Concern about ticks?

[LostInTheWoods]

No test.

There is quite a bit of controversy on the tests, which test to take, when to take it, when is it valid to test after a bite, and what do the results mean.

I have never had a tick on me more than 12 hours or so. Even 12 I think is pushing it. Since you are not supposed to get Lyme until the tick has been in 24-72 hours I think I am ok.

Later,
Dan

Dan,

There are varying degrees of controversy with many things in medicine. Balancing the art and the science is often on a case-by-case basis.

And it is true that as far as we know, ticks likely need to be attached for many hours in order to transmit disease. And of all the ticks that might actually bite an individual, only a very small percentage actually carry a transmittable disease in the first place. Are you willing to say with absolute certainty no tick you've had was attached more than a few hours?

One could argue that: tick bite + bull's-eye rash after tick bite = Lyme disease or STARI until proven otherwise. According to the CDC, N. Carolina doesn't appear to be a hotbed of Lyme activity, so you'd have to weigh that as well.

I tend to be conservative when it comes to tick bites (I told the OP to take Benadryl and see what develops), but your case raises my eyebrows a bit.

In any event, best wishes,


Lost

 

[Toyboy]

No test.

There is quite a bit of controversy on the tests, which test to take, when to take it, when is it valid to test after a bite, and what do the results mean.

I have never had a tick on me more than 12 hours or so. Even 12 I think is pushing it. Since you are not supposed to get Lyme until the tick has been in 24-72 hours I think I am ok. Later,
Dan

Has anyone told the tick that yet???

 

[RickB]

No test.



Since you are not supposed to get Lyme until the tick has been in 24-72 hours I think I am ok.

Later,
Dan

Experiences of many prove otherwise.

And watch out for Erlychiosis. A tick-borne disease that makes Lyme feel like a head cold.

 

[LRTX1]

No test.

There is quite a bit of controversy on the tests, which test to take, when to take it, when is it valid to test after a bite, and what do the results mean.

I have never had a tick on me more than 12 hours or so. Even 12 I think is pushing it. Since you are not supposed to get Lyme until the tick has been in 24-72 hours I think I am ok.

Later,
Dan

The tick that gave me my the rash and a positive on the lymes test was in me for no more than 8-10 hours.

 

[dmccarty]

Ok.

So I go to the Doc and tell them that years ago I got bit by a tick that left a big red bullseye on my leg. I did not get sick anytime after the bite.

Are they really going to give me the test?

And if the test comes back positive then what happens?

Later,
Dan

 

[dmccarty]

The tick that gave me my the rash and a positive on the lymes test was in me for no more than 8-10 hours.

How much time passed between the bite and the test?

Later,
Dan

 

[dmccarty]

Has anyone told the tick that yet???

The tick does not know. The tick is well a tick.

But all of the research for better or worse says that it takes 12 to 72 hours for a tick to transmit Lyme.

MOST of what I have read over the years say 24-72 hours but I have read 12 hours. So I will go with the low number.

Later,
Dan

 

[Canada_CT230]

From what I've been told and read. Chances of contracting lyme disease from an infected tick is less than 0.01% if that tick is removed within 24 hours of becoming attached.

 

[Toyboy]

Ok.

So I go to the Doc and tell them that years ago I got bit by a tick that left a big red bullseye on my leg. I did not get sick anytime after the bite.

Are they really going to give me the test?

And if the test comes back positive then what happens?

Later,
Dan

If it comes back positive you'll be put on a heavy dose of Doxycyline. If it comes back negative, at least it's in your medical history in case you develop symptoms later down the road. It's just a simple blood test.

 

[LostInTheWoods]

Ok.

So I go to the Doc and tell them that years ago I got bit by a tick that left a big red bullseye on my leg. I did not get sick anytime after the bite.

Are they really going to give me the test?

And if the test comes back positive then what happens?

Later,
Dan

Statistically, there's little chance you actually have Lyme disease. What the statistics don't tell us is why would you have developed what you feel was definitely a bulls-eye rash from a tick bite.

What I would do is call my family doctor and leave a message with the nurse. "Hey, years ago I had a tick bite. After the bite, I'm positive I developed a bull's-eye rash, but never had any other symptoms. Can you ask Dr. XYZ if he thinks I need to do anything about this?"

He/she will guide you from there...

v/r

Lost

 

[dmccarty]

If it comes back positive you'll be put on a heavy dose of Doxycyline. If it comes back negative, at least it's in your medical history in case you develop symptoms later down the road. It's just a simple blood test.

Since I don't do well with antibiotics and I have NO symptoms of Lyme there is no way in heck I am taking the meds for weeks or months. None. Zip. Nadda.

This bite was YEARS ago. With NO symptoms. None. Zip. Nadda.

25% of people with Lyme do NOT get the rash. The Dr is supposed to look at a variety of factors including symptoms of Lyme. Which I have not had.

