Lyme disease, erythema chronicum migrans
Lyme disease, erythema chronicum migrans
Lyme disease organism, Borrelia burgdorferi
Lyme disease organism, Borrelia burgdorferi
Deer ticks
Deer ticks
Ticks
Ticks
Tick, deer engorged on the skin
Tick, deer engorged on the skin
Lyme disease - Borrelia burgdorferi organism
Lyme disease - Borrelia burgdorferi organism
Tick, deer - adult female
Tick, deer - adult female
Tick imbedded in the skin
Tick imbedded in the skin

Ticks

Definition:
Poisoning from the bite of a tick.

Poisonous Ingredient:
  • tick venom


Where Found:
  • ticks
  • related species


Symptoms:
Ticks can be the source of several diseases including: The symptoms below refer more to the problems resulting from the bite itself, not the diseases it may cause. Some of the symptoms are specific to one variety of tick or another but not necessarily common to all ticks.

Home Treatment:
Remove the tick (see tick bite). Be careful not to leave the head embedded in the skin.

Before Calling Emergency:
Determine the following information:
  • the patient's age, weight, and condition
  • the name of the insect
  • the time the bite occurred
  • the part of the body affected


Poison Control, or a local emergency number:
They will instruct you if it is necessary to take the patient to the hospital. See Poison Control centers for telephone numbers and addresses.

If possible, bring the insect to the emergency room for identification.

What to expect at the emergency room:
  • Treat the symptoms.


Expectations (prognosis):
The prognosis (probable outcome) will depend on what type of infection the tick may have been carrying and how soon appropriate treatment was instigated.



Review Date: 1/18/2002
Reviewed By: Victoria Kennedy, RN, A.D.A.M. editorial.

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