantipyrine for encephalitis and Doxycycline + Ceftriaxone for borreliosis). For the second infection, the analysis of which turned out to be negative, a second analysis is taken one month after the first. Accordingly, with a negative analysis, you can completely relax and forget about the tick bite. And with a positive analysis - take a course of preventive treatment with the necessary drugs.
How and what medications to take after a tick bite to prevent the development of tick-borne encephalitis and borreliosis?
To prevent the development of borreliosis
after a tick bite, a person of any age and gender must take two antibiotics: - Doxycycline - 100 mg 1 time per day for 5 days;
To prevent the development of encephalitis in people of any age and gender after a tick bite, there are two main methods:
- The introduction of serum - is performed in a clinic or hospital, and only in the first 72 hours after the bite. The introduction of serum at a later date is useless.
- Taking Yodantipirin by people over 14 years old and Anaferon for children by adolescents under 14 years old.
Today, a fairly effective and safe method of preventing tick-borne encephalitis after a tick bite is taking Jodantipyrin or children's Anaferon, depending on the age of the victim. Yodantipyrine after a tick bite, adults and adolescents over 14 years old should be taken according to the following scheme: on the first two days, 3 tablets 3 times a day, on the next two days, 2 tablets 3 times a day, and then for 5 days, 1 tablet 3 times a day.
Children's Anaferon give to all children and adolescents under 14 years of age after a tick bite in order to prevent tick-borne encephalitis. Children under 12 years old are given 1 tablet 3 times a day, and adolescents 12-14 years old - 2 tablets 3 times a day. Anaferon for children in the indicated dosages should be given to children within 21 days after a tick bite.
What to do at home if bitten by a tick?
At home, after a tick bite, you must first remove the insect from the skin and treat the remaining wound with an antiseptic (iodine or alcohol). After that, if it is possible to take tests at the appropriate time - after 11 days for PCR, after 2 and 4 weeks for ELISA and Western blotting. However, if for some reason it is impossible to take tests, then immediately after a tick bite, it is recommended to drink a course of antibiotics (Doxycycline + Ceftriaxone) and Jodantipyrine (for adults) or children's Anaferon (for children) in order to prevent tick-borne encephalitis and borreliosis. Antibiotics and Yodantipirin or children's Anaferon can be taken at the same time, each according to its own scheme. Moreover, taking medications should be started as soon as possible after a tick bite.What to do if a child is bitten by a tick?
If a tick has bitten a child, then the algorithm of actions is exactly the same as in relation to an adult. That is, first of all, you need to remove the tick from the skin and treat the place of suction with iodine or alcohol. Then, at the appropriate time, take tests for the presence of infections in his body. Accordingly, if the result of the tests turns out to be positive, conduct a course of preventive treatment of the child with the necessary medications (Doxycycline + Ceftriaxone for borreliosis and Anaferon for children for tick-borne encephalitis). If the result of the tests is negative, then in a month to pass them again. Accordingly, if the second analysis turns out to be negative, then you can forget about the tick bite, and if positive, then conduct a course of treatment.In the case when it is impossible to take tests, it is recommended to start giving the child both antibiotics (Doxycycline + Ceftriaxone) and Anaferon for children as soon as possible after a tick bite in order to prevent the development of encephalitis and borreliosis. Antibiotics are given in age dosages, with Doxycycline for 5 days, and Ceftriaxone for 3 days. Anaferon for children is given for 21 days, 1 tablet 3 times a day for children under 12 years old, and 2 tablets 3 times a day for adolescents 12-14 years old.
What to do if a pregnant woman is bitten by a tick?
If a tick has bitten a pregnant woman, then it should be removed from the skin and the wound should be treated with iodine or alcohol. Then, at the required time, it is recommended to take tests for the presence of tick-borne encephalitis and borreliosis. Further, if borreliosis is detected, then during pregnancy of 16-20 weeks, Amoxiclav should be drunk for 21 days, taking 625 mg 3 times a day.To prevent tick-borne encephalitis, pregnant women should not take any medications, but can only wait and observe their own condition. If there are signs of encephalitis (fever, headache, etc.) or feeling unwell within a month after a tick bite, you should immediately consult a doctor, be hospitalized in a hospital and receive the necessary treatment. There is no need to take any more actions after a tick bite of a pregnant woman.
What to do if bitten by an encephalitis tick?
