Being bitten by a tick is usually a painless experience. Most people do not feel the bite. Even after the tick has fed and dropped off, many times the bite will go unnoticed. Rarely, people experience itching or redness, but even that will usually recede quickly.
However, if a tick bites you, and other symptoms occur, such as shortness of breath, a fever or body aches, you need to seek medical attention immediately. Ticks can be what are commonly called vectors, or carriers, of a number of harmful diseases. Some of these diseases have few symptoms. A common symptom of most harmful tick bites is a rash around the bite area.
If you suspect that a pathogen-carrying tick has bitten you, it is always beneficial to bring the actual tick species or a clear photo of the tick with you when you visit the doctor. Diagnosing a disease from a tick bite is almost impossible without the tick to examine.
Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Lyme disease and Colorado tick fever are all diseases that are caused from the bites of different ticks. Symptoms of a tick bite can develop several days to several weeks following the bite. Nausea, vomiting, joint pain and other symptoms can occur. In all cases of tick bites, cleanse the bite area with soap and water. Follow up with an antibiotic cream.
The majority of people bitten by ticks recover with no adverse effects. However, if you have a compromised immune system or other health problems, tick bites can be dangerous.
Look for ticks frequently if you are spending any amount of time in the outdoors, especially in wooded areas. Be diligent about checking yourself and your pets when you return from the woods and remove any ticks immediately and dispose of them outdoors.