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Last posts on private forums:  sare  2008-06-16 09:56:33 matthew 2008-04-12 21:25:59 pieniadz 2008-04-12 20:52:26
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Last posts on private blogs: matthew 2008-04-12 21:25:17 mary 2008-04-12 19:27:47 |
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You are in: Main Page / Medical articles / Diseases / Tick Bites
Tick bites may cause several diseases dangerous for humans e.g. Lyme disease. The symptoms of a tick bite may include fever, rash, itching and swelling of the place of infection. Ticks can be found in wood and this is the place where people get infected most often. What is the treatment and prevention from diseases from tick bites? The article tries to provide all necessary information
Rocky Mountains Spotted Fever
Ticks are carriers of micro-organisms which cause many diseases in people. One disease that is quite well-known for its tick etiology is Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever caused by Ricettsia ricettsi spread to humans by ixodid ticks. The bacteria have properties similar to viruses. The disease, it is a version of spotted fever, delivers the name from the area of its ocurrence but it happens also in all USA states. Ixodid ticks, ticks with hard crust are the carriers of Spotted fever Disease. The disease affects people in the north of the USA from May to September, whereas in the south ticks may attack all year round.
Symptoms
The symptoms of the disease appear within 3-12 days from the bite. They include a high fever with shivers, headaches and muscle pains. The temperature raises to 40 degrees of Celsius and can remain so high even for three weeks if the disease is not treated. Usually in the 4th day from infection the body of a patient is covered with a rash which appears on neck, trunk and face. At the beginning the rash is pink and flat but it soon changes into purple bruises. The bruises quickly join together to form large suggilation. The disease may trigger encephalitis with excitement, delirium and finally a coma. The disease may attack gastrointestinal system as it often causes nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Other organs that can be attacked: lungs, liver, spleen, heart and kidneys. Sometimes, it is possible that blood insufficiency causes cardiac arrest.
The tick-borne fever is always treated as dangerous to person's health as it causes death if untreated. The risk is reduced when antibiotics are given.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis can be done easily if symptoms are visible: a fresh bite, fever or rash but in some cases the disease gives no signs at all so diagnosis is very difficult. Ricettsia ricettsi can be discovered in blood test and blood coloring studies. The bacteria can be produced in laboratories but it is essential that the given laboratory has safety equipment as such a breed would pose risk of getting infected by laboratory workers.
Treatment
The treatment is essential immediately after the infection, the antibiotic should be done even before achieving results of tests. Patients can demand intravenous antibiotic course.
Because of the fact that the disease is so dangerous you should remember about all preventive measure when going to the wood. First of all, you should wear clothes that cover body areas: long trousers, long-sleeved jackets and boots. You can use insect repellent and check the whole body afterwards if there are no tick in your skin. Remove ticks very carefully.
Lyme disease
The name of the disease takes its origin in one town in Connecticut where there were several cases of this disease. It is triggered by the bacteria carried by ticks that attack animals and humans.
Symptoms
The first sign of the disease is a slight rash which appears in the place of a bite several weeks after the infection or earlier. Other symptoms include: headaches, slightly raised temperature and other flu-like symptoms. People usually don't know that they were bitten. Sometimes, it is after several months or years they can notice problems with joints, heart or other neurological problems. The most common signs of Lyme disease are: swollen, painful and stiff joints. The signs which are less typical: heart beat disorders, encephalitis, neurological diseases e.g paralysis, depression or mental disorders. In pregnant women, the disease may destroy the fetus or miscarriage.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis is done by observing the signs of the disease and the existence of probability of a tick bit occurrence.
Treatment
The treatment involves antibiotic course, especially at the first stage of the disease and when there are no complications. More serious neurological infections demand intravenous antibiotic course. When the disease has developed the treatment is longer and more intensive, demands a long-lasting therapy. Patients may even be taken to the hospital. Other forms of treatment depend on the symptoms e.g. arthritis is reduced by non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs, eye infections are treated with antibiotics in drops.
Prevention
Prevention is the best treatment for the Lyme disease so if you are in the area where ticks can attack you should wear clothes in fair colors where ticks are more visible. You should also spray yourself with insect repellents and examine your body closely to check whether there are any ticks after a trip to the wood. If you find a tick you should remove it quickly with tweezers. Make sure that all your cats and dogs wear anti-tick collars.
Added by:
mary
not connected with health care system
Added on:
2008-05-19 12:49:04 ,
Updated:
2008-05-19 12:53:26
Bibliography:
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