Ticks are small parasites that feed on the blood of humans and other warm-blooded animals. They are most active in late spring, summer, and early fall. Tick bites can lead to red, raised spots on the skin, swelling, and sometimes pain.
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Although the symptoms of a tick bite vary depending on the type of tick that bit you, common symptoms include redness surrounding the bite and a bull’s eye rash. Other symptoms may include fever, chills, and pain at the site of the bite. You may also see the tick still attached to your skin.
While not all ticks transmit disease, some can carry the bacteria that cause tick-borne diseases, such as Lyme disease and tick paralysis. These can cause additional symptoms.
Lyme Disease Symptoms
Symptoms of Lyme disease include:
- Joint pain
- Fever
- Chills
- Fatigue
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Headache
Tick Paralysis Symptoms
Some types of ticks can release a toxin from their saliva that causes you to develop tick paralysis.
This can cause weakness, fatigue, restlessness, and irritability. After a few days of the tick being attached, you may experience progressive paralysis. If the muscles that control breathing become paralyzed, breathing may become more difficult.
Tick paralysis is treatable by removing the tick. You may need medical care such as oxygen therapy to cure breathing problems.
Tick bites are caused by ticks, which are small, eight-legged parasites that feed on your blood. Ticks are often very small in size and can be dark brown, reddish brown, or light in color.
When a tick bites a human, it can stay attached to the body for several days without detection. Because ticks can be small, a tick bite is not always felt or seen. It is important to monitor for tick bites and safely remove them if you see any on you.
What Type of Tick Bit You?
There are many species of ticks in the U.S. Some of the most common types of ticks across the country include:
- Blacklegged ticks: Also called deer ticks, blacklegged ticks are found in the eastern U.S. Some types of blacklegged ticks carry bacteria called Borrelia, which cause Lyme disease.
- Western blacklegged ticks: Found on the Pacific coast of the U.S., these ticks can transmit Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases, such as anaplasmosis. Anaplasmosis is a treatable condition that can cause symptoms such as fever, chills, headache, and muscle aches.
- American dog ticks: Native to the Rocky Mountains, American dog ticks can cause a tick-borne disease called Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, which usually causes symptoms such as fever, rash, and headache.
- Lone star ticks: Found in the eastern, southeastern, and south-central U.S., lone star ticks can sometimes cause a circular rash. Some evidence shows that this type of tick is a trigger for alpha-gal syndrome, which is a serious food allergy to red meat.
- Gulf Coast ticks: These types of ticks are primarily found in the southeastern U.S. but also frequent the northeastern, midwestern, and southwestern regions of the country. Bites from these ticks may cause a type of spotted fever called Rickettsia parkeri rickettsiosis.
Who’s at Risk for Getting Bit?
You may be at a greater risk for tick bites if you work or spend time outdoors, go camping, hiking, or work in gardens or areas with high grass and leaf litter. That means you may have a higher risk of being bitten by ticks if you work in an outdoor industry, such as:
- Construction
- Park and wildlife management
- Landscaping
- Forestry
- Farming
Where on Your Body Will a Tick Bite?
Once they are on your body, ticks tend to go to moist, hairy areas of the body, such as the:
- Groin
- Scalp
- Armpits
- Belly button
- Backs of knees
- Waist
A healthcare provider will examine the bite and look for signs of a tick bite, such as a bull’s eye rash. They may also order a blood test if they suspect Lyme disease. If you are experiencing joint swelling or nervous system problems, your healthcare provider may order additional tests, such as taking and testing a sample of fluid from the swollen joint or the spine.
Treating tick bites is not always necessary if symptoms go away after a few days, but it’s important to remove any ticks you see on your body as soon as possible to prevent further complications.
To remove ticks:
- Get fine-tipped tweezers or a tick removal tool.
- Using the tweezers or tool, grab the head of the tick as close to the skin as possible.
- Pull upwards with even, steady pressure without twisting or jerking the tick. If possible, remove the tick in one piece. Sometimes, it is possible for part of the tick’s mouth to break off and stay in the skin. If this happens, try to remove the leftover parts. If those aren’t easily removed, leave them and see a healthcare provider.
- After removing the tick, clean the area with soap and water or rubbing alcohol.
If you have any discomfort from a tick bite, apply an antiseptic to the area of the bite. To prevent or treat Lyme disease, a healthcare provider may prescribe antibiotics.
There are certain precautions you can take to prevent tick bites. Try the following tips to reduce your chances of being bitten:
- Walk on trails and paths in wooded areas. Keep to the center of trails and avoid brushing your legs against bushes or weeds.
- Apply insect repellants with diethyltoluamide (DEET) to the skin.
- Apply 0.5% permethrin, which helps prevent tick bites, to clothing.
- Wear light-colored clothing that covers exposed skin, such as long-sleeved shirts and long pants. Tuck your pants into close-toed shoes or boots. Light-colored clothing also makes ticks easier to spot.
- After being outdoors, remove your clothing and inspect them for ticks. Carefully remove any ticks you find.
- Wash and dry clothing at high temperatures, as ticks can be carried into the home on clothing.
- After walking outdoors, inspect yourself, family members, and pets for ticks. Carefully remove any ticks you find.
- Shower within two hours of coming indoors. Showering will remove unattached ticks and has been shown to reduce your risk of Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases.
If left untreated, tick bites can lead to a number of complications, including:
- Inflammation: Leftover mouthparts from the tick that become embedded in your skin during the removal process may cause the area to become inflamed.
- Infection: Leftover mouthparts can also lead to infection. You may experience redness, warmth, swelling, tenderness, and pus. A tick itself may also pass bacteria and viruses to you during the bite.
- Allergic reaction: While this is rare, saliva from ticks can cause allergic reactions. Symptoms of allergic reactions include redness, hives, wheals (a red or swollen elevation on the surface of skin that may be itchy), and shortness of breath.
Tick bites are bites from small parasites that feed on the blood of humans and other warm-blooded animals. Spending time outdoors in areas where ticks thrive increases your risk of getting bitten by a tick. You likely won’t feel any pain from the bite, but it can lead to complications such as tick-borne diseases, rashes, infections, and allergic reactions.
Regularly checking yourself for ticks and getting medical care for any tick bite symptoms are key to preventing complications.