If you are bitten by an encephalitis tick, then it is optimal to prevent the development of an infection that has already entered the body, drink a course of Yodantipyrin (adults and adolescents over 14 years old) or children's Anaferon (children under 14 years old).Yodantipyrin should be taken by all people over 14 years of age according to the following scheme:
- 3 tablets 3 times a day for the first 2 days;
- 2 tablets 3 times a day for the next 2 days;
- 1 tablet 3 times a day for the next 5 days.
Children's Anaferon is given to all adolescents and children under 14 years of age for 21 days. Moreover, children under 12 years old are given 1 tablet 3 times a day, and adolescents 12-14 years old - 2 tablets 3 times a day.
What to do if bitten by a borreliosis tick?
If bitten by a borreliosis tick, then to prevent the development of the disease, it is recommended to drink a short course of antibiotics according to the following scheme:- Doxycycline - 100 mg 1 time per day for 5 days;
- Ceftriaxone - 1000 mg once a day for three days.
The tick bit, but did not stick
If the tick has bitten, but did not have time to stick, then you should simply treat the wound with an antiseptic (iodine, alcohol, etc.). No more action is needed, because during the bite, the tick does not have time to infect a person with infections. Indeed, for the transmission of borreliosis or encephalitis, the tick must be in the skin for at least 6 hours. Bitten by a tick - where to go?
If bitten by a tick, then you should contact the infectious disease specialist at the clinic at the place of residence. In addition, you can contact the Centers for Epidemiology and Prevention (former sanitation stations) available in regional cities and district centers. In the cities of Siberia, where ticks are widespread and often bite people, there are specialized Centers for the diagnosis and treatment of tick infections. If a person lives in Siberia, then you should find out where such a center is located in the nearest city and contact there.First aid for a tick bite
First aid for a tick bite is to remove it from the skin and treat the remaining wound with an antiseptic (iodine, alcohol, etc.). To stop itching and inflammation at the site of the bite, you can take any antihistamine (Fenistil, Suprastin, Telfast, Tsetrin, etc.).What to do if the temperature rises after a tick bite
If the temperature rises after a tick bite, you should consult a doctor and get tested for borreliosis and encephalitis. If the tests are negative, then there is no need to worry, because after a tick bite, a person can have a temperature of up to 37.8 o C for a month.What to do if redness appears on the skin after a tick bite?
Redness on the skin after a tick bite may be a symptom of an early stage of borreliosis or an allergic reaction. It is not always easy to quickly distinguish what caused the redness in each case - an allergic reaction or borreliosis. Therefore, when redness appears, it is recommended to take antihistamines (Suprastin, Fenistil, Claritin, Parlazin, etc.). If, under the action of antihistamines, the redness significantly decreases in size within a few days, this means that an allergic reaction has taken place, which will completely disappear within a month. If, under the influence of antihistamines, the redness practically does not decrease, then this means that with a high probability a person develops borreliosis. In such a situation, it is necessary to take tests for borreliosis, and in case of positive results, treatment should be started immediately.Ticks are carriers of many diseases, including tick-borne encephalitis, tick-borne borreliosis (Lyme disease), rickettsiosis and other infections.
Found a stuck tick - remove it as soon as possible!
Deletion cannot be delayed. The longer the tick drinks blood, the more infection enters the body.
Tick removal
If you plan to take a tick for analysis, then it is advisable to remove the tick alive and whole, as a rule, only such ones are accepted. To avoid tearing the tick, do not pull it hard.Ticks are easy to remove with tweezers. In this case, the tick should be grabbed as close to the proboscis as possible, then gently pulled up, while rotating around its axis in a convenient direction. Usually, after 1-3 turns, the tick is removed entirely along with the proboscis.
If there are no tweezers or special devices at hand, then the tick can simply be wrapped around with a piece of bandage, gauze or cotton wool and proceed as described above.
There is a method for removing a tick with a thread. To do this, a strong thread is tied into a knot as close as possible to the proboscis of the tick, then twisted in one direction (pulling up a little) until the tick gets out. This method is not always convenient, especially for self-removal and extraction of ticks from animals.
If the tick has stuck in a place that is inconvenient for removing it, and no one can help you, remove it as best you can, even if it breaks, this is better than spending a long time looking for help.
If during the removal of the tick its head or part of it came off, this is not a problem, but it is worth considering that the particles of the tick remaining in the skin can cause inflammation or suppuration. Also, when the head is torn off, the infection process can continue.
