The doctor told about the non-obvious symptoms of a tick bite

With the arrival of the warm season, ixodic ticks are activated — carriers of potentially serious diseases such as tick-borne encephalitis and ixodic tick-borne borreliosis. It is important that sometimes the symptoms after a tick bite do not appear immediately, so it is necessary to monitor the condition. On May 3, Alexandra Fileva, an expert at the Hemotest laboratory, told Izvestia what symptoms should be treated immediately.

She clarified that, according to Rospotrebnadzor, about half a million complaints about bites of these bloodsuckers are registered annually in Russia.

"It is a mistake to believe that the absence of symptoms in the first days after a tick bite guarantees further well-being. The incubation period for some tick-borne infections is up to a month. Therefore, even if you feel well after a bite, it is important to monitor your health and contact specialists at the slightest suspicion," the expert explained.

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Now ticks mainly carry borreliosis and spotted fever.

Ring—shaped redness of the skin — erythema migrans - is a characteristic symptom of ixodes tick-borne borreliosis, or Lyme disease, which, according to Fileva, appears in 70-80% of infected people. The spot gradually expands, reaching a diameter of 10-15 cm, with brighter outer edges and a pale center.

The doctor warned that "cold" symptoms are no less dangerous: a sharp rise in temperature to 38-39 degrees, severe headache, aching muscles and joints, and general weakness. This condition may indicate the onset of tick—borne encephalitis, a viral disease affecting the nervous system. It is especially alarming when stiffness of the occipital muscles (inability to press the chin to the chest) and photophobia are added to these symptoms.

Neurological symptoms require great attention: dizziness, numbness of the extremities, tingling in the fingers, impaired coordination of movements or facial asymmetry. These manifestations indicate damage to the nervous system and require urgent hospitalization. The same should be done for cardiac arrhythmias, severe shortness of breath, fainting, nausea or chest pain — such symptoms may indicate complications from the cardiovascular system.

"In children, the disease picture often develops more rapidly than in adults. Parents should be wary if the child becomes sluggish, refuses to eat, complains of nausea and dizziness. In babies under three years of age, unreasonable crying and an increase in body temperature without other pronounced symptoms can be a sign of any infection," the doctor warned.

Timely diagnosis and proper treatment make it possible to completely cope with most tick-borne infections. However, delay can lead to serious complications, including chronic neurological disorders, joint and heart damage.

Earlier, on April 30, Vladimir Neronov, MD, an infectious disease specialist at JSC "Medicine" (Academician Roitberg Clinic), told Izvestia how to protect himself from ticks. According to the expert, once on clothes, the parasite looks for a place to bite, preferring the head, neck, the area behind the ears and the bends of the limbs. The bite itself is almost invisible, so the tick can remain on the body for up to 10 days until it is saturated with blood.