Tick

[pointingdogsrule]

So I was turkey hunting the Black Hills of Wyoming (near Hulett). That night I pulled a tick off of me. I usually get them as they are crawling on me. This guy was feeding on my neck. I did NOT save him. I just killed him. Being from Iowa... what diseases (rocky mtn tick fever) or other diseases should I be aware of? I am going to see the doc on Monday as my niece has Lymes and it's NOT good. Thanks in advance.

good luck to all
the dog

 

[whiskeydog]

http://www.cdc.gov/lyme/resources/TickborneDiseases.pdf

There's really not much to worry about in the way of tick borne disease out west. Additionally, incubation period for any of the diseases is likely going to be a ways out and doc is just going to look for irritation around the bite or other symptoms that you can look for yourself. If I went to the doc every time I got a tick, I could probably fund obamacare by myself...

 

[duckhunt]

Here in Iowa ive never had a problem with ticks but when I turkey hunted Kansas everytime I found a tick on me it would swell up and itch to the point I would scratch it raw. Went to the doctor once and he said just keep an eye on the bites and if things get worse make another visit. Over a few weeks the bites got better.

 

[VAspeedgoat]

If I am not mistaken, lyme disease comes from deer ticks which are very small and are rarely found attached. They have usually let go and the the blueish bullseye around the bite is what you see.

 

[kansasdad]

Lyme transmission is thought to be dependent on long attachment time of the tick. Generally needs to be 36-48 hours for the transmission of the bacteria into the human. The hallmark sign of initial infection is the "bullseye" rash. Classically a red/white concentric ring, sometimes the white or clear zone is exchanged for a bluish tint.

 

[pointingdogsrule]

Lyme transmission is thought to be dependent on long attachment time of the tick. Generally needs to be 36-48 hours for the transmission of the bacteria into the human. The hallmark sign of initial infection is the "bullseye" rash. Classically a red/white concentric ring, sometimes the white or clear zone is exchanged for a bluish tint.

Thanks, i'll be aware of that.

good luck to all
the dog

 

[TimeOnTarget]

http://www.cdc.gov/lyme/resources/TickborneDiseases.pdf

There's really not much to worry about in the way of tick borne disease out west. Additionally, incubation period for any of the diseases is likely going to be a ways out and doc is just going to look for irritation around the bite or other symptoms that you can look for yourself. If I went to the doc every time I got a tick, I could probably fund obamacare by myself...

Agreed, Lately, Doesn't matter if I have 5 minutes of work to do around the farm or 5hrs. I have a dozen ticks on me when I'm done.

 

[johnp]

Great topic and well timed also, may is usually the worst tick month. I have learned a little about ticks in the last year through experience. There is another tick disease called Anaplasmosis caused also by deer ticks.Over 500 cases in Wisconsin last year. Being a logger, I am well acquainted with deer ticks , always went by the "they must be embedded at least 24 hours " rule . Not the case with Anaplasmosis.
A couple hours is all it takes, the symptoms of the disease started only a week after I pulled the tick off. No bullseye rash, just flu like aches and fever that got so bad I couldn't get up.
After a trip to the ER the DR put me on Doxicycline , ran all of the tick tests of wich Anaplasmosis tested positive. The doxy. worked well . In my line of work I cannot run to the doc every time I get a tick, but with the onset of any symptoms like ache or fever, I will get in real quick.
The ER Doc said to not believe the "24 hour" rule for any tick disease. I am a real believer in lots of DEET now.

 

[TimeOnTarget]

Another line of defense to to treat your clothing with permethrin. It works well but is not supposed to come in contact with skin.

I mix up a batch in a 1 gal weed sprayer and spray my pants down with it and then hang them to dry. In the military we had a big wash tub that we just soaked our gear and outer wear in. I've taken a slightly more conservative approach with the weed sprayer. Works well.

 

[Gerald Martin]

The ER Doc said to not believe the "24 hour" rule for any tick disease

^^^^^^^^ This.

My wife contracted Lymes from a wood tick in Montana that was only attached for several hours. She got the bullseye rash and the fever/aches/ arthritic symptoms as well. Our local doctors said it was impossible for her to have Lymes out here and said she had the flu. After more than a year of persistant symptoms we took her to a specialist back east where she tested positive for Lymes and several other co-infections. After nearly two years of medications and treatments she is seeing improvement on how she feels.

I wouldn't freak out just because you got bit. However, monitor your health and if you develop the rash ( it doesn't always break out) or other symptoms, especially joint pain or arthritic type symptoms get to a doctor right away. I would insist on the antibiotics even before a positive result comes back. Some initial tests return negative because it takes a while for the body to develop antibodies that show the Lymes is present.

 

[MinnesotaHunter]

Minnesota is a hotbed for tick borne diseases. For Lyme's in particular most docs here will just provide the antibiotic, as having a tick tested or running the Lyme's test is more expensive.

I have been on the anti-biotic twice, better safe than sorry.

 

[Southwind]

Like most others have said, watch for the bullseye. I think antibiotics are over prescribed but the quicker you get on them with lyme and other tick borne diseases the better off you are.

 

[RUT JUNKEY]

nasty little suckers for sure. I have been treating my clothes with the Permethrin for the last few years, and only 1 tick on my shoulder this year in Kansas! My friend Wes didn't treat his stuff and had ticks all over him. . .7 attached in one day. Its just too risky in my opinion not to try and deter them.