The head remaining in the skin looks like a black dot. The place of suction of the tick is wiped with cotton wool moistened with alcohol, and then the parts of the tick remaining in the skin are removed with a sterile needle (for example, calcined on fire) in the same way as you remove an ordinary splinter.
The tick does not need to be smeared with oil or anything else. Even if the tick comes out on its own, you will lose time, because the physical removal will be faster. In addition, you may not accept such a tick for analysis.
After removing the tick, the skin at the site of its suction is treated with tincture of iodine or alcohol; bandaging is not required.
What threatens a tick bite?
Even if the tick bite was short-lived, the risk of contracting tick-borne infections cannot be ruled out.The tick should be placed in a small glass vial along with a piece of cotton wool slightly moistened with water. Be sure to close the bottle with a tight lid and store it in the refrigerator. For microscopic diagnosis, the tick must be delivered to the laboratory alive. Even individual fragments of the tick are suitable for PCR diagnostics. However, the latter method is not widely used even in large cities.
You need to understand that the presence of an infection in a tick does not mean that a person will get sick. Tick analysis is needed for peace of mind in case of a negative result and vigilance in case of a positive one.
The surest way to determine the presence of the disease is to take a blood test. It is not necessary to donate blood immediately after a tick bite - tests will not show anything. Not earlier than 10 days later, you can examine the blood for tick-borne encephalitis and borreliosis by PCR. Two weeks after the tick bite for antibodies (IgM) to the tick-borne encephalitis virus. For antibodies (IgM) to Borrelia (tick-borne borreliosis) - in a month.
V .: I took off the tick, it seems that it has just begun to stick, is there a risk of getting sick and with what?
A: The risk of getting sick with tick-borne infections exists even with a slight bite on the time of the tick.
It will not be possible to unequivocally answer the question of what can be infected, since ticks carry different infections in different regions.
It is considered the most dangerous disease transmitted by ticks, annually Rospotrebnadzor publishes lists, for other infections such information, unfortunately, is not published.
In the southern regions of Russia, the most dangerous tick-borne disease is.
There are other diseases, so if you feel worse, consult a doctor immediately.
V .: I was bitten by a tick, two weeks have passed since the bite, I felt good, and today the temperature has risen, what should I do?
A: Feeling unwell may not be related to a tick bite, but tick infections cannot be ruled out. Be sure to see a doctor.
Redness at the site of the tick bite
V .: The tick was removed, the bite site turned red almost immediately. What does it mean?A: This is most likely an allergic reaction to the bite, inspect the bite site daily, if you notice an increase in the stain, soreness of the bite site or deterioration in general well-being, consult a doctor.
V .: The tick was removed, but after a few days the bite site was swollen, painful to touch.
A: You need to see a surgeon.
V .: The tick was removed, at first the bite was a little red, then the redness went away, and today, two weeks after the bite, it turned red again.
A: You should contact an infectious disease specialist. Very often, the early stage of the disease with tick-borne borreliosis is accompanied by the appearance at the site of the bite.
Emergency prevention of tick-borne encephalitis
Q: I live in a region endemic for tick-borne encephalitis. Yesterday I bitten a tick, noticed it in the evening, immediately removed it and took it to the laboratory for analysis. Today they called from the laboratory, they said that the tick-borne encephalitis virus was found in the tick and that I needed to drink a course of iodantipyrine. What else can be done to prevent tick-borne encephalitis? Very worried.A: You should not worry too much, because the bite of an infected tick does not mean that a person will get sick (even without prevention). Yodantipyrin along with approved for use for emergency prevention of tick-borne encephalitis. You can also recommend a balanced diet during the incubation period of CE, try to avoid any stressful situations for the body (overheating, hypothermia, heavy physical exertion, etc.).
V .: I was bitten by a tick, I threw it away, and now I'm worried - suddenly the tick was encephalitic. When can I donate blood for analysis?
A: Donating blood immediately after a tick bite does not make sense - tests will not show anything. Not earlier than 10 days later, you can test the blood for tick-borne encephalitis by PCR. Two weeks later for antibodies (IgM) to the tick-borne encephalitis virus.
Q: I am pregnant (10 weeks). Bitten by a tick - what to do to prevent tick-borne encephalitis?
V .: I was bitten by a tick, I pulled it out. I am very worried, but there is no way to see a doctor (I am far from civilization), there is no way to buy medicines. How to be?
A: Most people who have not received emergency prophylaxis when bitten by a tick infected with tick-borne encephalitis do not get sick. Since you don't even know if a tick has been infected or not, you shouldn't panic. Try to find an opportunity to consult a doctor in case of deterioration of health.
