Contents

SynopsisCodesLook ForDiagnostic PearlsDifferential Diagnosis & PitfallsBest TestsManagement PearlsTherapyReferences

Information for Patients

View all Images (38)

Tick bite in Adult
Other Resources UpToDate PubMed

Tick bite in Adult

Contributors: Robert Norris MD, Joanne Feldman MD, MS
Other Resources UpToDate PubMed

Synopsis

Ticks are arachnids that live in wooded and grassy areas. Ticks attach themselves to a human host as the person brushes past leaves, grass, etc. Ticks do not jump or fall on a person. Once on a host, ticks move to a warm and moist location (eg, armpit, groin, back of the knee, hairline), where they burrow into the host's skin and feed off their blood.

While most ticks are harmless, some carry disease and may transmit illness (eg, Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Colorado tick fever) to their host. Certain ticks can even inject venom that causes temporary paralysis in their host (called tick paralysis).

Bites from some Amblyomma and Ixodes (and possibly Haemaphysalis) species have been associated with the subsequent development of allergies to mammalian meat (eg, beef, pork) in a small number of patients. It is thought that the allergy is mediated by induced IgE antibodies to alpha-gal (galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose), a mammalian oligosaccharide. Individuals with elevated IgE titers to alpha-gal have experienced urticaria, angioedema, and anaphylaxis symptoms either immediately or 3-6 hours (delayed onset) after ingesting mammalian meat. Exactly how the tick bite leads to development of this allergy is unclear. Implicated tick bites have been noted to itch for 2 or more weeks. A blood test for these IgE antibodies exists.

Codes

ICD10CM:
W57.XXXA – Bitten or stung by nonvenomous insect and other nonvenomous arthropods, initial encounter

SNOMEDCT:
95898004 – Tick bite

Look For

Subscription Required

Diagnostic Pearls

Subscription Required

Differential Diagnosis & Pitfalls

To perform a comparison, select diagnoses from the classic differential

Subscription Required

Best Tests

Subscription Required

Management Pearls

Subscription Required

Therapy

Subscription Required

References

Subscription Required

Last Updated:02/18/2018
Copyright © 2024 VisualDx®. All rights reserved.
Patient Information for Tick bite in Adult
Print E-Mail Images (38)
Contributors: Medical staff writer
Premium Feature
VisualDx Patient Handouts
Available in the Elite package
  • Improve treatment compliance
  • Reduce after-hours questions
  • Increase patient engagement and satisfaction
  • Written in clear, easy-to-understand language. No confusing jargon.
  • Available in English and Spanish
  • Print out or email directly to your patient
Copyright © 2024 VisualDx®. All rights reserved.
Tick bite in Adult
A medical illustration showing key findings of Tick bite : Erythema, Round configuration, Tick bite, Blanching patch, Skin bite site
Clinical image of Tick bite - imageId=1856076. Click to open in gallery.  caption: 'A partially engorged, embedded tick with surrounding bright red erythema.'
A partially engorged, embedded tick with surrounding bright red erythema.
Copyright © 2024 VisualDx®. All rights reserved.