 

[rjlefty3]

I wouldn't freak out just because you got bit. However, monitor your health and if you develop the rash ( it doesn't always break out) or other symptoms, especially joint pain or arthritic type symptoms get to a doctor right away. I would insist on the antibiotics even before a positive result comes back. Some initial tests return negative because it takes a while for the body to develop antibodies that show the Lymes is present.

Gerald is on the money. The bulls-eye rash is common, but doesn't happen to everyone. In those cases symptoms are more important. So don't think that if you didn't get the rash you're off the hook.

The tests for the most part aren't very good, the above reason being one reason. And often times you'll be lucky to get a positive. Plus, most docs aren't that in tune to Lyme since it's such a difficult thing to diagnose due to the poor tests.

Antibiotics are recommended for everyone who lives in areas with rate of Lyme over 20% (mainly the Northeast and upper Midwest), so depending on where you live it may be warranted. In your situation it sounds like you wouldn't qualify anyway. Just keep an eye out for symptoms. This part probably doesn't apply to a lot of people here since most are west of epidemic areas. Just wanted to bring this point up since I live in the NE and it's recommended for us to get treatment if we find one on us. And obviously get checked out if any symptoms present, regardless of location.

 

[Gerald Martin]

Gerald is on the money. The bulls-eye rash is common, but doesn't happen to everyone. In those cases symptoms are more important. So don't think that if you didn't get the rash you're off the hook.

The tests for the most part aren't very good, the above reason being one reason. And often times you'll be lucky to get a positive. Plus, most docs aren't that in tune to Lyme since it's such a difficult thing to diagnose due to the poor tests.

Antibiotics are recommended for everyone who lives in areas with rate of Lyme over 20% (mainly the Northeast and upper Midwest), so depending on where you live it may be warranted. In your situation it sounds like you wouldn't qualify anyway. Just keep an eye out for symptoms. This part probably doesn't apply to a lot of people here since most are west of epidemic areas. Just wanted to bring this point up since I live in the NE and it's recommended for us to get treatment if we find one on us. And obviously get checked out if any symptoms present, regardless of location.

I agree. Location makes a big difference on the frequency Lymes occurs. My wife is one of only a few confirmed cases here in western Montana. To be honest, I don't know how many cases there actually are because she has be working with Lymes specialists from back east since so few doctors focus on it here. According to her doctor, Lymes and other infections can be spread by any biting insect that bites a carrier and then a human. That could include fleas and mosquitos. The first local doctor we talked to said it was impossible for her to have Lymes since we don't have deer ticks. Other ticks can and do carry the disease although the frequency of infection from deer ticks is exponential in comparison to other species of ticks.

 

[Elkmagnet]

I agree. Location makes a big difference on the frequency Lymes occurs. My wife is one of only a few confirmed cases here in western Montana. To be honest, I don't know how many cases there actually are because she has be working with Lymes specialists from back east since so few doctors focus on it here. According to her doctor, Lymes and other infections can be spread by any biting insect that bites a carrier and then a human. That could include fleas and mosquitos. The first local doctor we talked to said it was impossible for her to have Lymes since we don't have deer ticks. Other ticks can and do carry the disease although the frequency of infection from deer ticks is exponential in comparison to other species of ticks.

I hope she continues to recover! Lymes can change the course of a persons life especially if un treated.

 

[devon deer]

As deer hunters we are acutely aware of ticks and Lyme disease.
I have been bitten more times than i care to remember with no side effects, until this week that is.
I found a tick on me that had clearly been attached for a few days, no problem, i just removed it.
But, 48 hours later flu symptoms appeared, (no bulls eye rash but 60-70% people don't get a rash) for 2 days i have been pretty unwell, went to the docs this morning, he was a little skeptical, offering a blood test (useless from what i understand until 8-10 weeks after you are bitten) and stating it could be a coincidence, which it could be, but i insisted on the anti-biotics, he prescribed them for 8 days.
Air on the side of caution i say.
Cheers
Richard

 

[Southwind]

As deer hunters we are acutely aware of ticks and Lyme disease.
I have been bitten more times than i care to remember with no side effects, until this week that is.
I found a tick on me that had clearly been attached for a few days, no problem, i just removed it.
But, 48 hours later flu symptoms appeared, (no bulls eye rash but 60-70% people don't get a rash) for 2 days i have been pretty unwell, went to the docs this morning, he was a little skeptical, offering a blood test (useless from what i understand until 8-10 weeks after you are bitten) and stating it could be a coincidence, which it could be, but i insisted on the anti-biotics, he prescribed them for 8 days.
Air on the side of caution i say.
Cheers
Richard

As much as I don't like to take antibiotics I think taking a precautionary round of antibiotics especially given the symptoms is absolutely the way to go.

Here is a eeewwwwwwww story for you. A very good friend went out a couple of weeks ago to help his son put up a new deer stand and ended up having to have his wife pluck over 100 ticks off him and those were just the attached ones. Most were seed ticks as small as the point of a needle. Just hearing the story made me itch.

 

[mtmander]

My cousin got lyme disease (in Oregon) , it took over a year for the doctors to figure out he had lyme.
He did not have the bullseye rash or have a tick attached on him.

 

[kansasdad]

Richard, thanks for the heads-up.........I wasn't aware that Lyme's was not confined to North America. I have become a user of permethrin on my outerwear starting three springs ago. When used correctly it has had a huge impact on all things creepy/crawly.