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Man is the king of nature, but in fact our relations with flora and fauna are not going well: the “royal person” causes irreparable harm to the environment, but nature does not remain in debt, sending, for example, arthropods arachnids “hunting”, then there are ticks. The bites of these pests can be very dangerous to health, and it is almost impossible to protect yourself and loved ones from a possible threat, especially in summer, so it remains to arm yourself with an algorithm of actions if the tick is still bitten.
What are the dangers of a tick bite?
Video: what you need to know about the consequences of a tick bite - Dr. Komarovsky's recommendations
What does a tick bite look like
A tick bite looks like a dotted spot with redness around, which occurs as a result of an allergic reaction to the saliva of the tick, which is secreted by it for anesthesia and preventing blood clotting. 
The red spot around the puncture site is the result of an allergic reaction to the saliva of the tick.
Sometimes a small black dot can be observed at the site of the bite. This suggests that as a result of some unsuccessful manipulations, the head of the tick fell off and remained on the skin. In this case, first of all, it is necessary to remove the foreign body. After the affected area of the skin is treated with alcohol, the wound is cleaned with a disinfected needle and lubricated with iodine or alcohol.
Two options for the consequences of contact with a bloodsucker
Tick bite symptoms
- temperature;
- chills;
- muscle pain;
- aches (which, by the way, is perceived by many as a sign of a cold after a vacation spent in nature);
- increased drowsiness;
- discomfort when exposed to light.
These symptoms may appear as early as 2-4 hours after the bite. On average, they appear 1-3 weeks after infection. 
Symptoms may appear several days after the bite.
Symptoms in sensitive people
- severe migraine;
- unhealthy blush;
- nausea, diarrhea;
- temperature rise to 39 degrees;
- eye redness;
- hoarse breathing;
- hallucinations.
Is it possible to identify a sterile or encephalitic tick by appearance
What to do after finding a bite
How to find a laboratory
The analysis procedure is carried out in:
- polyclinic or hospital with the necessary equipment;
- private laboratories researching viruses;
- Rospotrebnadzor Center.
You can find out the address of a specific organization that accepts ticks for research at the registry of the local clinic.
To find out the address of the nearest laboratory that examines ticks for carrying infections, you need to contact the nearest clinic How to save material for analysis
Instruction:
- Wet the cotton pad with water.
- We put it on the bottom of the container with a tight-fitting lid.
- We place a tick in a vessel.
- We store in the refrigerator at a temperature of up to +5 degrees for no more than one and a half days.
For PCR research, it is possible to use parts of a tick. But this version of the analysis is rarely used.
What tests should a person take
If the tests of the tick showed a positive result, or if the bitten tick could not be saved, the victim should visit an infectious disease specialist who, after examining the bite site, will prescribe tests. The material for the study is the patient's blood serum. 
For analysis, the blood of the victim of a tick bite is examined.
Table: types of tests that are prescribed for a tick bite
| Study | Peculiarities |
| Immunofluorescence (MFA) | It is done everywhere, the easiest and cheapest way to analyze. Infectious agents in a fluorescent microscope will glow like fireflies. |
| ELISA diagnostics (ELISA) | Gives the most accurate result, detects infection at an early stage. |
| Western blot | Reliably shows infection with borreliosis and encephalitis. Appointed to confirm the results of other studies. |
| PCR (polymerase chain reaction method) | Often shows a false result for infection with encephalitis. For reliable diagnosis, several PCR systems should be used (examination of blood, skin cells, urine, cerebrospinal and joint fluid). |
If the first cycle of tests gave negative results, but for their final confirmation, you can repeat the diagnostic procedures in a month.
If the tick did not have time to bite, it is not necessary to take tests. 
The most reliable result can be obtained by passing several tests at once.
First aid for a tick bite
Video: how to remove a tick in the field
The nuances of emergency preventive vaccination
Video: why ticks are dangerous and whether the vaccine saves from tick-borne encephalitis - expert opinions
Conditions for emergency vaccination
Immunoglobulin injections after a tick bite are given if:
It is interesting. If the victim was vaccinated for prophylactic purposes, then this should be told to the doctor so that he can correctly calculate the dose of immunoglobulin.
Emergency vaccination is done as prescribed by a doctor or at the initiative of the patient, if there are no contraindications to this Contraindications
There are a number of cases when immunoglobulin is not given until the results of the tick test are obtained. It belongs to these.