Later,
Dan

 

[LRTX1]

How much time passed between the bite and the test?

Later,
Dan

About three weeks after the bite I devolped the rash. I let the rash go for a few days, it kept getting worse, as in more defined. I then went to the doc, it was no more than a month from time of bite to positive test.

 

[Richard]

I've been paying some attention and it would seem to me the ticks are worse this year than past. At least worse than some years.

I've always noticed the larger ticks... (who can't )

I've been noticing much smaller ticks now, for really, the first time ever. (ever that I've noticed them)

Just last night, sitting here at the pc and I felt a tickle on my right arm. Look down, see nothing but can still feel the tickle. Turn the side light on for better view and this tick was about the size of the period at the end of this sentence .

Ok, now that I look at the period, it might have been a bit larger but not much.

I've now seen three basic sizes. The usual ticks that we see that you can easily see, especially when they are on a dog and swelled up (blech).

another tick more the size of a large pencil lead and this third much smaller size.

Perhaps I'm seeing some differrences in age as well...babies verses adults. I can't say I know much about the growth cycle of ticks, nor do I plan on learning as much.

 

[Ford850]

I've been paying some attention and it would seem to me the ticks are worse this year than past. At least worse than some years.

I've always noticed the larger ticks... (who can't )

I've been noticing much smaller ticks now, for really, the first time ever. (ever that I've noticed them)

Just last night, sitting here at the pc and I felt a tickle on my right arm. Look down, see nothing but can still feel the tickle. Turn the side light on for better view and this tick was about the size of the period at the end of this sentence .

Ok, now that I look at the period, it might have been a bit larger but not much.

I've now seen three basic sizes. The usual ticks that we see that you can easily see, especially when they are on a dog and swelled up (blech).

another tick more the size of a large pencil lead and this third much smaller size.

Perhaps I'm seeing some differrences in age as well...babies verses adults. I can't say I know much about the growth cycle of ticks, nor do I plan on learning as much.

I'm seeing many more small ticks this year too. More ticks than usual, and most are what I would call very small (the size of a pinhead). From my limited research, I might be seeing larva or nymph stages, but even the adults in these pictures are smaller than a sesame seed. http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/pdf/2073.pdf

 

[jayste]

Just last night, sitting here at the pc and I felt a tickle on my right arm. Look down, see nothing but can still feel the tickle. Turn the side light on for better view and this tick was about the size of the period at the end of this sentence

We call these seed ticks around here.

 

[SPIKER]

I read most of this and noticed some people posted about the fact that the tick burrows in and can/will/does often leave tick parts behind if you try & pull/pry/tweezers them off the wrong way.

alcohol or a hot pin work the tick should be "Inspired to come out" not ripped out. the left over bits can be quite a reaction as your body trys to rid it's self of them...

Some precautions are to use bug spray, (lots of it.) Duct Tape around sleeves & pant legs. Spray down the area with bug spray that the pets are in and use good quality flea & tick dip/shampoo on pets.

use of body lotion often also helps the oils in them will keep the fleas & ticks form liking the taste, just dont use the bed room lotion


Mark

 

[IslandTractor]

If it comes back positive you'll be put on a heavy dose of Doxycyline. If it comes back negative, at least it's in your medical history in case you develop symptoms later down the road. It's just a simple blood test.

I doubt it, at least if the primary care physician reads the literature.

If someone was exposed years ago and has been asymptomatic there is no reason to treat. If they were serologically confirmed (two tests not one) then your physician would store that information for the future in the unlikely event that active Lyme symptoms occurred. There are huge numbers of people who had asymptomatic Lyme primary infections who go through the rest of their lives with no Lyme related problems at all. The idea of "Chronic Lyme Disease" is grossly overblown and over diagnosed (usually by providers who make a living "treating" it.). The Infectious Diseases Society of America just finalized a review of their advice on Lyme and basically discourages overly aggressive therapy especially for asymptomatic individuals.

 

[Toyboy]

Click on this link from the CDC to see what works and what not to do.
Questions, Answers | CDC Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

 

[LostInTheWoods]

Definately do not burn or apply alcohol or other chemicals...


this cause tick to regurgitate, increasing chance of passing infection...

 

[Slackdaddy]

I have pulled ticks off me my whole life (46 years), with nothing more than a itch for a few days.
Last June I started getting really tired by 1-2PM, then my shoulder and knees hurt - sometimes.
Went to my primary doc, told him it hurts here, sometimes here, and the other day here, but nothing is hurting now. He sent me on my way, I was back in 2 weeks in bad shape begging for a lymes test, he did the Elisa test - neg.
2 months and 2 docs later, a doctor sent blood to Igenix for a western blot - positive.
3 days of being on Antibiotics I was 100%.
2 weeks after finishing Antibiotics I was crashing agian and had the joint pain.
This same thing went on through 3 courses on Antibiotics.
I am now 1 year later and on a 3 month regiment of 2 antibiotics and feeling fine.

Nick